A doula wears many hats and tailors her skillset to meet the needs of the family. Here is some of the expertise a doula can bring to your support team:
Emotional Support
Doulas ease the emotional experience of birth and nurture a space where the hormones of labor can work their magic. By providing continuous support, doulas not only guide families through the ups and downs of labor, but also empower them to advocate for their needs and desires and amplify their voice when necessary. The presence of a doula can help in reducing anxiety and fear, fostering a sense of trust in the birth process, while also facilitating open communication between the family and medical staff. This holistic approach allows for a more personalized birth experience, where the unique preferences and circumstances of each family are centered.
Physical Support
Physical support for comfort during labor include hands-on measures like comfort touch, counter pressure, and breathing. A doula observes how a mother labors, syncs with what she’s already doing that is working well or helps mama find her groove by coaching her through positions to help optimize baby’s positioning and descent. In many cases, a doula is actually helping the birth partner support the mother. In a long labor, a doula can swap in and out with the father so he can rest as well.
Physical support can also include staging the environment. A doula can step into the room with her bag of doula goodies, ready to create an ambiance you desire for labor. Battery operated candles, aromatherapy, music are just a few of the things a doula might have readily available for you.
Spiritual Support and Culturally Competent Care
Birth is such an intimate experience, and for many families that means birth is a spiritual and cultural experience as well. Our culture and faith are some of the most tender, precious parts of our lives. Families often desire to have a doula who understands them and/or shares a cultural / religious lived experience. Many doulas happily serve people of all different faiths and walks of life, but you get to choose one that feels most comfortable for you. I like to let my clients know that as a Catholic Christian, I love my neighbors and can serve anyone in need. However, my spiritual lived experience as a Catholic makes me uniquely able to understand the particular desires of a Christian and how that worldview may shape their birth experience. All that being said, a doula can make sure these parts of you are honored and centered in your birth experience.
Educational/Informational Support
A doula is a living, breathing resource! Her job isn’t to tell you what to do, but to point you toward educational resources to help you learn and make choices that align with your needs and desires. Additionally, doulas are likely well connected in their communities and can point families in the direction of other professionals that can support their needs – massage therapists, physical therapists, parent groups, lactation support and more.
Postpartum Support
Parents are sometimes surprised by how challenging it is to adjust to a new baby! Tasks that were once barely a thought now become challenging while healing, feeding around the clock, lacking sleep and integrating a new person into the family. The primary goal of the postpartum doula is to care for the mother and her needs, but often these needs also include her partner and the whole family. Here is a list of some services doulas provide. Check with your doula during your interview to see if what you need is on her list of offerings.
Possible postpartum help: Light housework such as dishes, washing bottles, supporting lactation, laundry, tidying up a room, pet care, teaching infant care, listening to how family is doing, processing your birth story, taking care of your baby while you nap/shower, picking up groceries for you, meal prep, helping mom refresh her postpartum resting space, and more. If you have something specific you want or need, ask and see if your doula is willing!
Sacred Spaces Doula Care 