Since I began attending births in 2013, 60% of my mothers have labored and birthed without epidurals and over 100 mothers have had successful VBACs (vaginal birth after cesarean). I have also attended breech and twin births as well as stillbirths.

One of my goals as a doula is to get husbands involved in the birth process. I may know birth better than they do but they know their wives better than I do, so we make a great team! I do not attend births to replace the husband’s role; if he wants to be a part of the birth, then I can show him ways to comfort and support his wife during this most intense and intimate experience they both will ever experience together.

More About Hiring A Doula

For two of these outcomes (designated with asterisks*), the best results occurred when a birthing person had continuous labor support from a doula– someone who was NOT a staff member at the hospital and who was NOT part of their social network. The researchers found that overall, people who have continuous support during childbirth experience a:

  • 25% decrease in the risk of Cesarean; the largest effect was seen with a doula (39% decrease)*
  • 8% increase in the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth; the largest effect was seen with a doula (15% increase)*
  • 10% decrease in the use of any medications for pain relief; the type of person providing continuous support did not make a difference
  • Shorter labors by 41 minutes on average; there is no data on if the type of person providing continuous support makes a difference
  • 38% decrease in the baby’s risk of a low five minute Apgar score; there is no data on if the type of person providing continuous support makes a difference
  • 31% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience; mothers’ risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience was reduced with continuous support provided by a doula or someone in their social network (family or friend), but not hospital staff

*** Evidence Based Birth statistics (May 4, 2019)

 

What parents may experience:

  1. A doula helps parents approach the medical aspect of birth with an educated advocate on their side. She can answer questions whenever medical ‘crossroads’ arise so they can make informed decisions feeling in control of the situation and always with the original vision for the birth in mind.
  2. A doula provides support and encouragement through all of the labor (including before going to the hospital or birth center if you choose) and will be with Mom the whole time. In a hospital setting, she may be the only person for whom this is true. Knowing you have someone who will be there through the whole experience is reassuring and minimizes disruption to labor that a hospital shift change can bring.
  3. A doula is knowledgeable about a full range of labor circumstances, so she knows that the pain and discomfort of labor are normal and healthy. So, she can be a calm, reassuring, and confident presence in the birthing room. Even if she is not actively participating in the ongoing comfort measures, her attitude often boosts parents’ morale and gives the reassurance needed to stick with it.
  4. A doula can relieve birth partners if someone needs to take a short break to eat, use the restroom, or just regroup. That time can be taken knowing that Mom will still have a caring support person with her.
  5. Even when parents are well prepared for birth, for first-time parents it will still be the first birth Dad has ever seen. Some people say this is analogous to someone taking a 12-hr class on the basics of football and then dropping him into the Super Bowl to coach the game! When Dad is the only support person, it places a huge burden on him and can add unnecessary anxiety to the birth energy.
  6. Many comfort measures are tricky to do without a second set of hands. A doula can assist in position changes or techniques that require two support people (e.g. applying counter-pressure on Mom’s back while she leans on Dad).
  7. Sometimes long labor requires parents to try all kinds of different techniques to get through it. A doula is another sounding board, and if Dad runs out of ideas, she is an endless source of suggestions to try.
  8. A doula takes the pressure off birth partners to be all things at once. It is her job to remember what parents talked about at prenatals and to make sure their wishes are honored (like aromatherapy or music, for example). A doula can do everything from the basics (taking pictures, getting food & water) to tricky emotional support. Basically, she frees the partner to do what only he/she can: love and support Mom!
  9. Doulas follow up after the birth to make sure everything is going smoothly physically, emotionally and logistically, especially with breastfeeding.