Why you should have a birth doula

Should you have a doula at your birth?

Let me start by saying that doulas are amazing. And yes, if you are able, I would totally recommend that you have a doula at your birth, whether you are planning a natural unmedicated vaginal birth or a Cesarean.

So, what is a doula?

The word doula comes from Ancient Greek meaning “servant”. Doulas are women who come alongside birthing mothers and give them support by serving their needs.  

According to a study done in 2022 by the American College of Pediatrics and Gynecologists, they believe doulas bring so much benefit to birth that they are an underutilized resource!

What are benefits of having a doula?

• Doulas have been shown to be the single most effective thing to decrease cesarean rates

• Labouring mothers have shorter labours; with less need for medications or inductions to speed up labour

• Women have more spontaneous vaginal births

• Fewer requests for pain medication

• Birthing mothers have more satisfaction with their birth

• Fewer birth complications in newborns

• Increase in continued breastfeeding after birth

• Continual support during labour, birth and even postpartum

 What doulas do before birth

A doula is trained to provide the birthing mother and father, and even family, the resources and education they need to have the birth experience they desire. Many doulas will also offer birth education classes and provide the latest evidence based research on birth related questions. Here are other things they will do for you:

• help you write up a birth plan if you don’t have one and make sure you have solid information that allows you to make educated decisions about your birth

• help you define a clear vision and plan for your birth

• help you navigate through birth trauma and offer resources to help you heal and look forward to a redemptive birth

• helping you know your options as far as birth locations and providers should you ever need to transfer care mid-pregnancy

• makes sure you know what interventions will likely be offered to you and help you know how to communicate your desires around them

What doulas do during birth

Physically they will:

• make sure you have a constant supply of water and snacks

• bring nifty things like massaging tools, a rebozo or essential oils to help you manage the intensity of contractions

• spend hours helping you change positions or squeezing your hips with counter pressure

• set up a shower or bath if you need water for pain management

• go with you for a walk if you need a change

• make you laugh if you get disheartened

Emotionally they will:

• constantly encourage and support you

• speak truth over you and remind you of your hopes for birth

• remind you that birth is normal and that your body was made to birth

• suggest position changes when you get stuck

Help your husband by:

• showing your husband how to do counter pressure

• show him how to support you since he knows you best

• help him to be confident to trust the birth process even though he sees you in pain

• give him time to rest, go to the bathroom or take a nap and stay with you so you're not alone.

What does a doula do when your birth is a Cesarean?

Whether you planned a cesarean birth or not, doulas are still very useful to help you navigate this possibly stressful event. Unexpected cesareans can be very difficult on the husband as well. He might not know what to do or how to comfort his wife. It might be a good idea for doulas to prepare husbands before birth about what to do in the event of a cesarean.

How can doulas benefit the husband during a Cesarean

• she can explain the surgery procedure to him so he knows what to expect

• most often hospitals will allow a doula or husband to be in the OR (operating room)

• she can encourage the husband to stand by his wife’s head and to encourage her and support her during surgery

• his wife might be panicking and he can coach her through breathing exercises to help her be more at peace

• he could hold his wife’s hand and remind her that she’s not alone

• the doula can be an intermediate and encourage the husband to advocate for having baby placed with them as soon as possible

After the surgery, the mother might be groggy or out of it. The doula can help the husband by doing any communication with medical staff so he can focus on his wife and baby.  If there needs to be any kind of separation, the doula can always stay with the wife or baby depending on the husband’s preference.

As you can see, there are so many things a doula can do. The resourcefulness of a doula reminds me of the bag Mary Poppins carries. In it, she carries all the things you could need.

Birth is a miraculous and beautiful event. The birth experience you desire will only happen if you know what your choices are. If you need an experienced voice, having a doula might be just the thing you need.

Sources:

ACOG

NIH

She births bravely

Evidence Based Birth - Friedman's Curve