What is a Doula and Who needs one on their Birth Journey?

There is a common misconception that Doulas are only for people who want un-medicated births at home or in a natural setting. This is simply not true as a Doula is someone who supports the birthing wishes of every single person who is becoming a parent!

Being a Doula isn’t a job, it’s a calling to hold space and teach advocacy. To hold you and remind you how strong you are.

Keep reading to discover all the ways that a Doula can support you on your childbirth journey and why the people who hire one are so happy they did!

There is no doubt in my mind, that a Doula is for everyone.

As a person trying to get pregnant or recently found out, it can be hard to know what type of support you need and where to start.

The key to building your birth team is to start researching practitioners and healers who align with your philosophy of birth.

For example, if you are wanting an un-medicated hospital birth, research the hospitals around and find the one with the lowest epidural and cesarean rates. If you are considering a home birth, research the midwives around and find a team you align with the most. If you are birthing twins, there are specialists who work only with people who are carrying twin babies.

Whether you are just getting started or you’re partway through your pregnancy, this blog can help you to decide whether or not you want to build your team with the addition of a Doula.

Let’s go ⬇️

Let’s get you the hands-on support you need in a time that often feels very isolating and unknown.

Join our community of women who have completed the Birth Like a Warrior Empowering Coaching program and birthed their babies their way! Click here to read more

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First things first, if you want an empowering birth experience despite the outcome, you need to be educated on the birth process.

Birth is a beautiful, natural thing no matter where it takes place. When people are traumatized by their birth experience it’s not usually because of the outcome. It’s because they felt out of control, unheard, and unseen through the entirety of it. When you have a firm and clear understanding of the birthing process, what your rights are as a human being, how to advocate for yourself, and hands-on support throughout, this is much less likely to happen.

A Doula can educate you on all of this prenatally so that when the big day comes for your baby to arrive you feel prepared and confident about what to expect EVEN when there are still so many unknowns.

If you need a checklist on how to start preparing for the birth of your baby and beyond, download our free checklist here!

Second, you need to identify your biggest fears towards pregnancy, birth, and post partum so you can address them and move away from fear and into trust. Sometimes our biggest fears can become reality!

If you have never taken the time to reflect on this - here are a couple of prompts to help you :

• How do you want to birth your baby? At home? In hospital? Vaginal? Cesarean? Medicated? Unmedicated?

• How do interventions work? When would a provider suggest one?

• How do you want to feed your baby? Breast? Bottle? Both?

• Who will be there to support you during birth? Who can be there after baby comes to help you?

If you are having difficulties answering these questions, my Birth Like a Warrior program may be the right program for you. I’d love to hear from you and learn more about your journey, click here to see if this is the solution for you.

Now that you’ve addressed these top two things, you can start to build your village. Here are 5 other ways a Doula can support you on your journey!

*Reflect on each of these points and jot down whatever comes to mind as a journal prompt or something to discuss with your birth team!

1. Emotional reinforcement - Birth is not linear. It’s very emotional, and a Doula can bring coherence to the entire experience. Modern pregnancy is a far cry from the sacred traditions of our ancestors, who typically had a much more communal experience. There can be a lot of isolation that happens. A big part of what Doulas do is normalize a lot of the feelings and bodily sensations that happen during pregnancy and birth, which can feel very scary for someone who is pregnant. Clients will often call me to vent about any bad feelings or nervousness they’re having, knowing they have a space where they don’t have to give anything back. Doulas are often excellent listeners and help mothers to connect deeply to their intuition.

2. Physical touch - During the birth process, and particularly in labor, physical-touch therapy is incredibly beneficial in helping the mother-to-be maintain a sense of comfort and control. When labor starts, the mother will often tense up, a doula can help encourage the mother to relax and embrace the sensations. Doulas can offer massage techniques, breathing techniques, counterpressure, and hip squeeze and also teach a partner the same. This way you are supported by everyone in the room! Touch heals and when used properly in a safe space can allow the mother to relax and surrender to the everchanging flow of birth itself.

3. Support for the partner - Not everyone has a supportive partner who wants to be a part of the birthing process. When there is a partner involved who would like to be able to help more the Doula can encourage the partner to lean into their strengths. Teaching partners the anatomy of birth and labor, what to expect when baby comes and how the feeding process works is a huge part of a Doula’s job to make sure everyone can support the birthing person. The doula can act as a fairy in the background, spotlighting their partner and Mom. It is a beautifully intimate way to bond and connect through this sacred time. The partner can also work with the Doula to take breaks so the birthing person is never alone. Partners who I work with are always commenting how great it was to have a third person there to reassure them and help when things get intense to feel more grounded, safe and in control.

4. Cesarean birth support - Sometimes a baby comes earth-side through a belly birth. This is more and more common, especially now when giving birth at a hospital. Doulas can be there for you before surgery, helping you to breathe and trust the medical team. They can then join you in the postpartum room to help you initiate feeding and act as a constant grounding presence until you are ready to return home. The recovery from a cesarean birth is different than a vaginal birth and Doulas can get you on the right track to heal your scar and core and feel confident in your body to look after a baby. Having the extra pair of hands so you can heal is essential when recovering from a cesarean birth.

5. Support through post-partum and recovery - You will have one apt with your doctor at 6 weeks and it’s really not enough. If you work with a midwife, you will see them in those first 6 weeks a few times but it is mostly to check on baby. You need to build your village so you get the support YOU need. Your baby is good. They have you, maybe you have a partner, family, and friends loving them and cuddling them. But whos holding you? A Doula can. They show up when no one else does. They bring food, tea, hugs, and listening ears. They want to hear about your previous night and can offer credible advice if needed. They want to help you with feeding and get you the right resources if you need further support. Their main priority is you and your healing. Despite how your baby was born, despite how you choose to feed your baby, they support with no judgment, with unbiased support and unconditional love.

As you can see, there really isn’t one way to do things when it comes to childbirth and the post partum journey. No matter what your decision is or even if you don’t know yet, a Doula can support you.

If this sounds like something you need in your life, I have an amazing program to get build the village you deserve. Click here to read all about it and contact us to see if we have space in your birth month!

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🚨 Before You Go!

Thanks for taking a minute out of your day to hang out in the Warrior Village!

When the time is right, here are a few ways that we can work together…

1. Hire me as your Private Birth Coach and Doula. Learn More.

2. Join our Warrior Community through private coaching and online learning. Learn more.

3. Let’s be friends on Instagram! Click here to connect.

4. Join my Pre or Post natal Yoga classes In person or Virtually! Learn More