What does a Doula do?
The dictionary definition of a doula is….
‘a woman, typically without formal obstetric training, who is employed to provide guidance and support to a pregnant person during labour’
But this really only tells us such a small piece of the puzzle.
I’d describe a doula as….
A professional birth partner
A calming presence
A protector of the birth space
An extra pair of (very useful!) hands - able to provide both physical support (like massage and hip squeezes for example) during birth, and provide wonderful postnatal care too
An expert in supporting physiological birth
An expert in understanding the NHS maternity system and how to effectively navigate it
A neutral person who’s well trained in advocacy, and will speak up for you, to ensure your birthing wishes are respected by medical health care professionals
All of this is done to help facilitate the best possible birth experience for YOU.
A doula is a fantastic addition to a woman’s birth team. They help take pressure of the birth partner, by sharing the load that comes with the huge task of supporting a woman in labour. A doula adds to your birth team, they do not take away roles or responsibilities from your birth partner. They also provide you with continuity of care throughout pregnancy and postpartum which is invaluable.
Through my doula services, I provide continuous physical, emotional, and informational support from pregnancy, to birth and beyond.
Typically, I will meet with you and your birth partner/family, during your pregnancy, to provide you with evidence based antenatal education and hypnobirthing skills, to get you fully prepared for your baby's birth, and to of course, get to know me really well. I will go 'on call' for you from 10 days before your EDD (estimated due date) until your baby is born. When you go into labour, contact me and I will come out to you at whatever point you’d like my in person birth support to start. I’ll then stay with you for a few hours after your baby has been born to ensure you’re settled into your new family life. When you're home, I will visit to provide you with postpartum doula support too.
Did you know evidence shows us that having a doula for your birth hugely improves outcomes?
‘’There is evidence to show that having a doula can mean:
Reduced risk of Caesarean birth † *.
Reduced risk of instrumental birth † *.
Reduced need for painkillers or epidural during birth † *.
Reduced rate of induction of labour † *.
Shorter labour †.
Increased parental satisfaction with the birth experience. †
Increased likelihood of initiating breastfeeding *.
Increased likelihood of successfully establishing breastfeeding & breastfeeding at 6 weeks *.
Lower incidence of depressive symptomatology †.
Improve equity and provide culturally responsive care#
* Brigstocke S. MIDIRS Midwifery Digest, vol 24, no 2, 2014, pp 157-160
#Meghan A Bohren and Sarah Chapman Cochrane review† Hodnett ED, Gates S, Hofmeyr G, Sakala C. Continuous support for women during childbirth. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2013, Issue 7. Art. No.: CD003766. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003766.pub5 and Bohren MA, Hofmeyr GJ, Sakala C, Fukuzawa RK, Cuthbert A. Continuous support for women during childbirth. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2017, Issue 7. Art. No.: CD003766. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003766.pub6.’’
Source: Doula UK
Postpartum Doula
Doulas can also work in a postpartum capacity too helping provide an extra pair of hands to help parents settle into life with a newborn…
Provide a listening ear, and hold a safe space for you to have a birth debrief
Help prepare and cook nutritious healing meals
Light housework - laundry, washing up
Signpost to relevant organisations that can offer you further support
Help look after your baby whilst you rest
I truly believe doulas are the wise women. We bring an enormous amount of value, support and guidance as you transform into a new parent or parent again. It's hard to put into words quite how important it is to have someone who can truly advocate for you in your most vulnerable moments, but it’s a gift I wish everyone had access too.
I had a doula during my second birth - she was absolutely incredible. You can read about my hugely redemptive and healing VBAC water birth story here if you’d like, and what having a doula meant to me!
More info on my doula packages can be found here…
The Birth Base Ltd doula services cover Northamptonshire, Market Harborough, Milton Keynes, Wellingborough, Rushden.
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