Birthing With Doula Support
What Is A Doula?
A doula is a non-medical professional trained to provide continuous physical, emotional and informational support to a birthing person before, during and after giving birth to help them have the healthiest and most satisfying experience possible. Studies show that working with a doula can improve physical and psychological outcomes for the birther and the baby, and has a positive impact on the entire family.
Lauren Aardema Borrego, mellowellness.net
Some of the things a doula might provide are: assistance with physical comfort through touch, massage or breathing techniques, emotional reassurance and comfort, explanations during procedures and process, facilitating communication with medical providers and staff, guidance and support with partners and family members, assistance with breast feeding.
“Studies have shown that having a doula as a member of the birth team decreases the overall cesarean rate by 50%, the length of labor by 25%, the use of oxytocin by 40%, and requests for an epidural by 60%.” — American Pregnancy Association
Why Do You Need A Doula?
Francesca Marini, who offers doula services in Reno, Nevada says “I will never forget my teacher Nickie Tilsner telling us as part of our doula training, that pregnant people should not need doulas —we should have better community care and support for birthing people. However, the way our society and medical systems are structured truly necessitate doula support —the maternal mortality rate in this country is the highest among industrialized nations. It’s worse for BIPOC, especially Black birthing people. This has to do with a lot of factors, including structural racism and the medical industrial complex, but also, evidence shows that routine interventions in birth (such as inducing labor without a medical reason) do not always lead to better outcomes. Doulas are here to help people truly understand the landscape for birth and postpartum and what their options are (including finding a provider that is on the same page if need be), to provide evidence based information and put birthing people back at the center of their care, to generally help people process this huge life transformation and to fill in some of the gaps created by being isolated from community, particularly during Covid times.”
Lauren Aardema Borrego, a full spectrum doula based in Los Angeles, California adds that, “hiring a Doula allows you to be totally present in your birthing experience, while having the support of an advocate to insure your wishes are met and respected.”
Naima Bond, oyabirthandwellness.com
Preparing For Your Birth
Naima Bond, a doula in Atlanta, Georgia suggests that you “think about the type of birth experience you want to have, research where you want to give birth —read reviews, take a childbirth education class and seek acupuncture, chiropractic and other modalities that can provide comfort like meditation, hypnobirthing and breathing techniques.”
Lauren recommends a specialized childbirth education class in order to learn more on the physiological process of birth. She explains that while the standard childbirth education classes at hospitals are usually offered for free, they focus more on “teaching families how to be a compliant patient”.
Francesca who is also a prenatal yoga instructor urges pregnant people to move their bodies. She says “your body has changing needs while pregnant and prenatal specific fitness can help address these needs.” She suggests classes that include “strength, stretch, and pelvic floor work” as this can help with the aches and pains that come with pregnancy and “to help baby get into position for a smoother birth”. Movement and exercise are also beneficial for “the physicality of labor and to help with postpartum recovery.”
Lauren reminds us not to forget to “prepare for your postpartum journey! Whether that is hiring a postpartum doula, signing up for a meal delivery service, or creating a meal train. Get yourself set up for comprehensive postpartum support.” Francesca also emphasizes community support. She talks about how “having a child was never meant to happen in isolation”. The pandemic has taught us all about isolation and those who gave birth during the last 2 years experienced it first hand. Francesca emphasizes the importance of connection. “Online support circles have been a wonderful way to still get peer support. If you are able to figure out in-person community support, especially for postpartum, whether it’s having a family member help out or contactless meal drop-offs, it’s so essential for wellbeing.”
Lastly, Francesca suggests for those who might be prone to postpartum depression to look into therapy before giving birth.
Francesca Marini, francescamarinidoula.com
What Do Doulas Wish People Knew About Doulas?
Francesca explains that “there’s a common misconception that if someone really likes their care provider and has a wonderful partner that doulas aren’t needed, but that isn’t true. Providers, even the great ones, are in and out at best and usually only with you towards the end of your labor, especially in the hospital, because labor can be long. Birth is intense, and there are many aspects of it that are normal, and even good, that can be alarming (like vomiting and shaking!) We are there to normalize and translate for people and to help take some of the onus off the partner — it’s a lot to ask a partner who has never seen a birth before to be an advocate as well as an emotional & physical support, while they also go through the momentous transformation of becoming a parent and witness their loved one go through the sensations of labor. Doula presence allows both people to be present with each other and can help partners to be the best support in that setting. Partners know the pregnant person better than anyone, and we know birth, so we love to help partners take on the role that they want in the birth space.“
Naima knows that for some cost can be a barrier. She suggest that for those in this situation, that they can still seek out a doula who might be willing barter for their services.
Lauren emphasizes that “doulas are not only for unmedicated vaginal deliveries. She has supported clients through scheduled cesarean sections and those who plan to opt into a medicated birth. “Everyone should have a Doula, regardless of your birth preference.”
What Do Doulas Provide Postpartum?
Lauren explains that “postpartum doulas help families transition from pregnancy to home with baby.” Every doula is different on what they might offer. She says, “they may have specializations such as belly binding, or womb massage. Some Doulas also offer meal preparation and Lactation education.”
Naima offers vaginal steaming and breastfeeding support during the postpartum phase.
Francesca says that “postpartum doulas support the whole family (unlike baby nurses who mainly just care for baby) and can support everything from newborn care basics, like teaching you how to swaddle or bathe the baby, to providing nourishing meals, to supporting sleep and breastfeeding. Some postpartum doulas also offer overnight care so new families can get more rest.”
Connect With the Featured Doulas
Francesca Marini - Reno, NV
Lauren Aardema Borrego - Los Angeles, CA
Naima Bond - Atlanta, GA
Written by Dr. Emily Grace Siy March 22, 2022, Cover Photo by Erika Cristina from Pexels