26 Reasons to Hire a Doula

Jennifer Clancy, M.A. of

Jennifer Clancy: Birth Services
Published July 7, 2015
Women across the globe have utilized the support of their peers for all of time.
Remember the first time you menstruated? Remember the first time you were kissed?
Remember the first time you had sex? Your first orgasm? Your first desire to become a
mother? Your first pee on a stick moment? Your first disappointment that you were not
pregnant? Were pregnant? Didnt want a baby? Desired a baby but were faced with
fertility issues? Birthed prematurely, past due, on time, vaginally, via cesarean
delivery or other assistance? Adopted? Provided surrogacy? Remember your first time
looking at your child? Remember those feelings? The first moments postpartum, filled
with shock, awe, wonder? Doubt, fear, pain? The parenting struggles and joys?
Remember your first menopausal experience? Remember your first brush with death?
Remember praying for guidance?
Who did you turn to? You turned first to your best girl friend, cousin, mother, etc.
because theyve been there. They know you. They know your history. They know how to
support you in times of change. Or maybe they are trying to and for whatever reason,
you need more. Thats fair. Varying cultures have varied beliefs, expectations
surrounding a womans fertility and life cycle. That doulas came into existence is a
testament to our desire for more. Doulas provide support across the full spectrum of
experience.
There are reasons why women throughout history have included experienced doulas in
their most pivotal of life changes. The doula is with woman just as a midwife is with
woman. The difference is that the doula provides
non-medical
support throughout the
life cycle. Just like a well versed, experienced friend or mother figure; but more than
that. Devoted to learning all there is to know about fertility, birth, nurturance of the
woman and her family, a doula will seek applicable knowledge and help you find your
safe space towards informed decision making. Doulas honor your process. Doulas honor
your familys role in your life. Doulas honor your choices. To highlight the variety of
reasons women have chosen doulas to support them in their life cycle changes, here are
26 ways doulas are essential to womens wellbeing.
1. Evidence has proven the doulas worth.

A large
Cochrane review
concluded that all women should have continuous
support during labour. Continuous support from a person who is present solely to
provide support, is not a member of the woman's social network, is experienced
in providing labour support, and has at least a modest amount of training,
appears to be most beneficial. The
American Journal of Managed Care
reported
in 2014 that: Doula-supported women had lower odds of cesarean compared
without doula support and those who desired but did not have doula support
(AOR = 0.41, CI, 0.18-0.96; and AOR = 0.31, CI, 0.13-0.74). The odds of non
indicated cesarean were 80-90% lower among doula-supported women (AOR=
0.17, CI, 0.07-0.39; and AOR= 0.11, CI, 0.03-0.36).
Evidence Based Birth
offers a
reader-friendly analysis of the data.
2. Your doula provides emotional support that is unique to your needs. Breathe with
her, cry with her, share your story, process, deeply reflect, share your joy with
her. While not all are licensed counselors, all are trained to support you where
you are today, woman to woman.
3. Your doula uses a variety of comfort measures: breathing, relaxation, movement,
positioning. Ask for her to give you foot, back, head, hand rubs during labor!
4. A doula helps a mother become informed about various birth and womens health
choices by providing unbiased, evidence based information. She stays current on
the literature because she knows that overtime time, information and trends
change.
5. Overall, women who received continuous support were more likely to have
spontaneous vaginal births and less likely to have any pain medication, epidurals,
negative feelings about childbirth, vacuum or forceps-assisted births, and
C-sections. In addition, their labors were shorter by about 40 minutes and their
babies were less likely to have low Apgar scores at birth.
6. When continuous labor support was provided by a doula, women experienced a:
31% decrease in the use of Pitocin*
28% decrease in the risk of C-section*
12% increase in the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth*
9% decrease in the use of any medications for pain relief
14% decrease in the risk of newborns being admitted to a special care nursery
34% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience*

For four of these outcomes,* results with a doula were better than all the other
types of continuous support that were studied.
7. You doula provides assistance with creating your ideal Birth Plan, vision, goals,
etc and promotes informed confidence in times when the plan must change.
8. Your doula works to enhance the birth experience for both mother and expectant
partners. Doulas help your partner support you based on your unique needs.
Your partner will be able to eat, grab a cup of coffee and go to the bathroom
knowing that you are in good company. The camaraderie between your partner
and doula is built prenatally and continues into the postpartum weeks. The team
approach works. Mothers and babies win every time.
9. Your doula assists with breastfeeding, bottle feeding, locating wet nurses,
locating donor milk providers, etc. Breastfeeding is rewarding but can pose its
challenges, so your postpartum doula can offer unbiased guidance during
frustrating or exhausting feedings.
10. Most doulas wont leave at shift change even if your labor progresses through
more than one shift change. Doulas are human, though, and to serve your best
interests, there are times when your chosen doula must take care of her own
physiological needs or unforeseen circumstances arise. The best doulas
accommodate your needs by providing for a solid, well fitted back up doula to
support you in her absence.
11. Doulas know the best for all things pregnancy. Be it in the search for the perfect
care provider or the perfect maternity bradoulas know and will share their
knowledge.
12. Doulas understand and appreciate the normal variations of labor and birth.
When you are approaching your due date, your doula will never ask you, Have
you had that baby yet???
13. A doula has a rebozo and knows how to use it. They may also specialize in
complementary services to enhance your wellbeing: reiki, massage, essential oils,
placenta preparation, birth pool rentals, as examples. If they dont have this skill
set, they will find and refer you to someone who does!

