What are the benefits of a birth doula? Birth doulas provide physical support to people giving birth and their partners. Birth doula Cedar City, Utah. Karina Ballard, doula and birth photographer. Southern Utah Birth Village

What is a birth doula?

In short, a birth doula is an individual with experience and training to provide personalized support to expecting parents with the goal of enhancing their birthing experience.

A birth doula does not have to be someone with formal training, however, those who are educated and experienced with physiological birth can provide multiple avenues of support for their clients.

What are some of the benefits of hiring a birth doula?

Informational Support: Doulas are equipped to educate parents about childbirth. This ultimately helps parents make informed decisions regarding the options, procedures, and techniques used in childbirth.

Emotional Support: Having the support of a doula means that you will have constant support throughout your pregnancy and the birthing process. This support extends into the postpartum period as well.

Advocacy: Doulas are your biggest advocate. They know your intentions for birth and can help communicate those preferences to medical staff and other persons in the birth space.

Reduced Intervention Rates: Several studies show that having a doula present during birth can lead to reduced rates of medical interventions, such as C-sections or the use of pain medications. (For more on these studies read this article from Evidence Based Birth)

Partner Involvement: Doulas support the birthing person and their partner. The childbirth education during pregnancy equips partners with methods to support the mom during labor. Doulas ensure the partners are involved and offer guidance to partners during the birth.

Physical Support: Your doula will provide you with physical comfort measures like counterpressure, positioning suggestions, and breathing techniques to help with pain management and facilitate a smoother labor.

Positive Birth Experience: The love and support of a doula can contribute to a positive birth experience as doulas help create a tranquil and empowering environment.

Postpartum Support: Doula’s care extends into the postpartum period as they can offer breastfeeding support, newborn care, and emotional support during the first few weeks of parenthood.

Whether this is your first pregnancy or your fifth, you deserve the love and support of a doula. A doula will offer support and guidance throughout your journey and will help you create an empowering environment to birth your baby.