Why Should You Hire a Doula?

Birth - it’s wild right? So much going on; so many emotions, sensations, thoughts. It can be so beautiful and fulfilling. But it’s intense too, and can be scary. Birth givers have so much to deal with, having someone around who can offer support in various forms just makes sense. Partners play a huge part in this of course and are invaluable, but who supports them? Do they have professional knowledge about pregnancy and birth? What if there isn’t a partner on the scene? The baton passes to parents and friends and then the same questions need asked - a doula can provide those answers.

Doulas are there for birth givers without agency or judgement. Our job is to provide emotional, physical support, information should it be required and to advocate for our clients in order for them to have the best pregnancy, birth and postpartum experience for them. We are an extra pair of hands, the calm during a storm, a megaphone and a comfort blanket - all tied up with a neat little bow of professional knowledge. We are a friend as well as a professional, so we can offer the kind of continuous, tailor made support that each birth giver deserves. But how?

We are forever blessed to have the NHS in this country and the work that it does is nothing short of amazing. But there is also truth in the fact that many times, mothers and birth givers report that their experiences of pregnancy, labour and birth within the system are far from okay. There are so many hoops to jump through, so much red tape, that it is almost impossible for an individual to have an experience catered just to them. A doula works outside of this system. We are non medical professionals operating without constraints in order to help each and every birth giver finish their pregnancy journey feeling fulfilled and supported. Separately to this it is a terrifying fact that Black pregnant people are 5x more likely to die in birth than their white counterparts (http://www.npeu.ox.ac.uk/mbrrace-uk/reports). This is of course appalling and it should be considered the job of everyone in birth work to combat this. A doula can play their part in this through respectful (to the birth giver) advocacy - speaking up when we see other professionals inherit bias or overt racism so that it isn’t the work of the birth giver to do so during what is already a tiring, emotional and stressful time. Also, it has been proven that the level of support a pregnant person expects are their birth is much less than a midwife can provide; a doula is there from the beginning right to the end without fail. Our client is our only focus during their entire birth, and that level of continuous support has been proven to significantly increase positive birth outcomes. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28681500/).

This increase in positive birth outcomes covers so many aspects of birth. One study showed that a doulas presence during pregnancy and birth led to a 28% decrease in Caesarean section, 12% increase in spontaneous vaginal birth and a 34% decrease in dissatisfaction with the overall birth experience. 96% of women supported by a doula during their pregnancy and birth initiated breastfeeding with 81% of those still continues at six weeks postpartum. (https://nurturingbirth.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/MIDIRS_Research-PDF.pdf).

The numbers speak for themselves, but what you may not be aware of is the ways in which we can provide the support that produces them. Some of what we can provide includes:

• gentle massage and touch

• meditations, affirmations, praise

• help to create the perfect birthing conditions

• encouragement, advocation and support for both the birthing person and any possible partners

• continuous presence

• food and drink

• information should that be requested by the birth giver (we will never offer unsolicited advice) - this could be about their options, techniques, help to clarify anything another professional has told them

• support after the birth with breast/chest feeding.
  

Statistics aside, what is clear is that having the support of someone who not only cares about the positive outcomes of each birth but also about each individual birth giver as a person who matters intrinsically is important. Birth givers deserve to feel in control of their bodies, their birth and their baby. They deserve to feel important, cherished and supported. Doulas do that, and more.