Why You Should Hire a Doula

While waiting to meet your child is one of the most exciting times of your life, pregnancy and birth can also be overwhelming and stressful if you don’t have the right support. 

A doula can walk with you through the entire process. They’ll equip you with the knowledge and best practices to make sure you and your child stay safe and healthy, and that you have the best experience possible. Beyond birth and pregnancy, doulas can also specialize in postpartum care, lactation consulting, sleep coaching, nutrition, emotional support, and more!

Here are some of the best reasons to hire a doula that you may not have considered.

Fertility Coaching

Doulas don’t have to just be there through the stages of pregnancy and birth. If you and your partner are struggling to conceive and don’t want to turn straight to expensive procedures like IVF, hiring a fertility doula can get you well on your way toward having your own family much sooner and easier.

A doula will keep your information confidential and be sensitive to you and your partner’s needs and concerns. They will work with you to reach the solution that fits you, and even help you communicate with a fertility doctor if the need arises.

Many doulas are even knowledgeable about alternative medicine. Depending on the path you want to take, they can provide naturopathic or homeopathic solutions to fertility issues as well.

Postpartum Care and Emotional Support

Just like there are doulas who can assist you through fertility concerns, there are also doulas who offer postpartum services. Giving birth is a physically and emotionally demanding process. 

Hiring a doula means they’ll be there during and after to offer educational information on caring for your new infant, important coping skills to deal with stress in a healthy way, and emotional and physical support.

Postpartum depression is often brushed under the rug, but it’s an important factor to consider when working out your birth plan, as it affects a significant number of women after birth. If you have PDD, a doula will be able to lend an empathetic ear and provide the right resources to ensure your emotional wellbeing. 

Lactation Consulting

Many women assume breastfeeding is the easy part, and while that can be true for some, many mothers have trouble lactating and feeding their infant after the birth. 

If you experience leaking, abnormal soreness and pain, low or high milk production, or blocked milk ducts, you can consult a certified lactation counselor or doula to ease your discomfort and get you back on track.

Sometimes it’s the baby who’s having trouble latching on. A doula will be able to help you express the issues you’re coming across and identify solutions that work for you and your child. 

Sleep Coaching

It’s well known that during the first months of new parenthood, it’s rare to get a full night’s rest. But it doesn’t have to be that way for long with a doula who specializes in sleep coaching. 

A professional will be able to offer several methods for helping your baby get to sleep earlier and stay soundly asleep through the night. Sometimes it takes a combination of several different methods to find just the right fit for you and your new baby. 

A doula will know all the best tips and tricks to get your whole family sleeping like rocks. You’ll be calling them a miracle worker!

Nutrition Consulting

Along with the myriad of things you’ll need to learn and remember about pregnancy, birth, and parenthood, understanding the nuances of nutrition for each stage of your journey can be daunting.

There are so many foods, drinks, and medications that doctors warn against consuming during pregnancy that it can be hard to know what’s safe and what isn’t.

Let a doula take the stress off your shoulders by helping you work out a meal plan to nourish your growing baby, help you maintain that healthy glow, and curb your cravings all at once.

Medical Advocacy

Throughout your pregnancy and postpartum care, a doula will listen to your concerns and help you work out what is and isn’t normal. 

Unfortunately, some doctors will brush aside feelings, symptoms, and concerns you may bring up. A doula will be able to help you communicate with your doctor to make sure you are truly heard and respected.

If you should undergo any unforeseen procedures or surgeries during your pregnancy, a doula will be by your side checking in on you, making sure you understand everything that’s happening so you can make informed decisions, and being a mediator between you and medical professionals. This goes for the birth as well.

Pain Management

During pregnancy, your body is going through so many different changes. It’s no wonder you’ll experience aches and pains throughout your journey, and birth itself is no walk in the park. A doula will ensure you are as comfortable as possible during—and leading up to—the birth. 

They will be able to offer modern medical solutions, homeopathic solutions, or naturopathic solutions for pain management depending on what kind of birth experience you’ve decided to pursue. They may even have other helpful tricks up their sleeves, like using a pregnancy belly sling to relieve back pain.

A doula will also be able to walk you through the pros and cons of certain pain medications, like epidurals, so you can make an informed decision when the time comes.

Support for Your Partner

Your doula isn’t just there to support the one giving birth. Your partner has just as much pressure to be a good parent. They’ll benefit from the same guidance a doula has to offer you.

Your partner will need to be equipped to deal with their own emotional health, prepare for any unexpected circumstances, get ready to be a parent, and know how to support you as well.

Some partners find it hard to understand the extent of their pregnant partner’s experience, or what they can do to help. A doula can help them put themselves in your shoes to develop more sensitivity and know when and how to jump in to assist you.

We congratulate you on taking the first step into parenthood and wish you luck and happiness on the journey ahead! Let us know if you decided to hire a doula, and how they helped you.

Connect with local doulas in your area.