Why Hire a Birth Doula?

Apr 4

Doula/Birthwork is on the rise, and honestly? for good reason! Doulas are an incredible addition and asset to any birth team! Take a look at these stats out of a Cochrane review:

- 39% reduced rate of cesarean section.
- 31% of women more likely to have a positive and empowering birth experience with less birth-related trauma.
- 15% increase in spontaneous vaginal birth.
- 10% decrease in the use of pain medication.
- 38% increase in Apgar scores.
- Labors shortened by 41 minutes on average.

In addition to the above, here are 5 reasons you may consider hiring a Birth Doula:

Stay at home labouring longer prior to hospital birth – a doula will have labouring position ideas, pain management methods, encouraging words to give you the confidence that what is happening is all part of the process. Staying at home longer during labor is positively correlated with less medical intervention. Planning a home birth? Doulas in this setting for extra physical, emotional and informational support are the best!

2. Support for your partner – gives your partner a break to rest, eat, tips on facilitating contractions. Allows your birth partner to be as involved as you (and they) would like! Also, if your partner ends up feeling squeamish or unable to support you as anticipated, your Doula is there to step up. Doulas never aim to replace a partner, rather work with you and your partner, if you have one, as a collaborative member of your birth team! Teamwork, makes the dream work!

3. Continuous care from early labour until after delivery – midwives and doctors will want you to check in and notify them that labour has started but they rarely make house calls! Depending on your doula, you will have someone to come over, check in and either stay with you at home or come back when things get more intense.

Doulas will also stay with you for a period of time post delivery. There’s nothing better than additional support when you are trying to take in all the new baby info being thrown at you! Your Doula will help you iniate chest feeding, organize your pain management schedule, discuss what you are looking for regarding baby’s output in the first days, answer allll the questions and more! OH and they make house calls! Typically, your birth Doula with make 1-2 postpartum home visits. Yes please.

4. Increased birth satisfaction – your relationship with your doula is established before labour and delivery so the trust is already there. Your doula should provide an environment where you feel empowered and supported in your ability to birth your baby. Birth plans are not set in stone so having an advocate who knows your desires regarding pain management, interventions, birthing positions, etc is key to feeling in control of a very unpredictable experience.

5. Resources after baby – your doula will have resources for matters you may not even have thought about during pregnancy. Lactation consultants, lactation cookies/foods, nipple creams, pelvic floor physiotherapists, and counselling are just some of the many topics that doulas can help navigate postpartum. Some even specialize as postpartum doulas to provide further care for you and baby.

Questions about how we can support you during pregnancy, birth and/or postpartum? Let’s connect! We’d love to chat :)