For expecting parents-to-be there is so much to plan for during pregnancy and before baby arrives – from choosing a birth provider to preparing your home to envisioning what you hope labor and delivery will be like.
Amid all of this excitement and uncertainty you may be wondering how you can find support that will be there for you through each stage of pregnancy and birth. This is where hiring a doula can be helpful! As described by https://www.britannica.com/science/doula, a doula offers non-medical support that can include education, comfort measures, and communication assistance throughout pregnancy, labor and delivery, and the postpartum period.
The Role of a Certified Doula
Certified doulas receive training around pregnancy and birth. This can include education on comfort measures that can be helpful during labor, communication skills, and supporting the emotional needs of a pregnant person and their family. Certification can also indicate that the doula is upholding certain standards around continued education, client-doula boundaries, and providing ethical support.
It’s important to note that a Certified Doula in New Rochelle NY will not replace your partner, family members, nurses, midwife, or physician. She also will not make medical decisions for you, provide a medical diagnosis, or take control away from you in any way. Instead, she will be there to support you and help facilitate communication between you and your birth team.
During your pregnancy, your doula can help educate you on what to expect during labor and delivery, help you come up with questions for your OB/midwife appointments, and support you in learning relaxation techniques. She can listen to and help problem solve any concerns or fears you may have around pregnancy and birth.
Prenatal Planning and Preparation
Meeting with your doula during your pregnancy allows you to discuss your hopes and dreams for birth in an unhurried environment, and Nanny With Kindness coordinates prenatal doula conversations around those hopes. This can be an opportunity to discuss:
- Ideas to make your birth space comfortable for you
- How your partner/support person can best support you during labor and delivery
- Questions you may want to ask your OB/midwife
- What to generally expect during labor and delivery, recovery, and adjustment to life with your newborn
- Ideas on how to make coming home from the hospital birthing center smooth (i.e. limiting visitors, resting, having easy to grab food available, etc.)
Support Through Labor and Postpartum
When you are in active labor your doula can offer continuous one-on-one support. This can look like reminding you to breathe, changing positions, bringing you ice chips/water, counter pressure, creating a calm birth environment, allowing your partner to step out for a breather, etc.
What Should You Ask Before Hiring a Doula?
Like with any professional it is important to make sure the doula you are working with is certified and has the appropriate education/experience for the type of birth you are hoping for. During your consultation with your doula you should gain an idea of her communication style and make sure her services mesh with your needs.
You may want to ask questions such as:
- What type of education and training have you had?
- What are your experiences with birth at _______ (hospital or birthing center you plan on delivering at)?
- How do you support partners/family members?
- What are your availability around my EDC?
- How many postpartum visits do you offer?
- How often do you check in with your clients during pregnancy?
- How do you incorporate changes in the birth plan?
Different doulas offer different communication options during your pregnancy. Some will offer to chat with you often in the last few weeks/months, some may be less available and only answer specific questions, etc. It is also important to gain an idea of her general response time (i.e. she will try to respond to all emails within 24 hours).
Ultimately you want to feel comfortable with your doula. She cannot promise you a certain type of birth but you want to feel like she is advocating for informed decision making and will help you through your birthing experience in a calm and collected manner.
Adapting When Birth Plans Change
Birth can be unpredictable! You may plan on having an unmedicated birth but find that you need pain medication to cope with your contractions. You may plan on having a spontaneous labor and delivery but your labor is induced. You may have a cesarean birth when you planned on a vaginal birth.
These changes can leave you feeling disappointed, scared, relieved, or a combination of emotions.
Your doula can help advocate for you in these moments, helping facilitate communication between you and your medical provider, support your partner in supporting you, help keep things as calm as possible, and allow you space to process all of what happened.
Do you have a birth plan? What questions do you have for your doula? If your plans changed during your last birth what information/support do you wish you would’ve had so you could continue to make decisions?
A Practical Next Step
Start by writing down your hopes, dreams, and questions!