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Childbirth is a unique experience for every mother. Some have easy labor and delivery experiences, while others have difficult and painful ones. My childbirth fell into the latter category, and quite honestly, I didn’t really know about how a doula could have helped my delivery go more smoothly until after I gave birth. Here’s how hiring a doula may help you have an amazing childbirth experience.
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What is a doula?
A doula is someone trained to help you through the childbirth process. They are there to provide physical, emotional, and informative support at the various stages of childbirth. A doula will help prepare you for childbirth, coach you through the actual birth, and support you after your baby is born. The doula’s goal is to help you have a healthy and satisfying childbirth experience.
Doulas achieve their goals through many modalities. A doula may help you with physical comfort through touch and massage therapy. They will coach and assist you through breathing. Doulas use their experience to help you feel better about the process. One way is by reassuring you that everything is normal and encourage you to continue through the process. A lot of what the doula does is informative, providing you with details about what will happen or is happening. After your baby is born, a doula will also help you with breastfeeding, assisting you with the baby’s first latching to the nipple.
The Cleveland Clinic says that doulas are associated with reducing pain medication used in childbirth, lower C-section rates, shorter labor times, and fewer overall bad labor experiences.
“I credit my doula with being instrumental in our first birth. I labored for 46 hours before birthing him and my doula not only helped me stay mentally focused, but was also incredible with pain management,” Siobhan Alvarez, a mother of two, told Mom.com. “She was even able to shift my son from the outside of my body to get him in a more ideal position.”
Doula vs. midwife
Because a doula is such a prominent figure in the childbirth process, they can often be confused with a midwife. But there is a critical difference between the two: A doula is there for support and coaching, while a midwife provides medical care. Both work in all phases of delivery: pre-labor, labor, and postpartum.
It can be confusing, especially since many midwives will offer emotional support to their patients and partners. However, a midwife will order tests, perform cervical checks, take measurements, and perform clinical tasks. The doula can only explain the procedures to you and support you through them.
A midwife will check on you while you are in pre-labor, but usually doesn’t stay with you until you are in active labor. A doula is likely to stay with you throughout the entire process, providing the support you need to get from pre-labor to active labor. In many cases, a woman in delivery may have a midwife and a doula working with them. The midwife will play a more clinical role, while the doula plays a more therapeutic and emotional role. Doulas may recommend different positioning, aromatherapy, and acupressure to assist women through the process.
Understanding the difference is important. “Before hiring a doula, it’s important to note that they are not trained medical professionals,” Tina Gupta, MD, told Mom.com. “A doula cannot provide medical advice nor change advice being given. People should note that insurance may not cover the cost of a doula, but will for a midwife.”
How much do doulas cost?
Doula services vary widely. Costs for a new doula can be $500, with a seasoned pro costing as much as $3,000. The cost would include services for the labor and delivery. Postpartum doulas, who help with specifics like assisting a new mom with properly breastfeeding, often charge hourly fees ranging from $25 to $45 per hour.
How to hire a doula:
When hiring a doula, you really want to find someone you can trust. Remember that you’ll be feeling quite vulnerable in the labor and delivery process and want someone that will be able to make you feel more confident and relaxed in the process. This is why you should interview several doulas before choosing one. Ask the doula about their experience and any certifications that they may hold. You want a doula trained and certified by a recognized organization such as The International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA).
Find out about the doula’s availability. You don’t want an overextended doula with many upcoming births. Ask the doula about their services and the fees for the work. As the doula answers your questions, assess whether or not you feel that this is someone you are comfortable with. Great doulas ask many questions from the start and want to know about your prior childbirth experience and expectations.
The right doula is out there for you. It may just take a few interviews to find someone you and your partner gel with moving forward.
*Disclaimer: The advice on Mom.com is not a substitute for consultation with a medical professional or treatment for a specific condition. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem without consulting a qualified professional. Please contact your health-care provider with questions and concerns.
