What Does a Doula Do?
I received one of my first doula clients by meeting her at a book exchange. I introduced myself as a birth doula and asked if she knew what that meant, to which she replied, “Homebirth?” I explained that yes, I can come to homebirths, and I can also come to hospital births, birth centers, and anywhere in between. I also provide prenatal planning and education, and postpartum support. She signed up the following week.
It is also not the easiest thing to describe at dinner parties. Being a doula is a support role that quite honestly looks slightly different for each client. As much as my type A organization wants to provide the perfect structure, plan, and materials for families, I learned from my very first client that each family needs a different approach and different resources. As a largely underutilized resource for the childbearing year, I wanted to share the basics here, with more details in subsequent blog posts.
Doula “doo-la” is a word of Greek origin that has been translated to mean sitting with women, one who mothers the mothers, and women who serve. There are death doulas, birth doulas, and even some modern spin-offs, such as life doulas, business doulas etc.
As a birth doula I am a non-medical birth professional who supports, educates, and empowers birthing people and their families through the process of pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period.
1.Provide resources for education for each stage of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
So you know how if you google birthing books or go to a library there are thousands? So I’ve read them (not all of them yet) but many. I will give you the intel for what books, articles, and podcasts could be helpful for your journey and to educate your partner or birth team. I will never overwhelm you with information, and can instead give you the bite-sized pieces so you can focus on your health and well-being.
2. Help you design your birth preferences.
I provide you with worksheets and step-by-step documents that help you envision, design, and communicate your desires and share that with your birth professionals. It covers everything from the emotional support to specific medical procedures and what you consent to along the way.
3. I teach you (and your partner) HOW to make decisions.
This one wasn’t taught to most of us in school. It requires slowing down, taking time, and weighing the options from many different perspectives. I have a process to teach you how to make informed decisions during pregnancy and beyond that honor both the intellect and the intuition, that weigh the other people involved, and that provides room for new possibilities so that you can feel informed and empowered even if things go in a surprising direction.
4. Help you navigate the birth system.
What is a doctor vs a midwife? What is a CNM a NP? Who are all of the nurses you are seeing? A lactation consultant? Can your mom come? How do you tell your mom you don’t want her to be there? - Your whole birth team matters. I will educate and help you in creating the environment where you will be most comfortable and supported. We will discuss the different local birthing options, locations, and providers. During this process of gaining education, speaking up for your needs and desires, and requesting the birth team you desire, you will learn skills of empowerment and self-advocacy that will take you through the rest of your life.
5. Make it sacred.
Doulas understand that birth and becoming a parent is a profound rite of passage. They will provide spaces to talk about how this is and will impact you and your family. I also provide clients with two ceremonies during our time together to process and honor this change. Ceremonies can help the nervous-system integrate a massive amount of shift from one state of being to another. Watch the video on the importance of ceremony in the birthing year for more.
6. Make it a party.
I learned from the best. Pria Parker, author of The Art of Gathering explains that the best gatherings indulge all of the senses. We actually know this to be true in birth as well. We will discuss the best coping strategies and techniques for you so that your body and the environment will be taken care of (by me). We will discuss lighting, sound, smells, touch, snacks and more so you are supported on all levels during your birth, immediately postpartum, and in your home environment when you return.
7. Support your family.
Doulas are not only helpful for the birthing person, and in fact, during the birth, I often end up supporting a partner or friend just as much! Here’s how it goes. The birthing person is in “labor land” meaning because of the hormonal shifts happening, they are in a transcendent state of mind. This is a great place to be in because it simultaneously helps with pain and fear. So we want to keep them there. It is the partner’s job to help guard that state for her. It is my job to protect both of them within that state. Prenatally this looks like having many conversations with a birthing partner about how they can be supportive, educated, and take care of themselves too. If it is a partner who will also be taking care of the child, they also have to parent after this! Birth is also a defining event for entire families, so we discuss the impact of the parents, siblings, and grandparents, and discuss how each may be involved if desired and when during the process of pregnancy or postpartum their expertise can be utilized.
8. Move with you.
My wardrobe has been updated to include mostly joggers since being a doula. Doulas offer laboring positions that help with the positioning of the baby and comfort of the birthing person. As a doula, I also provide prenatal yoga to my clients during prenatal sessions because of the beneficial impact that pelvic floor work, breathwork, meditation, and yoga movements can have on the wellbeing of the mother and baby. I also offer birth-prep sessions where we will all be on the ground together practicing the laboring positions that we may use when it’s time. In the birthing room, I am there, helping support and move the mother. I rock with her, hold her steady, take walks with her, and remind her of movements that we have done to find what is most beneficial for her body at the time.
9. Take pictures.
If desired and if possible (If I’m not holding legs) I can take photos and videos of your labor and birthing process. Many families cherish these to help them process the birth and celebrate the first photos of their new family.
10. What the moment calls for.
I could go on and on about the things that doulas provide - connecting you with resources, giving you someone to talk to, education on birth interventions, nutrition tips, pain management, information on cesarean births and so much more. My toolkit runs deep. As a yoga teacher, workshop educator, retreat leader, and trauma-informed facilitator, I have picked up experiences along my journey that I pull out as needed. A doulas role involves seeing a person and their journey, asking questions, noticing what is needed in the moment, and providing that service, tool, person, or resource. I am constantly receiving inspiration to send a client a certain movement pattern for them to try, or a podcast, an article, or do an art project with them. Each person’s journey is unique and so is the support I provide.
