Why hire a doula?
- staceybrookebirthw
- Jan 26, 2021
- 3 min read
What is a doula?
A doula is ultimately whatever you want them to be for you during pregnancy, labour & beyond. Depending on the type of services your chosen Doula offers. A doula is there to support you and your decisions and provide you with evidence based information, guidance & direct you to the most relevant resources. A doula is there to provide their client with emotional and physical support. doulas can be there to support their client through pregnancy, Labour, Post partum, Miscarriage, still birth and abortion. It is important to have a discussion with A doula before hand to get clear on your needs and goals and to make sure you hire the right kind of doula for you. Ultimately, the doula will be there to be whatever you need them to be. Doulas are not medical professionals and cannot make any medical decisions on your behalf or provide any medications for you.
What can I expect my doula to do for me during my pregnancy?
During your pregnancy your doula will be there to listen and understand your decisions and desires for your birth. They can provide you with relevant information and support you in making informed decisions. They can go with you to any appointments and scans if required and help you create your desired birthing plan.
What will a doula do during my labour?
During labour a doula can be there to support you however you need them too, dependant on discussions you had with them during your pregnancy. A doula during labour can offer a variation of things and all depends on the specific doula, however just a few things are;
Birthing set ups/ Equipment depending on location and setting of your birth. Bringing you and your birthing partners food and drink. Breathing techniques
Hypnobirthing
Amplify your voice and decisions Affirmations
Holistic care
massage
Birthing photos/Videos
Emotional support
What can I doula provide for me Post Partum?
Straight after labour a Doula can help with;
Help establishing Breast/Chest feeding or helping with Bottle feeding. Clean up of birth supplies/ Birthing area
Help cleaning you up and getting you comfortable
Bring you food and drink
Help with siblings
Help with baby wearing
Dress baby ( if requested by you)
Emotional support
During an extensive study of continuous support for birthing people during labour researches included and I quote "a total of 27 trials, and 26 trials involving 15,858 women provided usable outcome data for analysis. These trials were conducted in 17 different countries: 13 trials were conducted in high-income settings; 13 trials in middle-income settings; and no studies in low-income settings" During this study they discovered ''Continuous support during labour may improve outcomes for women and infants, including increased spontaneous vaginal birth, shorter duration of labour, and decreased caesarean birth, instrumental vaginal birth, use of any analgesia, use of regional analgesia, low five-minute Apgar score and negative feelings about childbirth experiences.'' Evidence from this trial will be linked below under references.
So, We know that Doulas can provide emotional and physical support and evidence shows that having a doula present during your labour can lead to more positive birthing outcomes. But ultimately, why should you hire a Doula? Well the answer to that question can look differently for everyone. Some people may have had a previous traumatic birth and want some support to enable the possibilities of history repeating its self to be very miniscule. Some people may feel they want an extra set of hands present during birth and the post partum period. Hiring a doula is an incredible investment in yourself and your birth. We spend so much money and time planning weddings, Why not put the same into your pregnancy and birth? You and your family deserve unconditional support, someone to be advocating for you throughout it all, and the best possible outcomes for your birth and post partum period.
References:
Art work credit: Spiritysol
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