What is a birth doula?
A birth doula is a birth coach, a friend during labor and delivery, a fountain of knowledge during pregnancy and postpartum, and an advocate in the labor room.
What does a doula do during pregnancy?
Getting a doula during pregnancy is one of the best things you can do to set yourself up for a good labor and delivery. Here’s why:
A doula will help you write a birth plan. Birth plans help ensure that you know your options.
Talking through your fears with someone can let you approach the experience with positivity, which in turn will decrease the likelihood of labor stalling.
You don’t have to wait until your next prenatal appointment to ask your doctor or midwife, you can just shoot your doula a text and get an answer right away.
A doula can suggest movements and positions to do during pregnancy that will relieve pregnancy aches and pains, as well as encourage baby to get in a good position
What does a doula do during labor?
A doula helps relieve pain from contractions by suggesting different positions, massage, and attention focusing techniques
Doulas can encourage and help promote a calm atmosphere during labor and delivery by using your 5 senses
Doulas are your advocate by helping you and your partner voice your fears and get the answers you need to make informed decisions
Doulas suggest different positions in labor and delivery to encourage baby to descend and the cervix to dilate this has been proven to decrease time in labor
What does a birth doula do postpartum?
- A doula can help you with common breastfeeding problems
Refer you to specialists for unique challenges you may face
Help you learn newborn soothing techniques
A doula can answer or refer you to your doctor for any questions related to your newborn or the changes going on in your body postpartum
Help you learn to use a breast pump or to use a wrap to babywear
How is a doula different than a midwife?
Doulas
Not medical professional
Suggests position changes
Give evidence based information
Relieve contraction pain
Trained in optimal positioning
Can support you anywhere including all hospitals and birth centers
Supports high and low risk clients
Midwives
Medical professional
Checks cervix
Monitors baby’s heart rate
Monitors mother’s blood pressure
Trained to deal with birth complications
Practices at 1 hospital, has access to birth center, and at home births
Mainly deals with low-risk patients or partners with an OB to accept high-risk patients
