When one first finds out they are expecting a baby, there is a rush of things that hit them…and one of the most pressing is the question, “How am I going to have this baby? Will there be anyone who can help me?”
The first thing most people do is to find a caregiver…a midwife, an OB/gyn or a family practitioner who delivers. They then settle in to read books, and buy furniture and clothing and dream (and worry), but something that doesn’t cross many minds is finding a good doula.
Concerns over nutrition, excessive interventions, not enough interventions, making sure one gets that time with baby right after birth to help encourage bonding and/or breastfeeding…all these things can be overwhelming…and that is where a doula can start helping.
Having a doula isn’t a “magic” wand…but it is one of the best steps one can take to prepare for the arrival of their little one. A doula’s first job is to help the birthing parents find the answers to their questions, and empower them to question their caregivers when there is something they don’t understand or even agree with. To empower them to know that they can be equipped to work with their caregivers as a team. To empower them to know…they can do this.
Doulas can improve outcomes in birth for parents. Having a doula to encourage and teach parents how to deal with the discomforts of labor through positioning, massages, emotional support, and other techniques has been proven to greatly reduce the amount of discomfort a birthing parent experiences, even without pain medications. And, in the event a birthing parent still desires pain medications, a doula’s support can reduce the amount of medication required if the birthing parent is choosing something other than an epidural. Having a doula also reduces the number of epidurals required and that, in turn, helps improve birth outcomes overall, as birthing parents who receive epidurals are more likely to require c-sections.
Doulas provide continuous support physically and emotionally to both the birthing person and their partner. This support is present in helping find comfortable positions for the laboring person as well as encouraging the partner in how best to support the laboring person. It is also very present in being emotionally supportive and encouraging the birthing person and their partner to work as a team and to keep them focused on the decisions THEY want to make. The doula can best advocate by asking them questions about what they had said they wanted prior to the birth and supporting them if they change their minds. This support has been shown to help shorten labor overall for a birthing parent and to increase the Apgar scores of the newborn infant.
Emotional support, as mentioned before, is a huge aspect of giving birth. A birthing parent who is supported will have a more favorable experience, even if things don’t go according to plan. For a single birthing parent, or one whose partner is unable, for whatever reason, to be there, a doula can be especially invaluable. For the birthing person who does have a partner or family member/friend available, a doula can provide emotional support to both the birthing person and their support, by encouraging both of them, suggesting comfort measures for the partner to try, allowing for the partner to rest if needed (take bathroom breaks, eat, etc). Getting a doula can seem daunting…another thing on a long list of things to do to prepare for baby’s arrival, but getting a doula is very beneficial. The doula is there to serve the parents. Not to make decisions for them, but to support them in the decision making process. Not to take the place of a partner, but to support them in order that they can best support the birthing person.
Why should anyone get a doula? Because they deserve to have one.
Nest and Nurture, LLC 