Doula's have great benefits to a mother, her partner and any other family members involved in the birth and in raising the baby. To properly answer the question "How can a Doula benefit me" let's first look at what a doula does and does not do.
What Doula's do:
Provide emotional support
Gives non-biased, evidence based information
Reassures and comforts mother
Uses comfort measures like breathing, relaxation, movement, etc.
Helps mom become informed on various birth and parenting choices
What Doula's do NOT do:
Not medical professionals
Do not perform clinical tasks such as vaginal exams or fetal heart monitoring
Do not give medical advice or diagnose conditions
Do not judge you for decisions that you make
They do not let their personal values or biases get in the way of caring for you
They do not take over the role of your husband or partner
They do not deliver the baby
A doula's main job is to be a "mother to the mother" to be present, and aware of the mother's needs during Labor and in Postpartum.
How can a Birth Doula benefit you?
Women who have continuous labor support 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 medication 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
How can a Postpartum Doula benefit you?
They can help identify symptoms of postpartum depression
Help with soothing techniques for baby
Help with breastfeeding or bottle feeding support
Help with light house chores to free up some time to bond with baby, other children or your partner.
They can help watch baby for a time so you can take a shower, spend time with other children, take a nap without worry, etc.
And so much more!
In conclusion, you deserve to hire a Doula! They will be your best friend through your birth and a great help and sigh of relieve during the postpartum period.
For more benefits and information check out: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/the-evidence-for-doulas/
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