A doula is someone who joins a birthing person in labour to support and comfort them.

Birth with a doula has been shown to have so many benefits. It frequently makes me wonder why every woman isn’t offered a doula because it would clearly save the medical system so much time and money. Here are the stats:

Benefits of doula: (Cochrane Review of 22 studies)

• Less pain medication used
• Less pitocin (for inducing or augmenting labour)
• 34% fewer negative birth experiences
• 40 minutes shorter labor
• More spontaneous vaginal births
• Higher APGAR scores (for baby)
• Increased breastfeeding

So, if women are having shorter labours, less pain medication, less inductions, and better outcomes for babies with doulas present wouldn’t that ease the resources at the hospital? (I know, I know, we still live in a world that is reactive versus proactive…. eventually it will change I hope!)

A doula’s job is very relationship based. You get to know your doula and they get to know you and your partner on a deeper level than your health care providers. Your doula will ask you things like:

“what scares you?”

“what are you worried about the most when it comes to your labour?”

“can you use your voice when you feel concerned about something?”

“Tell me about your last labour, what went well, and what you really didn’t like”

But we don’t stop there. A doula can help you come up with a plan if you are someone who is uncomfortable with saying no to authority figures, if you aren’t sure how your body will respond to pain, or when you have a loving partner but they don’t know exactly what to do to help you during labour.

Birth is a very emotional journey and it is very physical. It can be hard to know exactly what you will need when you haven’t needed this kind of support before. Your doula will literally help you with both of these things at the same time and in the moment. It’s not like having an experience and then waiting for 3 weeks to sit in your therapist's office to talk about what happened. It’s hands on, in the moment care that significantly reduces your risk of interventions, trauma, and other things that can lead to postpartum issues or an unsatisfactory birth experience. Your doula is skilled in relieving your stress and tension during the labour process, which are things that significantly impact your birth but are very difficult to do on your own.

Your doula doesn’t have a preconceived agenda. Your birth is YOUR experience.

No judgment.

No trying to convince you that something else is better.

Just unwavering, hands on, motivation, assistance, and guidance that flows with how you need to flow in the moment. You won’t know it until you experience it but support is your best friend.

Book a Free Consultation if you want to chat to see if we are a good fit to work together!

Did you know that I not only attend births as a Doula but also created The Confident Birth Method, a step-by-step program that prepares your body, mind, and spirit for labour and birth so you can have the birth you dream about (even in the hospital).

If you need help preparing and you love the vibe of evidence-based birth education, yoga, relaxation methods, and natural pain relief methods all wrapped up in one place let's chat! Book a Consultation