Not sure if a doula is right for you? Still wondering what’s the thing with doulas? Check out some of the more frequently asked questions regarding these themes.
Labour and Birth Doula
I will have a hospital birth, so I don’t need a Doula. They are only for home births, right?
No! Doulas are there for you regardless of where you are giving birth. Having a doula by your side in a hospital birth can help you progress better in labour and manage the pain, which at the end translates in fewer interventions. Additionally, a doula provides you with continuous support, which means she will be by your side all the time, unlike health care practitioners that may have many simultaneous patients. We work as a team with them to give you the best possible care.
A doula is like a midwife? She will catch my baby or perform different medical tasks?
No, we are part of your support system but all kinds of medical tasks go beyond our scope of practice. We are there for you and work with your midwife or doctor to ensure you feel as best as possible while you give birth.
My partner is going to be with me during my labour and the birth of our child. Isn’t that the same as having a doula?
Your partner knows you best. He/she is one of the closest people you may have in the world. However, he/she probably is as new to this experience as you are, and odds are he/she may want to go to the toilet, forget one of the coping strategies, or be otherwise worried. We work as a team with your partner, guiding and supporting him/her as well as we can so he/she can support and help you, explaining what is happening and ensuring you both have space to discuss any decisions you may have to take during labour.
I already decided I will have an epidural. Can a doula really help me in that case?
Of course! We as doulas work alongside you to give you support in many ways. The pain may be less, but, probably, you will still have on your mind many worries, physical and emotional stress. Sometimes, even if you want an epidural, it may not work like you hoped it would. We can give you a massage, apply hot and cold packs and use many other techniques to give you comfort. Additionally, we will support you all along the labour so you have the best outcome. Often, when an epidural is applied, many more interventions may become necessary. We will explain any additional procedures your health care practitioner may suggest at the time and give you tools so you can decide and advocate for yourself.
Are doulas a new thing? Is it just fashion?
The way doulas exist today is relatively new, as the first ones began in the United States around the sixties. However, they are just a reinterpretation of an aspect of the way women used to give birth for centuries: surrounded and cared for by other women besides the midwife. Today, it has been demonstrated several times that having a doula by your side will improve not only the way your labour progresses but also the way you feel about it afterwards. So, while we may be more noticeable now that we are mainstream, we are just as valuable and valid
What kind of support does a doula give?
The support a doula provides varies doula to doula, but is generally geared towards providing resources for birth planning, non-pharmacological comfort measures during childbirth, positive verbal encouragement, maintaining a positive environment, support in early chestfeeding or alternative feeding methods and emotional support.
Postpartum Doula
Why would I want a postpartum doula? What do they do?
We help to make the transition as smooth and easy as we can for you and your whole family, giving you tools, a listening ear, guidance and loads of evidence-based information. We will help you go through all the memories you have from your birth experience, so you can write your own birth story and have peace with the whole experience. We validate the emotional challenges you and your partner may have. We know the warning signs to look for in you and your baby. We will teach you and your partner (if you have one) to do so as well. We can also give you a hand, so you can have a nap and the laundry will be folded, a simple dinner put on the stove or the kids watched over for a little while. And, most importantly, we believe in you. We give you praise and confidence as you undertake this new journey of becoming a bigger and stronger family.
Is there anything a postpartum doula doesn’t do?
Yes! We don’t do housework like scrubbing, focus mainly on babysitting or cooking. However, the most important thing we don’t do is making any decisions for you as on how to educate and take care of your baby or insist that you take care of your baby in a particular manner. We only give you impartial, evidence-based knowledge, so you can make the best decisions.
What is the difference between a postpartum doula and a baby nurse or nanny? What about a housekeeper?
While we may perform some of the same activities as a baby nurse, nanny or housekeeper, you must remember that what we do goes beyond this. The focus of our practice is to provide you with a smooth transition into this new life, take care of you and your baby. A couple of the ways to do so include light housekeeping or watching your kids while you take a well-deserved nap, but they’re not the only activities nor do they comprise the most important part of our role.
Can a postpartum doula help with breastfeeding?
We can explain to you all the options surrounding how to feed your baby and can explain to you the basics, give you tips on positions and what may work best if you have an issue. If it goes beyond our knowledge, we can suggest calling a lactation consultant.
Can a postpartum doula diagnose any postpartum conditions or perform any exams?
No, this goes beyond our scope of practice. What we do, however, is to keep an eye for any warning signs on infection and mood disorders so you can go to the doctor if needed as soon as possible. We also look out for warning signs in your baby. We also give you tips so you can have an expedite recovery after the delivery.