Top Ten Reasons to Hire a Doula

Good afternoon everyone!
I am going to give blogging a whirl, here on my new website. Please let me know if there are specific topics you want to learn about or topics you want me to focus on. Keep in mind that I am a full time doula and mama so most of my posts will be simple and short, but I will give special attention to the topics you are interest in.

Today’s topic will be” Reasons to Hire a Birth Doula”:

1) You will have an experienced knowledgeable person by your side your entire birth.

2) Your doula will help you find the best positions to be comfortable in while in labor. And help partners learn special positions to support you in.

3) If you are giving birth with a partner present your doula will offer information and suggestions about how to best support you. This means the partner will feel more included and more confident about what they are doing.

4) Before labor you will have time to discuss your birth vision at length, and you and your doula can find ways to support your vision, either with classes, positions, practice, books, etc. You will prepare for any possible detours and speedbumps that may occur.

5) If you are planning for a natural birth, doulas help to reduce the rate of all interventions used in a hospital setting.

6) If you are planning for a medicated birth, your doula will still support you with massage, keeping you hydrated, and keeping the focus still on you, among other things. When a mother has an epidural the focus tends to turn away from them and toward other unimportant things. It’s important to still keep the focus on mom if not all, most of the time, this is still her day, and even if pain is dulled, hormones and her body are still hard at work.

7) Partners tend to love having a doula present. This probably goes against all the silly myths out there that say the doula takes the place of the partner. NOT TRUE! Ask any partner that had a doula there. If a partner has someone to look at and know that mom is indeed, alright, and that what is happening is a normal part of labor, that can change the entire birth experience. The partner can stop worrying and go back to loving mom.

Doulas are specialist! You will have your very own specialist at your birth. Doulas are trained to know how to support you physically, emotionally, and informationally! No other person at your birth can do that.(Except maybe a midwife, who was probably a doula before a midwife)

9) There is always something to do! Always! Sometimes it’s just sitting quietly, and sometimes it’s finding food for mom, or coffee for the partner. Your doula will know what to do and when to do it. She will know who to ask and how to make it happen. You will be free to focus on birthing your baby.

10) Doulas remind you of your vision even when your stress level is high. In the throws of labor a doula can remind you that you don’t have to make a split second decision, but that you and your partner can ask for time to discuss the options offered to you, and maybe even come up with option of your own. Your doula will not make any decisions for you, but she will be there to remind you to ask for time to talk to each other.

Do you have other reasons to hire a doula? Let’s hear them! Thanks for reading and check back for regular blog posts. Happy Autumn!