You can research all your options and write out a detailed birth plan, but having a baby doesn’t always go as planned. Just ask Lainey Bries, a Grand Prairie mom who envisioned giving birth to her first child at home but ended up delivering in the hospital via emergency C-section. The experience left her even more assured of her decision to use a birth doula, whom she calls “invaluable” during her pregnancy, labor and delivery. “Overall, they were just a very calm and supportive presence in a time that was not calm or peaceful,” she says.
Research shows that, like Bries, women who use a doula during childbirth often report a higher level of satisfaction with their birth experience compared to those who did not. Doula support is also linked to reduced C-sections and length of labor and increased breastfeeding success.
So is a doula right for you? Here we dive into what you need to know before hiring one for your birth.
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What is a doula?
A doula is a trained professional who provides support during pregnancy and childbirth, and sometimes during the postpartum period. They are meant to bring peace of mind to both the person giving birth and their partner without agenda or bias.
“It’s vital for you and your partner to feel comfortable and heard.”
“Ultimately, a doula is a support person,” explains Lakin Vaughn, a Mom-Approved occupational therapist and birth doula at Genesis PT & Wellness in Fort Worth. “We provide not only physical support, but mental, emotional and spiritual support during pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum.”
Unlike a midwife or obstetrician, a doula is not a medical professional, but more of an advocate who works alongside doctors, midwives and nurses to make certain the wishes and birth plan of the mother are respected. “A doula does not do anything clinical whatsoever,” explains Bianke Prozesky, a doula and childbirth educator who own The Birthing B, based in Richardson. “The support we provide is emotional, physical and informational. Imagine having a best friend with you at your birth doing everything they can to make it a great experience for you.”
If you opt to have a doula at your birth, you’ll discuss with them beforehand the kind of labor and delivery experience you envision. What kind of pain management do you want? How about birthing positions? A doula can help advocate for your wishes while you’re in labor.
They can also offer support when things don’t go as planned, and act as a liaison between you and the medical professionals. When Michelle Borunda, of Fort Worth, was induced and didn’t tolerate the medication well, she didn’t feel especially supported by the medical staff. “When my doula arrived, she helped us understand the timing and meaning behind everything. It felt like having an insider that helps guide you,” she says.
Typically, the support begins well before labor day. Bries’ doula taught a private birthing class in the weeks leading up to birth and met Bries and her wife at the obstetric emergency room to provide support through some health concerns.
The goal is that you feel prepared and empowered. “We provide help with pain management, education on all your options, overall knowledge of the labor process, helping with positioning to help labor progress, encouragement, advocating and empowering parents to achieve better birth outcomes and satisfaction,” says Vaughn. “I think that truly all women can benefit from a birth doula. I especially think they can be helpful for first-time moms who haven’t navigated pregnancy or labor before. And speaking from my own experience, I think they can be helpful if your prior birth experience wasn’t what you’d hoped for.”
What kind of training does a doula have?
The state of Texas does not license, certify or regulate doulas, however many doulas choose to become certified for business purposes or to offer clients peace of mind. There are many different doula certification programs, each with their own requirements. Programs typically include classes, workshops and coursework in childbirth, postpartum and breastfeeding. In some programs, students must attend a certain number of births or shadow a more experienced doula before completion.
Some of the most recognized doula certification programs include:
- DONA International
- International Childbirth Education Association
- Childbirth International
- Bebo Mia
- Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association (CAPPA).
How to pick a doula
If you think hiring a doula may be right for your birth, take your time to research and interview several to make sure you find the person who fits your needs, wants and personality.
“It’s important to meet and talk with a doula before moving forward to make sure you jive well and communicate effectively and ultimately feel comfortable with and supported by them,” says Vaughn. “It’s vital for you and your partner to feel comfortable and heard.”
Some questions you might want to ask include:
- The doula’s certification and experience; how many births have they attended?
- Their philosophy when it comes to childbirth—are they holistic or more medically based? Are they supportive of medicated and unmedicated births?
- Would they be open to supporting a cesarean birth?
- Do they only work at a certain location, hospital or birthing center?
- How many clients do they take on a month?
- What is included? Some packages include prenatal visits and support, birth support, and postpartum support.
Also consider if they specialize in other areas that could be helpful as you navigate pregnancy, birth and postpartum. For example, Vaughn says, “Someone who knows the pelvic floor and does body work can be especially helpful when prepping for birth and during labor for things like positioning and breathing.”
What is a postpartum doula?
Doula support doesn’t have to end at childbirth. Postpartum doulas are trained to offer physical, emotional and practical support to families following the birth of a baby. They can assist with the postpartum healing process, education on newborn care, lactation, recognition of postpartum depression, even meal prep and some house cleaning tasks.
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“Our doula offered aftercare, and it was an invaluable experience,” says Borunda. “She taught me and my husband how exactly to take care of my postpartum body. From diapers to how much activity to take on in order to heal correctly.”
Some postpartum doulas can be contracted to take care of the baby at night so the parents can get much needed rest.
Birth and postpartum doulas have different training since postpartum doulas are knowledgeable in infant care. But there are many doulas who are trained in both.
Doula vs. Midwife
Doulas and midwives are sometimes confused because they’re different from obstetricians and often associated with more holistic childbirth, but the two are very different. Midwives are licensed medical professionals who can provide prenatal care, medical support during pregnancy and labor and can deliver babies. Doulas, on the other hand, can’t deliver babies and cannot perform medical interventions.
RELATED: Midwife or Doula: How to Make Your Choice
Images: iStock
