Look, I know pregnancy and birth can be so extremely overhwhelming. The amount of questions you may have may leave you feeling silly or not knowing where to start. Next thing you know, you’re too embarrassed to ask for advice. Don’t worry, that’s what this article and I are for. I will explain what a birth doula is and why you need to know all about it to succeed in having an amazing birth.
What is a Birth Doula ?
What is a birth doula? At its most basic, a birth doula is a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to families before, during, and shortly after childbirth to help her achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible.
Let’s add a little more depth to that—a birth doula assists with birth plans, offers comfort measures like breathing techniques and massage, and acts as an advocate for the mother’s wishes during labor.
And finally, a birth doula utilizes specialized knowledge to help navigate the complexities of childbirth, providing evidence-based information and emotional reassurance.
Do you want to learn more from me? Check out my about page here.
Why Should You Care About a Birth Doula?
I’m all about making up your own mind, and I can’t make you care about birth doulas, but let me give you some compelling reasons to make it a part of your birth strategy.
A birth doula is important because:
- Emotional Support: They offer continuous emotional support during labor, helping to reduce anxiety and fear.
- Physical Comfort: They provide comfort measures such as massage, positioning, and breathing techniques to ease labor pains.
- Advocacy: They help ensure that your birth preferences are understood and respected by the medical team.
- Informational Support: They provide evidence-based information to help you make informed decisions throughout your birthing process.
In 2017, Bohren et al. published an updated Cochrane review on continuous support in childbirth. They combined the results of 26 trials with more than 15,000 people across 17 countries including North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Oceania, in both high-income and middle-income settings.
The researchers found that overall, continuous support during birth leads to a:
- 25% decrease in the risk of Cesarean; the largest effect was seen with a doula (39% decrease)*
- 8% increase in the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth; the largest effect was seen with a doula (15% increase)*
- 10% decrease in the use of any medications for pain relief; the type of person providing continuous support did not make a difference
- Shorter labors by 41 minutes on average; there is no data on if the type of person providing continuous support makes a difference
- 38% decrease in the baby’s risk of a low five-minute Apgar score; there is no data on if the type of person providing continuous support makes a difference
- 31% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience; this risk was reduced with continuous support provided by a doula or someone in their social network (family or friend), but not hospital staff
Important: Don’t think that just because your partner or family member will be with you, you don’t need a birth doula. The truth is, having a professional who is solely focused on your well-being can make a significant difference in your birth experience.
A Birth Doula in Context
How a birth doula affects your delivery is just as important as understanding what exactly a birth doula is and why it’s essential. Let me give you a real-world example:
My client Haylee had two previous births that she didnt consider traumatic, but she did feel like some of her wishes werent respected and she was coerced into an epidural when she didnt want one. With her third baby, she was dertemined to have a home birth to avoid this, and she hired me to not only help prepare her but give her that extra boost in support. She didn’t think it was possible to have a birth that felt so empowered and supported, but she did it. She had a beautiful en caul birth, and she was so proud of what she accomplished with a birth doula and supprttive midwife at her side.
3 Tips for Working with a Birth Doula
Raise your hand if you are still feeling lost or think you can’t apply this. Be honest! 🙋♀️ That’s no problem; here are some extra hints and tips to get you on your way:
- Outline Some Best Practice Rules for Working with a Doula: Communicate openly with your doula about your birth plan and expectations.
- Remember to Choose the Right Doula for You: Ensure that you feel comfortable and have a good rapport with your doula. My biggest tip is to never have anyone in your birth space you couldn’t poop in front of. Your birth doula will be there for some vert intimate moments, so it’s very important you feel comfortable with her.
- Schedule a Consultation: Schedule a consultation to discuss your needs and how a birth doula can support you during your delivery.
For an in-depth look at how to choose the perfect birth doula, you can read this post.
Let’s wrap this up, shall we? The key takeaways to remember from this post are that a birth doula provides emotional, physical, and informational support during childbirth, helping to create a positive birth experience. At Your Birth Bestie Co, I make it my mission to provide the highest level of support to expectant mothers. If you would like to work with me or know more, please schedule a consultation so we can talk about your vision for your birth. I love hearing from new moms-to-be.
Pssst, you can also check out my free Your Best Birth Plan Workbook– 28 pages packed full of information on learning your brith style and creating your birth plan. Click here to grab your Your Best Birth Plan Workbook now. Oh, and come say hi on Instagram and join the birth support community!
