Is a doula right for us?
By Kate Soloff
A doula is a trained professional who provides emotional, informational and physical support for people. For birth support that includes prenatal education, assistance navigating an overwhelming medical system, as well as support during your labor and delivery. For postpartum, you can work with a doula for daytime and/or overnight support. Postpartum support during the day can include guidance and coaching on baby care basics, emotional check-ins, navigating postpartum recovery, meal prep, light housework/chores, support with infant feeding, and much more. Overnight support helps families get much needed rest and assistance with their growing family. At NYC Birth Village, our doulas are vetted, warm and compassionate people who provide evidence based care and support for growing families.
Some common reasons you might think you don’t need a doula and why you might reconsider:
I trust my doctor and will be doing what they say!
We love to hear it! Trust is so important and we want you to trust your birth team. Your doula is a collaborative part of the team, NOT a medical professional. We help with lots of little things that your medical time won’t have time for like explaining what’s happening in real time and providing hands-on support to keep you comfortable.
I don't want my partner to feel left out in labor.
Doulas support birthing people and their partners! It’s about anticipating the birthing person's needs and providing continuous support in labor. Typically partners are often caught off guard so the doula can coach a partner on how to be the best and most helpful support!
I want an epidural.
Having pain management in labor is a tool in your tool belt! It is often recommended to hold off on epidurals till closer to active labor so it doesn't affect your progress meaning you could have many hours without one. Sometimes epidurals take time to get administered and they could not work properly or need adjustment. Even when you have a perfect epidural (where you have mobility and pain relief), your birth partner and doula can help you change positions in the bed to keep labor progressing as smoothly as possible.
I am most likely going to be induced.
Inductions can take longer than spontaneous labor! Your doula can help you prepare for realistic expectations for an induction as well as support you during what can be a lengthy process.
I have my parents coming postpartum to help.
We were not meant to do this alone! It is great to have grandparents there for whatever support they are mentally/physically capable of and to have your doula there as a trusted source of non judgemental evidence based info. They are trained in lactation support which can be very helpful those first few weeks of getting feeding established.
My partner has generous leave and is really hands on.
It is wonderful to have partners who are supportive and especially when they have a decent amount of parental leave. We offer guidance and coaching to the whole family and love working with supportive partners. That allows you both a chance to learn about and bond with your baby.
Prenatally, birth doulas meet with clients for two sessions to discuss birth preferences and planning, explain different scenarios that might arise in the birth space, and provide information on the different tools in your tool belt for your birthing journey and postpartum planning. They help you better understand your options so that you feel empowered to make informed choices. While they are not making medical choices for you, your doula affirms your choices while physically and emotionally supporting you and your partner during labor. Whether you choose unmedicated, medicated or plan a cesarean, a doula can be there to support you.
Postpartum daytime or overnight doulas will meet with you prenatally (if hired prior to birth) to get to know your family better and gain an understanding of your goals. As an extra set of hands with knowledge of normal newborn behaviors who have some wonderful tips and tricks to help you get acclimated to your growing family. You know your baby best and we are there to assist you, make the transition smoother, and provide some loving guidance to help you with your goals. Each family is different, so there isn’t any one-size-fits-all approach that works for everyone.
I like to describe the benefit of a doula as comparable to a wedding planner! You do not need a doula in the same way you don’t need a wedding planner for your big day. It is perfectly fine to DIY. But having that extra layer of support, from a trained professional who has been in this situation before and can help you remain calm during one of the most intense, beautiful, life-changing times of your life can be a game changer. The best advice I would give is that you want to find a doula who is a good match for you and your family! Since it is such an intimate and vulnerable time, you want to find someone you feel comfortable with who aligns with your goals and values. This is how NYC Birth Village can help you! Just fill out our contact form and we can start our search. We help narrow down the search by connecting you with doulas who we think will be a good fit for you!
