Why you should hire a doula: for an easier, healthier birth
When you think about doulas, what comes to mind? Most people know that doulas are trained professionals with exceptional knowledge of pregnancy, birth, and lactation. They might also know that doulas provide continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to families during labor, but is that all they do? If you are interested in learning more about doulas and how they can help you have a more positive birth experience, keep reading!
What do doulas do?
Doulas are not medical providers and do not replace the role of your OB/GYN or midwife. They work with your care team to provide non-medical support and comfort. This may include things like helping you with breathing and relaxation techniques, providing massage, and being an advocate for your birth wishes. They also help you stay active and get into positions that speed labor and reduce discomfort.
Doulas work with families prenatally to build a relationship and to provide childbirth preparation around what you might expect during the birth process. We talk about the stages of labor and the benefits and risks of the interventions you may need to make decisions about. Doulas strive to equip your partner with comfort techniques so that they can be confident, active participants in the birth experience. And because your partner is only human, they will need to take breaks to eat and rest. Doulas may take bio breaks, too, but our goal is to provide continuous support throughout the entire process from beginning to end.
Doulas have a unique set of skills and tools to offer you in labor. They can help reduce fear and tension, encourage and affirm you, and help you navigate decisions about interventions and other choices as they arise. Doulas empower you to make informed decisions about your care that feel right for you and your unique family, without judgment.
And perhaps most importantly, doulas nurture and care for you, building a relationship of trust and respect with you, your partner, and your baby.
The Many Benefits of Hiring a Birth Doula
There is a lot of research to support the many benefits of hiring a doula. Some of the benefits include:
more likely to have a shorter labor with fewer interventions
reducing the need for pain medication, epidurals, and other interventions
reducing the risk of assisted delivery with forceps and vacuums
reducing rates of cesarean delivery
and increasing the overall satisfaction with the birth experience
Choosing a Doula
If you are considering hiring a doula, be sure to do your research and choose a doula who is a good fit for you and your family. Think about what is important to you for your birth, what type of support you want, and reach out to Silver Falls Family Support for your no-cost zoom session to ask all your questions about what our doulas can do for you. But what questions should you ask? We’ll talk about that in our next article, so stay tuned!
References:
Bohren MA, Hofmeyr GJ, Sakala C, Fukuzawa RK, Cuthbert A. Continuous support for women during childbirth. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 Jul 6;7(7):CD003766. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD003766.pub6. PMID: 28681500; PMCID: PMC6483123.