Is a doula the right choice for you?
Consider These 5 Benefits of Adding a Doula to your Birth Plan for the Support you Deserve.
For a lot of expectant parents, the world of birth and babies is, you know, just a tad OVERWHELMING. There are lots of things to learn within a limited time frame. By now, you likely have heard of a doula, but if you’re like a lot of people, their work description can seem a little hazy. Read on to learn more about the evidence-based benefits to having a doula on your birth team and how they can give you the support you’re looking for.
What is a doula, exactly?
Before we get into why you should totally consider having a doula for support with birth and beyond, let’s first flush out what exactly a doula does.
For starters, doula, in Greek, refers to a woman of service. According to DONA International, a doula is a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to a mother before, during and shortly after childbirth. They are there to help a mother achieve the healthiest, most satisfying birth experience possible.
The specific type and depth of support a doula provides varies based on skill set, preference, personality and wishes of the mother. Doula-ing can basically cover any non-medical support for a woman who is giving birth from providing massages during labor to cooking postpartum.
Parents planning to give birth in a hospital and looking for a positive birth experience will likely see the benefits of having a doula for that support. It is often those who are already under the care of a midwife, who might question the need for more support. Whatever column you fit into, read on to hear more about why we should appreciate doulas for what they can do for our birth experiences.
1. Doulas offer informational support
Doulas provide you with the information you need to prepare you for birth. Most will offer to come with you to at least one of your prenatal visits. They will also likely meet with you before the birth to talk about your goals and plan for the birth. The San Diego County birth community is pretty connected, so it’s likely that your doula will offer you suggestions for additional resources. From childbirth classes and acupuncturists to birth photographers and placenta encapsulation, they are a great resource.
A doula might also provide you with evidence-based information through reading materials, and videos. If you choose to have one, they can also help you write a birth plan.
While you’re in labor, they will continue to inform and guide you and your partner, by suggesting techniques or positions. They can explain medical procedures that could come up or help your partner understand how your labor is progressing. Doulas will often stay with you until a little after the birth. They can check in with you postpartum, where they can continue to provide information and support as concerns and questions come up.
Honestly, we could go on and on, because a doula is ultimately looking to help you, the mama, have the most successful birth possible. The way that looks varies from person to person, but most will agree that they are there to help you make your vision a reality!
2. They are there when YOU want them to be.
Whether you choose a hospital, birthing center or at home, a doula is the first professional you’ll have by your side during labor. That’s because a midwife, nurse or OB-GYN isn’t needed, in most cases, for most of your labor. This is especially true if you’re planning on laboring primarily (or completely) at home. If the thought of being alone, without someone experienced, through hours of contractions, is a bit scary, a doula is a wonderful option.
Once a doula is “on call” for your birth, they may offer to come over when you want them to be there. That is huge support in itself, because you never truly know how you’ll feel until labor begins. This is true even if you’ve had a birth or more before – they are each their own experience.
Doulas come with a tool belt of their own suited to assist mamas during labor. It’s not uncommon to find one who is licensed or skilled in massage therapy, rebozo (look it up if you don’t know — it’s amazing), breathing techniques, and meditation. They will be the person there to help you relax and keep you as comfortable as possible, for as long as possible. A doula can also be a great person to have remind you about eating during early labor, who can contact your midwife, and can help time your contractions, to name a few.
3. Support during labor has positive physiological effects, studies show
Evidence updated in 2017 found that continuous support during labor resulted more spontaneous vaginal births and less pain medication, epidurals, negative feelings about childbirth, vacuum or forceps-assisted births, and Cesareans. In addition, their labors were shorter by about 40 minutes and babies were less likely to have low Apgar scores at birth. There is also NO evidence of ANY negative consequences to having continuous labor support. This means you at least can be confident that having a doula by your side won’t hurt.
Doulas specifically increase the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth and decrease the risk of Cesarean. One explanation for this could be that they help create a comfortable, relaxed environment during labor. The continuous support and companionship provided to a laboring mother can help offset any setbacks that could otherwise traumatize a mother. Another explanation – people report feeling less pain when a doula is present! The support they offer a mother is so great it basically becomes a form of pain relief. How cool! This explains for the absence of medical interventions that can increase with the administering of an epidural.
4. Doulas are there for your partner too!
Maybe you’re thinking, “I have a really involved, attentive and loving partner who will be my support system during labor and delivery, so why do I need a doula?” Or, you’re worried that having one might take away that special experience from your partner by being there.
A doula is not a replacement for your partner. Far from it. While these are valid concerns, having a doula with you, and your partner, during labor will likely strengthen your partner’s ability to be as involved in your birth experience as possible.
Birth doulas encourage and help your partner be as involved as they choose. They can assist with household tasks, food runs, or fill as a stand-in for your partner when needed. This is imperative during the often long hours of early labor, when naps are necessary, but when you might still need someone around for support. Having one present will give your partner an opportunity to rest and stay strong while they can. Birth is often a marathon, not a sprint, so it’s important to make sure your partner is attending to their own needs.
5. They will advocate for YOU
Remember the part earlier about a doula planning to meet with you before the birth to discuss your vision? This is all intentional and vital to their role as your advocate. They are not there to speak for you or make decisions for you. Instead, they are, in a nutshell, there to empower you in your own care and birth. A doula will do this by finding out what it is you want. They will continue to check in and ask about this as situations arise. They know that what you want may change based on unpredictable circumstances.
A doula will support any decisions you make and will be the one who speaks up if your own voice is ignored or dismissed. They will encourage you and your partner to ask questions of your medical care providers and birth team. A doula will help explain what is happening during labor and any interventions that might be occurring. They do this to help you communicate any questions or concerns back to your care providers.
It all cycles back to that original meeting and the vision you have for your birth. When things get chaotic or distracting for you, a doula will be there to bring you back to what you wanted. They will give you the space, time, and safety to question, process, and decide what to do so that you can feel confident in the decisions you make. This is key to ensuring that you feel like an active participant and respected person throughout your birth experience.
Doula + Birth = Unlimited Benefits
As you can see, and as verified by research-based studies, the benefits to having a doula for your birth are limitless. They are the perfect combination of a hype (wo)man, confidante, protector, advocate, coach, and comforter. If this helped you decide that, yes, a doula is exactly what you need, check out our recommended doulas and set up a meeting with one today!
