Why Hiring a Doula is One of the Best Things You Can Do in Pregnancy
We are more than just birth professionals, more than just hip squeezes, and birth companions. We help you make the decisions that are right for you and your family, normalize birth, encourage informed consent from providers, help you through the unpredictable nature of birth, and we teach partners how to be the best support they can be. BUT, still, there’s more.
THE BENEFITS OF HIRING A DOULA
Unending Knowledge at your bedside. When you are in the moment, all of the information from your birth classes tend to fly out the window, and under stress you may not remember that perfect position you were taught that would help baby move down. Your doula will know, and will help remind you, with a calm and reassuring presence.
Your partner does not have to have all of the pressure on them. Supporting someone in labor can be physically and emotionally draining, especially when you are the only one who is there to consistently support them. There will be times when your partner needs to eat, take a nap, and take a break—and your nurses, doctor, and midwife, won’t be there the whole time with you. Having a doula will allow your partner to be able to do these things AND really be in the moment for the birth.
Your partner can take on the role that THEY want! Sometimes partners want to help with everything physical—they want to be the ones giving massages, counter pressure, and hip-squeezes. Other times they just want to be the emotional support person. Having a doula ensures that you will receive all of the support that you want and need so that your partner can have the birth experience that THEY want. Your doula will work with your partner to figure out what roles each person will have in supporting you.
Doulas enhance communication between you and your providers. Doulas can help you create your birth preferences to take to appointments, teach you the ‘right’ questions to ask (you’d be surprised to find out the different ways you can ask something to get the most honest answer from them), give you the tools to make informed decisions, prenatally. In the birth, doulas know what the benefits and risks are to each intervention offered, and we know how and when to step in when a provider did not get informed consent from you. Doulas do not speak for you, but rather hold you up so you can voice your needs and opinions!
Having a doula drastically decreases the risk of an unnecessary c-section. Many cesareans are absolutely necessary to protect the birthing person and/or baby, but many ‘urgent’ cesareans are not actually necessary. Doulas know evidence-based information about what is a true risk, versus what is hospital policy. We help you weigh your options in the moment when everything can seem scary, and help you make the best decision for you and your family.
Having a doula increases satisfaction in birth.