"We have a secret in our culture, and it's not that birth is painful. It's that women are strong."

If you’re wondering, "What exactly is a doula, and what do they do?"—you’re not alone! This is a common question, and the answer is more important than you might think, especially for expectant parents. In fact, doulas have been proven to save insurance companies millions of dollars by reducing unnecessary medical interventions. How? By educating and empowering their clients to advocate for themselves throughout pregnancy and birth.

A common misconception is that a doula is the same as a midwife. Doulas are not midwives, but they play a crucial role as part of your birth team, whether you plan to give birth in a hospital, a birth center, or at home with an obstetrician or midwife.

What Does a Doula Do?

Your birth team is typically made up of doctors, midwives, nurses, and your birthing partners. These professionals focus on the medical health of both you and your baby. A doula, on the other hand, focuses on your emotional, mental, and physical well-being during labor.

Doulas help you prepare for childbirth by providing evidence-based information, helpful resources, and practicing labor coping strategies with you and your primary birth partner. Their support is tailored to your individual needs, ensuring that you feel confident and informed every step of the way.

Benefits of Having a Doula During Childbirth

Doulas don’t replace medical staff, but they can enhance your experience by offering evidence-based guidance. They help you understand your options, ask important questions, and advocate for your birth preferences.

Research has shown that having a doula present during labor can offer several significant benefits:

• 39% less likely to have a cesarean birth

• 31% less likely to need pitocin to speed up labor

• 10% less likely to use pain medication

• 34% less likely to have a negative childbirth experience

For more in-depth research on the benefits of doulas, you can read this article on Evidence-Based Birth.

How Doulas Support You

The type of support a doula provides is often flexible and tailored to meet your specific needs. Whether it’s offering calming techniques, suggesting positions to ease discomfort, or just being a comforting presence during labor, a doula is focused on helping you achieve a positive birth experience.

While their impact is hard to quantify, the emotional and informational support they offer can be invaluable in helping you navigate your birth journey.

As your dedicated birth doula, I’m here to help you prioritize your personal birth plan and offer nonjudgmental, compassionate support throughout your individualized birthing experience. I believe that every mother deserves to feel empowered, supported, and respected during this transformative time.  

Since I embarked on my journey as a birth worker about a year ago, there are a few powerful phrases that have stayed with me. These mantras reflect my core beliefs and highlight the type of support and care you can expect when you choose me as your doula.

Healing the Earth Through Birth

One guiding principle I hold close is "Heal the Earth through birth." This phrase resonates deeply with me and continues to evolve over time. At its core, it reminds me that honoring the birth process is essential not only for individual healing but also for the collective well-being of our planet.

By embracing natural, mindful birth practices, we can reconnect with the sacredness of life’s beginnings. When we prioritize being present in these precious moments, it influences how we live—fostering a more wholesome, conscious lifestyle that aligns with both personal and environmental healing. For pregnant women, this message is especially profound. Giving birth is not only about welcoming a new life but also about embracing a powerful, transformative experience that has the potential to shape the future.

Your Body, Your Baby, Your Birth

One of my strongest wishes as a doula is for every mother to fully embrace this truth: Your body, your baby, your birth. It’s a statement of empowerment, a call to reclaim the power of motherhood, and to approach childbirth on your own terms.

For many women, birth trauma stems from a lack of control during labor and delivery. My role as your birth doula is to help you recognize your inherent right, your power, and your responsibility in the birth of your baby. You know your body best. You are the one who has nurtured and carried your baby, and ultimately, you are the best decision-maker when it comes to your birthing experience.

I stand by you, respecting your choices and supporting your authority as a mother. You have the right to question and challenge those who might undermine your decisions. It’s your journey, and as a doula, my goal is to make sure you feel empowered, confident, and in control every step of the way.

The Role of a Birth Doula in Empowering Pregnant Women

As a birth doula, I am here to provide continuous emotional and physical support throughout pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. I believe that empowered birth experiences start with knowledge, preparation, and unwavering support. Together, we can create a birthing plan that honors your wishes and ensures that you are at the center of every decision.

Whether you're looking for guidance on natural birth, support for a hospital birth, or help with navigating the many choices ahead, I am here to help you feel informed, supported, and ready for this incredible journey.

If you're preparing for childbirth and already have an obstetrician, midwife, or birth assistant, along with the support of your partner, family, or friends, you might wonder: Do you really need a doula? The short answer is yes! Even with a full birth team, a doula can offer invaluable benefits to your birthing experience.

More reasons to solidify your doula support!

1. Personalized Support During Labor

While your medical providers focus on monitoring your health and addressing any complications, they may not be able to provide the continuous, one-on-one support that a doula offers. Doulas are trained to provide emotional and physical support tailored to your unique needs during labor, helping you navigate the intense experience of childbirth.

2. Assistance with Pain Management and Decision-Making

Labor can be overwhelming, and maintaining focus during contractions can make it challenging to make decisions or change positions. Although doulas don’t make medical decisions for you, they offer guidance and support in considering your options. Their presence ensures that your preferences and needs are communicated effectively to your birth team.

3. Support for Partners and Family

A doula also offers support to your partner and loved ones. They can guide them on how to best support you and provide them with the opportunity to take breaks, knowing you are in caring and capable hands.

4. Increased Satisfaction with Your Birth Experience

Ultimately, a doula can help ensure that your birth aligns with your wishes and preferences. With their support, you and your partner can feel more prepared and less stressed throughout the labor process.

Having doula support is one thing in life that comes with no risks, only rewards.