5 things to know about doulas

BY ALICE WORTHY, THE MODERN DOULA

There’s a common misconception that all doulas are hemp wearing hippys with crystals in their pockets who will tell you that having a baby is as easy as breathing. Whilst this may be true of some doulas, it is more commonly a generalisation.

In case you’re still caught up on the hemp wearing hippy idea, here are five things I wish more people know about doulas.

1. Doulas are non-medicated relief

Doulas in themselves are a form of pain relief as we provide comfort, support, reassurance and practical hands-on techniques to reduce labour pain. Even just having a doula in the room can relieve feelings of pain because we are the gatekeepers of the space and promote a safe environment for the mother to express the powerful sensations of birth however she sees fit. Dr Kennell (a paediatrician) famously stated that “if a doula were a drug, it would be unethical not to use it”.

2. Doulas don’t replace your partner/midwife/OB

Doulas have a very important role on the birth team as they often act as a conduit between the medical team and your emotional support team. A doula is not (usually) medically trained, but often has a lot of experience in the hospital system and understands the risks and benefits of common medical interventions and has experience supporting women in the system. A doula will never be able to replace the deep emotional connection you have with your partner, and will not be able to perform any clinical care like your midwife or OB, so they play a perfect “in–between” role, often providing as much emotional support for your partner as they do for you.

3. Doulas might look like they’re not doing a lot... but they are

It takes a highly skilled doula to be able to sit back and let you do your thing without always needing to interfere. A secure and experienced doula knows that you don’t need much to birth your baby, and will hold space and protect the “cave” (AKA the birth room) without always needing to be doing something. She does this with her presence, picking up on vibes and mood, and gently switching things up to change the environment. This could be as simple as turning off the lights, switching playlists, closing a door or asking people to talk outside the room. Sometimes, a doula is doing absolutely everything by doing absolutely nothing.

4. Doula’s are not ‘anti hospital’ or ‘anti epidural’

Although there may be some doulas with strong opinions on these, it would be a huge generalisation to say that all doulas are anti hospitals or medical pain relief. Doulas exist to support you through the huge, life changing transition of pregnancy, birth and postpartum, wherever and however this may happen. Having said this, many doulas have witnessed and experienced birth trauma at the hands of the hospital system, and have seen the cascade of interventions that can occur in hospitals. This does not mean they are “anti” either of these things, but have seen the impact of this first hand, and want to reduce these things occurring for women.

5. Doulas are worth their weight in gold

So you’ve probably checked out your local doula and gone straight to the packages page on their website and gone wow that’s a lot. I want to challenge this notion with everything in me and ask you a couple of questions with zero judgment. Firstly, how much did you invest into your wedding day? How much have you spent on your gorgeous new baby when you add up the bassinet, the cot, the pram, the outfits and toys?

We spend money on a lot of things, and life is expensive. Consider the cost of a doula an investment not just in your birth experience, but for your foundations of parenthood. The chance of having a positive birth experience is scientifically proven to be higher when investing in a doula, and we know that the impact of your birth experience is a ripple effect to our partners, our children, and the women around us. Having a positive birth impacts positively on your postpartum journey, lowering your chances of postpartum depression and anxiety, improves your long term pelvic floor health and of course, your breastfeeding journey.

Considering a doula for your journey? Most doulas will offer an obligation free connect call or meet and greet. It’s as easy as reaching out!

www.themoderndoula.co

The Modern Doula - Alice Worthy Helping modern mamas get exactly what they want in birth & beyond, without the woo-woo!

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