Why hire a doula?
Having a support person present at a birth has been around for thousands of years. Women have always been cared for and supported during their births, whether by women of a neighboring tribe, mothers, or friends. Nowadays these nurturers are called doulas. A birth doula is a professional support person who supports emotionally and physically before during and after childbirth. A doula is also there to give support to the birthing partner. A doula is there to be a companion to the birthing mother, to help her, and to reassure her.
There are many evidence based benefits to having a birth doula at the time of birth. When a birthing woman has the support of a birth doula the cesarean rate decreases by almost 30 percent, pitocin use goes down, there is an increase in vaginal births, and a decrease in medications for pain relief. Generally speaking, doulas lessen your chances of a c section, they decrease pain, lessen the duration of labor, and in general they help women feel better about their births.
Doulas help no matter which type of birth you choose. Many people question “do I need a doula if I´m having a hospital birth?” During hospital births doulas are so important because they help the mother remember that she has a voice. They are advocates. A doula can also explain to the birthing mom a lot of the things that the doctors, nurses, or midwives may be talking about or procedures they may be wanting to perform which can all be overwhelming. A doula is with you the whole time, to remind you it is your birth and help you make educated decisions.
Women who have had doulas generally leave their births feeling better about them.
A Doula genuinely just wants to care for you.
How does a doula help before birth? Doulas will meet with their clients before birth and in these meetings they can help talk over what type of birth the woman desires, as well as any fears or uncertainties when it comes to giving birth. Doulas often know the ins and outs of different birthing centers or hospitals, and can help guide the pregnant woman towards the place where she will have the best chance of the type of birth desired. Through these chats a doula can help to write a birth plan, and also implement and teach different comfort measures that can be used during labor.
Doulas help to have a better birth physically and psychologically, for the mother, partner, and baby, and no study has shown any adverse outcome to having a doula present at birth.
Every woman deserves to have someone there to guide and assist them in making educated choices about their pregnancy, and remind them that they can trust the strength of their bodies during this time. I’m here to provide unbiased information and emotional support. Please get in touch to find out more.