FAQ
Why do I want a birth doula?
Penny Simkin answers this in a great way in her book The Birth Partner. "Childbirth is intense, demanding, unpredictable, and painful, and it can last for a few hours to 24, 36, or even more. Even if you are well prepared, you and the pregnant person may find it difficult to apply your classroom learning in the real situation. If you are not well prepared, all the challenges of labor are baffling and anxiety producing."
Why is continuous support important?
Studies* have shown that in comparison with women receiving no continuous labor support, women with doula role support were an impressive:
39% less likely to have a cesarean birth
35% less likely to have a negative birth experience
15% more likely to have a spontaneous vaginal birth
Across all relevant studies, women with continuous labor support seemed more likely to have had:
Spontaneous vaginal births (with neither vacuum extraction nor forceps)
Shorter labors
Women with continuous labor support seemed less likely to have had:
A negative birth experience
Any pain medication while giving birth
Regional pain medication (such as epidural or spinal)
An instrumental vaginal birth (with vacuum extraction or forceps)
A cesarean birth
A low 5-minute Apgar score (rating of the baby’s status shortly after birth)
*https://www.researchgate.net/publication/318258538_Continuous_support_for_women_durin g_childbirth (Research Article)
*https://www.nationalpartnership.org/our-work/health/maternity/continuous-labor-support.html (Breakdown of Findings)
How will hiring you affect my partner’s role during the birth?
Your partner knows you, loves you, and understands you better than I do. I am not here to replace your birth partner, I am here to join forces and give you the team of support that you need. I will also support your partner with reassurance and help if needed.
I want my labor to be ______. Are you going to judge me?
This is your labor. I am happy to support you in any setting, with any interventions you choose. If you want to labor in a hospital, birthing center, or home birth...great! If you want an epidural...great! If you don't...great! I will not judge you. I don't have a preconceived idea about what YOUR labor should be like. You get to make the calls. I will be there to provide emotional support, physical comfort, and nonclinical advice.
What are your interactions with medical staff like?
You are the patient, but I am here to support you. My goal is to be certain that you are an active participant in your birth. You have a say in every decision that is being made. I will be there to help you understand the information so you can make decisions for yourself and your baby. I will not communicate your wishes directly to the doctor, but I will empower you to make your voice and desires heard.
Do you perform any physical examinations?
I am not a medical provider. Your doctor or midwife will provide physical exams.
There are a lot of birth doulas. How do we know if you're the right fit?
Great question. I would encourage you to interview multiple doulas to find the right fit for you. This is a very intimate experience for you and your birth partner. I would be honored to help support you through your birth. Let's chat during the initial consult and see if we are a good match.