This year’s theme for #worlddoulaweek is “doulas benefit everyone!” Have you thought about how many people you will benefit when you become a doula?
We might be just a little biased, but we think doulas are pretty awesome.
After all, the presence of a doula during labor can help lessen the chance of having a c-section, decrease pain during childbirth, shorten the duration of the labor, and help women feel better about their birth experience. In the weeks and months after childbirth, doulas help families have a smooth transition as they welcome a new baby into their home. World Doula Week is a perfect excuse to celebrate both seasoned doulas and those who are working to become a doula.
World Doula Week takes place from March 22-28, and this year’s theme is “Doulas Benefit Everyone.”
You may not realize just how far reaching your impact will be when you become a doula. Doulas don’t just benefit moms and babies. In previous posts, we have talked about how doulas can be an asset for dads, siblings, and doctors. Today, let’s explore how doulas benefit the wider community.
Who will you benefit when you become a doula?
Midwives
One of the common questions you will find yourself answering when you become a doula is “that’s sort of like a midwife, right?” Well, no. However, doulas do work closely with midwives. Like obstetricians, midwives are often splitting their care and attention between more than one laboring woman. Also, although their approach is different from OB’s, midwives are focused on the physical aspects of the delivery. Doulas stay with one client at a time and focus on emotional support. Since the presence of a doula leads to shorter births, and a lower rate of c-sections, this creates a better experience for the midwife as well. Better birth outcomes reflect well on everyone involved in the process.
Grandparents
Grandparents of a brand-new baby are often in a tough spot. They may want to help their daughter or son when baby comes home but are unable to due to distance or time restrictions. That’s where the postpartum doula comes in. Grandparents will have peace of mind knowing that their family is being well cared for. As an added benefit, when they come to visit, grandparents will be able to focus on having quality time with their family – the doula will already be on top of household tasks.
Hospitals and Birth Centers
Not to be-labor the point (see what I did there?), but as mentioned above, the presence of a doula during childbirth is associated with better outcomes for mom and baby. Hospitals and birth centers will be able to report on these positive outcomes, which will improve their overall statistics. Similarly, if the mother leaves her place of birth feeling great about the experience, she is more likely leave positive feedback and recommend it to her friends. It’s a win-win for everyone.
Other Doulas
“Doula” may not quite be a household word just yet. But, there’s no question that doulas are becoming more and more popular. We have the many doulas who went ahead of us to thank for that. When you become a doula, you will also be blazing a trail for future doulas. As we continue to showcase our amazing work, there will be more and more opportunities available. Soon, we may find doulas in every labor and delivery room and in the homes of every new family.
Communities
After you finish working with your clients, they may not remember exactly what you did. However, they will remember how you made them feel. They’ll remember the love and empathy you used to support them. This will help create a solid foundation for their parenting journey and they will carry it with them for a long time. As you support more and more families, there will be more and more people carrying this feeling of love forward.
As you can see, your impact will be far-reaching when you become a doula! You will be providing an invaluable service to so many. Keep spreading the doula love during World Doula Week and beyond.
Author: Aliza Juliette Bancoff
Aliza Juliette Bancoff is a well-known doula and doula trainer who has been providing doula services to families for over a decade. She is the founder of Main Line Doulas, a doula group providing doula support in the great Philadelphia area for the last decade, the International Doula Institute, which provides online doula training and lactation training and certification programs and the International Breastfeeding Institute which provides lactation training and certification. She is the co-founder of United Birth, a company devoted to increasing access to doulas across the country to make the perinatal time safer both physically and emotionally. “Every birthing person deserves access to quality doula support. And we are working to make that a reality across the country. The work we are doing to get doulas to every birthing person will decrease the black infant and maternal mortality rate significantly by 2030.” Says Bancoff. Aliza is known for her compassionate and empowering approach to doula work, and she has been featured in numerous media outlets, including United Nations Maternal Health Report, Parent Magazine, CafeMom, theBump and many more. Aliza's journey into doula work began when she gave birth to her first child and felt a strong calling...