What Is A Birth Doula?

You may be hearing about Birth Doulas and wondering, “What is that?” 🤷🏼‍♀️

I had never heard of a Doula until my sister had her first baby, she hired a Doula and said it was great. Several months later, I found out I was pregnant and decided I liked the sounds of it and had the same Doula attend my first birth. I didn’t fully know what I was getting into, all I knew was that she could help me through my labour - and she did! About 19 months later, I had my second baby and didn’t have a doula with me 😭(yes, I’m still crying about that). Not having a Birth Doula present made me realize just how important they are. My husband and I were so lost during my second labour/delivery and I found pushing extremely difficult without her there to coach me. This experience was what inspired me to become a Doula.

I find it a bit ridiculous that even though I researched what a Birth Doula was and tried to get all the info about it, I still didn’t fully grasp all the ways a Doula could help until I did the schooling. 🙈 It shouldn’t be that hard to figure out what it is, but Doulas have a hard time presenting all the options to their clients and I now understand why. There are so many ways we can help that it’s hard for us to tell you all those things in one sitting. I’m trying to be better at explaining what I do, so I’ve made an extensive list of what I can do to support my clients. Keep reading to find that list!

In the meantime, here’s a general overview of what a Doula is: A doula is first and foremost - support. Childbirth is no small thing, it’s physically, mentally, and emotionally draining. As a Doula, I understand what is happening throughout labour (and cesarean births) and can support you and enable you to have courage even when emotions and fatigue get the best of you (emotional support). I’ll provide physical support by helping you breathe properly during all phases of childbirth 😙💨 and by using comfort techniques that help reduce the intensity of labour. If a baby shifts out of the ideal birthing position or progress stalls or slows, I’ll help to adjust baby using noninvasive methods that create room for baby to adjust all on their own (they know what to do  - no force necessary). The third type of support is so vital - informational support. Yes, you will have doctors, nurses, and/or midwives present for your birth and they do have information, but not everyone has your best interest at heart 💔. As much as we want to trust the doctors and nurses, I’ve seen and heard many stories about how hospital staff tried to push parents to do things they didn’t want or need to do and how they didn’t tell the whole truth and the parents found out later they had other options. My job is not to push my opinions on my clients, it’s my job to present all the options and to ensure that you have everything you need to make informed decisions for your family.

Whether you have a doctor, nurse, or midwife present for your birth, you should also know that their focus is almost entirely on delivering baby, not on supporting mama through labour/delivery. Of course it’s sooooo important to have that focus on baby and to have the medical team there, but Mama, you deserve to be cared for too, you matter just as much as baby does and there is no sense in going it alone when you could have a Doula in your corner.

Doulas are game changers! 🏆 But don’t just take my word for it, here are some incredible statistics on the benefits of hiring a Birth Doula:

Those numbers speak for themselves!

Now you know the basics of what a Birth Doula is, but if you want to know more 🧠⚡️ click to read my detailed list of ways that I can support you, then book a FREE CONSULTATION. Let’s meet and get to know each other better, let’s discuss all of your concerns and I’ll answer the questions you have, and then you can decide if I’m the right fit for you and your family. 

Don’t let your upcoming birth go by without ensuring you’ll have the support you need. You deserve the very best care!