How did you first hear about doulas?
Perhaps you have a friend that used a doula and absolutely loved her birth experience.
Or maybe your pregnancy books recommend including a doula to create your birth dream team.
Your doctor or midwife may have been the one who suggested that having a doula would be good for you, too.
Maybe your first birth left you feeling disappointed or just longing for more this time around.
We know that even the most reputable medical authorities like the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, recommend birthing with a doula to decrease interventions (like inductions and cesarean sections) and increase both birth satisfaction and infant bonding. But what exactly is a doula, and what do they do?
If you’ve been researching information about doulas, you’ve probably seen a hundred versions of something like this:
“A doula is a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to a mother before, during and immediately after childbirth to help her achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible.”
But what does that mean?
And how will doulas really help you?
First, it means we are professionals.
We often hear people ask, “Do I need a doula? My husband is going to support me.” Or, “My mother had three kids naturally. She will be there to help me know what to do.” A Birth Partners doula will NEVER take the place of your loving partner or family member. We know that these people know you in ways that we never will and it only makes sense that they will be able to provide a sense of security that can’t be reproduced. Plain and simple: they know you. But we know birth. We’ve been trained and mentored in the physiology and psychology of birth, and in the art of providing labor support to birthing mothers and to their support people. A Birth Partners doula is a non-clinical, privately contracted person who works for you (not the hospital) who acts as part of a team with you, your support people, and your medical staff. Doulas provide a wide range of services to families of all sorts in a variety of birth situations.
We provide continuous support.
We often hear people ask, “Do I need a doula? My husband is going to support me.” Or, “My mother had three kids naturally. She will be there to help me know what to do.” A Birth Partners doula will NEVER take the place of your loving partner or family member. We know that these people know you in ways that we never will and it only makes sense that they will be able to provide a sense of security that can’t be reproduced. Plain and simple: they know you. But we know birth.
We’ve been trained and mentored in the physiology and psychology of birth, and in the art of providing labor support to birthing mothers and to their support people. A Birth Partners doula is a non-clinical, privately contracted person who works for you (not the hospital) who acts as part of a team with you, your support people, and your medical staff. Doulas provide a wide range of services to families of all sorts in a variety of birth situations.
We get to know you and your partner.
Sometimes expecting parents know very early on that they will be hiring a doula and by 6 weeks along, they have already ensured space in their doula’s calendar. Other times, as parents begin really anticipating their upcoming birth, they hire their doula towards the end of the pregnancy. Obviously, there are advantages to working together longer, but even if you decide to connect with a doula just before the big day, she will make getting to know you a top priority. Frequent phone calls, text messages, and face to face meetings are regularly scheduled to discuss what you want your birth to look like and what your expectations of your doula are. Your partner will have space to express their own desires and comfort levels as well. It’s understood that anxieties arise from various sources and people react differently to such stressors. As doulas, we aim to anticipate and respond accordingly to encourage the desires that both you and your partner will be working for. We value the intimacy and vulnerability of birth and know that in order to be welcomed into your birthing space, it’s crucial to be a familiar and safe person beforehand.
We don’t have an agenda.
One question we are often asked is, “What is your birth philosophy?” The honest answer? It doesn’t matter. What we want is not the reason we are invited into your space. Therefore, the important question is, what is your birth philosophy? That is what we support.
Do you know ahead of time that an epidural is right for you? Great! Your doula will continue to support you emotionally and physically throughout your birth. Will you be working for an unmedicated experience? Great! We will be there with pain management suggestions and position changes. Whatever you are working towards is what we are working towards, it is part of what makes us such a positive team.
We help you know what to expect.
Having a doula by your side for pregnancy and birth is a lot like traveling to another country and bringing your own interpreter. She is fluent in both the language of normal birth and in the language of hospital. Before your labor even begins, your doula will help you prepare for the birth that you have been envisioning. She will help you decipher information while you form your own opinions and formulate appropriate questions. During labor, this is particularly important because sometimes unexpected decisions have to be made and understanding the medical terms, benefits and risks, and even knowing what questions to ask your medical staff is crucial to informed consent. Should your birth plan suddenly shift a bit, we will be able to quickly give you the new information you are in need of and help you adjust accordingly. Also, because we provide a non-medical role and are not in your immediate circle of family or friends, we seem to ensure a safe place to ask the more difficult questions. Questions about vaginas and sex and mucus plugs are our specialty! The safety of our non-judgmental, supportive relationship makes it less difficult for you to seek out the information you need regarding pregnancy and childbirth.
We help you feel safe.
When you give birth, most of the work is done in your mind in order for your body to respond with the hormones necessary for birth. When working so hard to stay in a peaceful state, something as simple as a new nurse or unfamiliar equipment sounds could accidently break that positive connection.
Your Birth Partners doula serves as a, “keeper of the space” during this vulnerable time. She will protect the positive environment you are creating, and because she has taken the time to get to know you and your partner, she will safeguard the things that are important to you. She provides a calm presence to sustain you and your support people through what might be a mentally, physically, and emotionally intense experience.
