Top Reasons Why Hiring a Professional Doula is Important

There are so many decisions to be made: Where will you have your baby? Who will be your care provider, a doctor or a midwife, and how do you choose one who respects and endorses your own personal desires and needs for prenatal care and your upcoming labor day?

While your care provider will follow you throughout your pregnancy, offering testing and healthcare advice, who will you turn to with everyday questions regarding other needs? Preparing for birth involves emotional care and support as well. A professional birth doula is a wonderful option for many families.

How can a doula benefit you?

Informational Support: Many doulas are also Certified Childbirth Educators. Taking prenatal education classes helps new parents understand the physiology of pregnancy, ways to ease pregnancy discomforts and begin to prepare the birthing person’s body, pelvic structures, joints and ligaments to ease and make room for the growing baby and for an easier labor. The Educator also helps the support person understand the process, easing and eliminating stressors and plan for their ideal role in labor.

Reduces pressure off partner: Having a doula support, not only the birthing person, but also their loved one adds calming ease to the days leading up to labor and the birth itself. Whether this is your first baby or not, every birth is different and having the expertise of a professional who has attended hundreds of births provides wisdom and confidence to your team.

Accessible for support: So many phone calls from our clients may begin with, “This may sound like a silly question.” The fact is, a question is only silly if you refrain from asking. Your doula provides compassionate and well researched, evidence based answers. Of course, doulas are not medical professionals, so if your question needs your care providers attention, we will suggest that you mention this to them. We 100% support the medical decisions that you and your provider make together.

Legit encouragement: Your doula is likely an experienced birther and has attended many births. We know that it is hard work and requires a great deal of reassurance. There may be moments when you feel you cannot go on, or become afraid or even panic. In these moments your doula will really shine through, offering full throttle reinforcement, boost your courage to keep going and pull out all of her cool doula tricks to keep you inspired.

Nourish the parents: During the days and weeks following your birth (let’s get real here) you WILL be exhausted. Labor is often long and can take many turns. Once baby is here, they need constant touch, feeding and care. Your doula may offer breastfeeding classes to show the whole family how they can support and new milk maker! Postpartum doula services offers daily care, overnights or even extended in-home care for 24 or 48 hours following the birth. Another important reason to hire a doula is because they will provide the gentle mothering of the new family so that you eat healthy, allow your body and mind to rest and feel better.

About This Author

Portland Professional Doula Associates LLC (PPDA) Joined: October 8th, 2020