14. Your doula will tell you that you are beautiful even if you are wearing a hospital
gown or the t shirt you put on three nights ago that is now sweat and vomit
stained. Hair all out of place? Gorgeous! She totally believes it, too.
15. Doulas know your experience matters and will share in retelling all the details of
your birth as many times as you need it. She will probably even still remember
details years later.
16. Woman who have doulas reduce their risk to unnecessary cesarean delivery and
may opt to have their doula present in the operating room if the birth necessitates
it. Most surgical staff members are supportive of the doulas presence with
advanced discussion of your desires.
17. Doulas are great for babies, too! By virtue of working together prenatally and in
birth, a doula reduces NICU admission and hospital stays for mom and baby.
18. Your doula can talk you through your options at every step of the way. Decision
making is yours alone, but they will help you ask thoughtful questions so that you
can make the best choices for your experience.
19. Doulas work to promote positive relationships with doctors, nurses, attendants.
Your doula works for YOU; not the hospital or the medical care provider. Doulas
are not hired to speak for you and will not save you from your choices. Doulas
will assist you in understanding what is being presented and communicated if
desired so you are confident in your decisions.
20.A doula offers judgment free support allowing you to develop your parenting style
peacefully, smoothly and at your own pace.
21. Your postpartum doula will nurture YOU while you nurture your newborn by
reminding you about hygiene, hydration and nutrition. She can offer to help
prepare meals, draw you a relaxing bath, provide massage, maintain open
listening while you discuss your needs, snuggle or feed your newborn as you rest,
etc.
22. Your postpartum doula can provide assistance with day-to-day household tasks
in order to allow you to focus on bonding with your baby and your partner.

23. Your postpartum doula stays up to date on products relating to babies,

recommendations and product recalls and is always a phone call or email away.
24. Doulas are trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of the postpartum baby
blues and postpartum depression. Your doula can advise you of what is a
normal part of your emotional recovery and what you might need some help
with. Need help now? Take this
free screening test
and provide the results to your
health professional.
25. End of life/death/bereavement doulas honor your choices and experiences of loss
or terminal illness. Many organizations are founded today which specialize in
these life changes.
26. Most importantly, your chosen doula will support you no matter what happens.
She is committed to your well being and will honor you through these transitions.

Important questions to ask when considering a doula:

1. What is your training? If certified, through what organization? Why did you
choose this route of education?
2. Why did you become a doula?
3. Are you available around my date of need?
4. How many other clients do you have around this time?
5. What is your philosophy about fertility/birth/family/death and how do you most
often support women?
6. How many clients have you attended?
7. For birth, have you attended births at my birth location and what were
experiences there?
8. Do you have experience with my caregiver?
9. Do you have a backup doula and will I meet her?
10. For birth, at what point in labor do you meet up with us?
11. How do we contact you? Are you always on call?
12. What coping techniques do you find most helpful?
13. What are your fees?
14. Have you given birth, experienced loss, breastfed, adopted a child, etc. yourself?
Did you have a doula? What were your experiences?
15. Ask yourself- Do I feel a connection between this doula and myself? Do I trust
her? She will be with me during one of my most intimate and vulnerable
experiences of my life. It is important to me to be comfortable.

You are in the position of power; moreso today than in any point in history. Women are
choosing to take ownership of their bodies, minds, choices. This does not mean your
path to parenthood or transitions through life changes are easy or without challenge!
With a doula at your side to navigate the options available to you and your family, the
odds of success are in your favor. Do you need a doula? No, but
honoring the desire
to
have one by your side during life events such as these, is necessary. For your well being,
for the support of your family. Doulas honor that which you honor for yourself.

Sources:
http://www.dona.org/
http://icea.org/
http://www.birtharts.com/
www.justmommies.com/pregnancy/labor-and-childbirth/ten-reasons-to-hire-birth-dou
la
http://www.northeastdoulas.com/blog/10-reasons-hire-postpartum-doula
http://wellnessmama.com/36814/reasons-to-hire-a-doula/
http://www.mothering.com/articles/20-reasons-hire-doula/#sthash.6MAu8bQp.dpuf
http://www.ajmc.com/journals/issue/2014/2014-vol20-n8/Potential-Benefits-of-Incre
ased-Access-to-Doula-Support-During-Childbirth
www.doulaproject.org
http://menstruationresearch.org/2015/05/02/full-spectrum-doula-support-and-reprod
uctive-justice/
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/24/your-money/death-doulas-help-the-terminally-i
ll-and-their-families-cope.html?_r=0
http://www.postpartumhealthalliance.org/screening-test