What Only a Doula Can Do: The Unmatched Support You Didn’t Know You Needed
What DOES a doula do that no one else can?
The popularity of doulas is increasing as women want extra support for their births. But what does that actually mean? If you’re already preparing your birth partner, and are happy with a known/ or unknown midwife caring for you, you might wonder: Is a doula really necessary? That’s a valid question, and the answer isn’t about replacing anyone. It’s about having someone in the room whose only job is to focus on YOU!
If you're not too sure what a doula is, you can check out this blog: What is a Doula?
While the midwives and consultants are focused on monitoring the health and safety of you and your unborn baby, (and your partner is probably experiencing their own range of emotions), a doula is a known, continuous, calm and skilled presence who is only there for your physical comfort, emotional support and sense of control. (You can read more about the differences between doulas and midwives HERE)
What makes Doula support unique?
This is what I bring into your birth space that others often can’t:
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Continuity – I don’t change shifts after 8 hours, I’m there with you.
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Hands-on comfort – I have the time and experience to offer massage, counter-pressure, breathing and positioning.
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Emotional coaching – Helping you to focus and stay calm, grounded and heard.
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Advocacy – I help you understand options, including their risks and benefits, and I will speak up if needed.
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Partner support – Guiding and reassuring your partner so they feel confident and included.
I had a client whose labour was over 20 hours. There were 3 different midwives attending to my client throughout this time, due to shift changes. But I was there the whole time, helping her breathe through each contraction, getting her birth partner to rest when he could, and reminding my client that she was safe, strong and more than capable to birth her baby. That’s what doulas do, and it’s absolutely priceless for the woman when she’s deep in labour land.
Preparation before labour even starts
One of the most overlooked, but in my opinion, the most valuable parts of doula support, is what happens before ‘Labour Day’. In our prenatal sessions, I work with you and your chosen birth supporter to:
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Build trust between ourselves
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Understand the progression of labour: what to expect, what’s normal and what’s not
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Clarify your ideal birth preferences and other options if things don’t go as planned
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Talk through any fears, hopes and any emotional baggage around birth
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Guide your birth partner in understanding how to support you confidently.
Your chosen birth partner knows you in a deep and unique way. They don’t need to know everything about birth. That’s my job. Together we can become a team that works synergistically - better together than individually.
You Don’t Have To Choose
Hiring a doula doesn’t mean replacing your partner or distrusting the medical team. It means completing your support, so that EVERYONE in the room feels more confident, cared for and connected to you.
If you’ve been wondering whether a doula is an “extra”, I’d say this: you deserve full-spectrum support. And you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Curious if I’m the right doula for you? Let’s talk. No pressure, just real, honest answers.