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Why should I hire a birth doula?

Writer's picture: Jacki WarnockJacki Warnock



Pregnancy and childbirth are life changing experiences, and how you approach them can have an impact on your physical, emotional, and mental well-being. One decision you can make for yourself during this time, that is proven to be beneficial, is to hire a birth doula. But what is a birth doula, and why should you consider hiring one as part of your labor and delivery team?


A birth doula is traditionally considered a “helper”. In current nomenclature a birth doula is someone who has had training to provide physical, emotional, and informational support to a birthing person and their non-birthing support person before, during, and after childbirth. Unlike a medical provider like an obstetrician or a midwife, a doula’s role focuses solely on the well-being of the birthing person and their partner or support person.


Here are some things to consider why hiring a birth doula to be apart of your birth team could be of benefit to you:


Childbirth can be an intense and overwhelming experience. A doula can offer emotional support throughout the process. Through training, continued education and experience a doula will use words, suggest techniques, or simply be a calming presence, just by being in the room a doula can help the birthing person to feel safe, heard, and understood. This kind of emotional connection can be a world of difference, especially if you feel anxious, uncertain, fearful or overwhelmed by the unknowns of childbirth.


Some people may associate childbirth with pain, a doula is there to ease that experience with a variety of non-medical comfort measures. They can be trained in techniques such as massage, counter-pressure, breathing exercises, positioning, and visualization. It’s important to talk with your doula about what training they have and what you think you might need in terms of comfort measures. These are all things that can help you manage pain durning contractions and reduce discomfort, these comfort measures can also reduce or eliminate the need for pain medications if that is something you are hoping for. Having a doula can offer you the experience of a more empowered, controlled birth. If you do choose to use pain relief medications later on, it is often with the knowledge that you have tried all other options and also you will feel that you are making the most informed and best decision for you.


A doula is there to help you communicate your preferences and needs with your birth team, ensuring that your birth preferences are respected as much as possible. While they are not there to make medical decisions for you, they can help you navigate difficult conversations, clarify any questions, and make sure that you feel informed about your options. This is can be especially helpful if you’re laboring in a hospital setting, where the pace and flow of the environment can sometimes feel as if there is not time, or that your preferences are not important. They can also help to make sure that important information is communicated during shift changes.


One of the main advantage of hiring a doula is that they are there as continuous support throughout the birth process, which is not always guaranteed from medical professionals. Doctors, nurses, and midwives may need to step away for other patients or tasks, however your doula stays with you from start to finish, offering consistent care and comfort. This continuity of care can significantly enhance your sense of security and trust during the birthing process.


The birth process can be overwhelming for the non-birthing partners as well. They want to be supportive, however they may not know exactly what to do, or may feel helpless during intense moments. It can also be difficult to see the person you love most in the world in pain and not feel there is anything you can do. A doula can help the partner durning the birth by making suggestions of ways they can support the birthing partner. They may suggest ways to touch, hold, or speak that can offer some relief to the birthing partner while giving the non-birthing partner the feeling of helping and to feel part of the process. Doulas can also offer breaks to the non-birthing partner, give reminders to eat, rest, and hydrated. 


Studies have shown that having a doula with you during labor can lead to better birth outcomes. Birthing people who have continuous support from a doula are less likely to request pain relief medication, more likely to have a shorter labor, and are at a lower risk for medical interventions. Additionally, doulas have been shown to improve overall satisfaction with the birth experience, giving you a greater sense of empowerment and positive memories from your birth.


A doula’s role doesn’t end when the baby is born. You can find doulas that offer postpartum support, helping you with breastfeeding, newborn care, and emotional recovery. This ongoing support can be invaluable during those first few weeks when birthing and non-birthing folks are adjusting to the day to day challenges of caring for a newborn.


Each birth is unique, whether its your first or sixth and each doula will tailor their approach to best suit your individual needs, preferences, and goals. Whether you’re planning to birth at home, in a birth center or at a hospital, a doula will work with you and your birth team to create an experience that feels right for you. A doulas flexibility, and you-centered care can make sure that the birthing and non-birthing parents are at the heart of the experience, making you feel empowered to make informed decisions at each step in the process.


The decision to hire a birth doula is, at its core, about giving yourself the best possible opportunity for a positive birth experience. A doula will bring professional support, compassionate care, and advocacy, they will help you with the complexities of labor bringing with them confidence and peace of mind. They can reduce stress, minimize pain, enhance communication, and provide an overall sense of emotional and physical security at a time when you need it most.


If you are looking to have a birthing experience where you transform fear and anxiety into joy and excitement then a birth doula might be the perfect addition to your birth team.

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I would love to meet with you and see if I’d be a good fit for your birth team. Feel free to reach out with any questions you may have!

425-891-5260
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