What is a doula?
A doula is an educated and trained professional who offers educational, physical and emotional support throughout your pregnancy, labor and birth, and postpartum journey. There are a few types of doulas. Birth doula, Antepartum (before birth) and Postpartum doula, fertility doula, bereavement and death doula. Some specilaize in a specific area while others can do it all.
How can a doula help?
A doula can help in many ways. A role of a doula is not limited to just labor support. A doula can also offer education for labor, birth, postpartum, fertility, and bereavement. They also offer emotional support as well as hands on physical support. A doula can help guide you to make the best decisions for you and your baby by offering information you may need to make those decisions. They can be beneficial to both mom and partner.
Doulas are NOT medical professionals!
There is a misconception that doulas can offer medical help. This is not the case. Doulas are not medically trained. they can however, help with pain by offering alternative techniques to help through the labor pains which can be very helpful to a laboring momma.
Finding a doula.
You want to look for a doula that shares the same values as you. One that will respect your decisions. When you look into doulas, most offer a consultation. Some offer free and some charge but a consultation is a good way to see if that doula will be a great fit on your birth team. Utilize this time to ask any and all questions you have for them. such as, what will their roles look like? how will they help? what are their views on vbacs? and so on. These are just a few questions you can ask to see if this doula will be perfect for your birth team. Take time to write these questions down before your consultation.
There are many sites that can help find a doula in your area.
Gentle Love Doula
Birth, Postpartum, Lactation, and Placenta Services
I offer virtual support for non-local clients.
