Frequently Asked Questions and Guidance
How does a doula help before labor?
Leading up to labor, I meet with my clients 2-3 times in person. We cover a wide range of topics including what questions to ask your care provider, what to expect as your pregnancy progresses, most common reasons your labor journey could change and how to work with them, and postpartum care and expectations.
How does a doula help during labor?
A doula will be there to keep you and your partner calm and focused, control the environment you are laboring in such as lighting and sound, provide emotional and physical support, and use techniques to help your labor progress smoothly.
Labor can be a difficult time to make decisions, or understand changes in the plan or medical language. A doula will not make decisions for you, but they can help explain situations, what your alternative options are, and often foresee these events and explain them to you in advance. A doula is also greatly beneficial in helping you decide when the right time is to go to the hospital.
What does a doula NOT do?
As your doula I do not perform medical procedures such as taking vital signs on mother or baby or do cervical checks. I do not give medical advice, make medical decisions, or diagnose medical conditions. While I can help advocate for your desires or time to think over a change of plan, I will not speak directly for you.
Is a doula only helpful for an unmedicated birth?
Not at all! There are lots of benefits to having a doula present for births that involve induction, an epidural, and even a cesarean. There are good reasons to hold off getting an epidural for as long as possible, which a doula can greatly help with. Many hospitals are now not providing an L&D room until 6 cm dilation, which can take some strong contractions to get to! After an epidural, a doula can help make sure you are rotating positions throughout labor and pushing.
Are doulas required to having training or a certification?
Nope! Most doulas have received some sort of training and can have a variance of certifications, but nothing is required to be a practicing doula.
Birth is not a medical event; it is normal, natural, and healthy
It’s the warmest place for baby to be, and decreases chance of low body temperature
Increases likelihood of success breastfeeding after birth
Promotes release of oxytocin, which calms the mother and baby and helps them bond
Improved cardio-vascular stability and oxygen saturation levels
Benefits of Delayed Cord Clamping
Increases hemoglobin level at birth
Improves iron stores for first several months of life, which may have a favorable effect on developmental outcomes
Significant benefits to preterm babies such as better establishment of red blood cell volume and transition of circulation from relying on the placenta
1/3 of baby’s blood is in the placenta and cord!
Benefits of Delayed or No Epidural
Labor is often shorter because it can interfere with the natural release of oxytocin
Being able to move helps contractions progress and helps the baby rotate into the correct position
Pushing normally takes longer because it is much less effective without sensation or proper positioning of the mother
Breastfeeding is easier because the baby is more alert
No epidural reduces your risk of Cesarean from about 30% to about 5%