Chances are if you are an expectant mother, you’ve heard the term “doula” before. In case you haven’t, a certified doula is a hired professional who is there to provide physical and emotional support, and information before, during, and after birth to both the expectant mother and the father. Besides providing support, what other reasons are there for hiring a doula to be a part of your birthing team? Below are some of the top reasons to invest in a doula for your labor and delivery!

Helps Mother through the intensity of birth

Chances are that labor is going to be more intense that you can imagine. That is why hiring a doula can be very beneficial, is because most expectant mothers are surprised by exactly how intense labor is. A doula will be able to provide a calm and encouraging presence which can help to mitigate the mother’s fears, therefore, decreasing her pain.

Another aspect where doulas can prove to be very helpful in an intense birthing experience is that a doula will have either given birth herself or attended a live birth as part of her training. Therefore, a doula will be able to remind the mother that what she is experiencing and going through is normal, and a good thing! The more intense labor gets, the closer she is getting to meet her baby!  

Takes some of the pressure off of Dad

Until recently, dads were not allowed in the delivery room, or even expected to assist with delivery. Nowadays things are the complete opposite! It is uncommon to hear of a dad not being present in the delivery room. In a lot of instances, the dad is expected to act as though they are a doula. This is often difficult for dads to accomplish as they most likely have never attended a birth before!

Having an actual doula present can help to relieve some of the pressure off of dad. This will then allow for the dad to fill the loving partner role for the laboring mother, rather than acting as the doula. As a result, dads tend to be more present during labor and can prove to be more useful to their partners.

Accessible for support, before, during, and after birth

One of the biggest reasons that expectant mothers want to hire doulas, is that they are available 24/7 by phone, text, email, or in person to answer any questions and provide support. Often times, first time mothers will have questions that they might not feel comfortable asking their primary care physician or midwife, but are more comfortable asking their doula.

Sample questions that mothers ask their doula include:

• “My contractions are around 5 minutes apart, what should I do?”
• “I’m having trouble sleeping, do you have any suggestions on things that I could try that might help?”
• “Do you have suggestions on places that offer good childbirth classes?”

By having a support system that you can turn to at any time to offer reassurance and support, a birthing mother can feel more confident going into labor. The support of your doula doesn’t necessarily have to stop as soon as the baby arrives, most doulas will continue to offer support when needed after birth.

Provides legit encouragement

Chances are your doula has given birth herself, or attended several births. Therefore, doulas are experts in giving support and encouragement during labor; that can mean a lot to the expectant mother. Hearing things like, “you’re doing great” from your doula is very encouraging, because chances are she knows what she is talking about. When your partner makes the same comment, it can potentially be distracting as they have no idea what you are experiencing.

Offers unbiased support

When you have a doula as a member of your birthing team, you know that you will have their undivided attention. Your doula is there for you and nobody else, which means that they only answer to you and your needs. Because doulas aren’t trained in the medical aspects of child birth, they are able to provide unconditional physical and emotional support throughout the whole process.

Provides nourishment to the parents

Believe it or not, during labor and delivery most parents often forget to take care of themselves due to the high intensity of birth. A doula will remind parents to take care of themselves, eat, drink, change positions, use the restroom, etc. as needed. It is important to remember that a doula is there to not only support the mom, but to also provide support to the dad as well.

Statistically Doulas are supported

Statistics show that having a doula that provides continual support during labor is a vital part of providing the outcome that mothers want for themselves and their babies. Studies have shown that mothers who have the support of a doula for labor were:

• Less likely to have a caesarean delivery
• Less likely to use pain medications
• More likely to give birth spontaneously
• Had slightly shorter labors

Another advantage that studies have found, is that labors that consist of a doula resulted in babies having a low five-minute Apgar score!

Home Labor

Many women prefer to labor at home for as long as possible before heading to the hospital or birthing center. When laboring at home, mothers hope to arrive at the hospital or birthing center at the right time during transition, just before it is time to start pushing. With a doula present, parents will be able to more accurately determine when it is time to leave for the hospital and when they can afford to wait a little bit longer. Most parents who don’t have a doula head to the hospital too soon, or sometimes, regrettably, too late. A doula is one more person to help parents make an informed, educated decision about when the time has come to transport to the hospital or birthing center.

Walking, Talking Birth Plan

When it comes to giving birth, there is no guarantee that it will go 100% according to plan! Birth has a mind of its own, and keeps its own time schedule. Because birth can be unpredictable, this is another good reason to have a doula on your birth team, who can serve as your walking, talking birth plan.

Often times, written birth plans are not given a second glance in a hospital setting, which can evoke negative feelings or energy from care providers. Doulas are great at helping mothers have the courage to make their wishes known as situations arise during labor. This allows for mothers to focus on giving birth to their baby! When plans change, and the unexpected arises, as it inevitably will, doulas are a valuable resource to help navigate these changes.

Doula serves as a Gate Keeper

In addition to everything else, doulas make great gate keepers! A gatekeeper ensures that only those who the expectant parents have decided on are allowed in the delivery room, and all others are kept out. Prior to birth, a doula will discuss with both parents who should be in the delivery room and who should be kept out. If those who should not be included are in the room, the doula can ask them to leave providing the parents the opportunity to focus on delivering their baby.

As you can see there are many advantages to hiring a certified doula to be a part of your birthing team. Whether you are looking for unconditional support during labor, or a friendly face who will help to ensure that you are having the birthing experience you want, a doula can help to make birth a pleasant experience for all!

When you earn your doula certification through the International Doula Institute, your clients will be so thankful for your support.

Happy Thanksgiving from the International Doula Institute!

Today is a day to remember what we are thankful for. You will, of course, have so many things to be thankful for when you earn your doula certification. But, more importantly, there will be so many new mothers who will be thankful for YOU! Your doula certification will benefit them in so many wonderful ways.

They’ll Have the Perfect Team

When you earn your doula certification, you’ll know how to work well with everyone in the labor and delivery room. Therefore, not only will your clients know that you have their best interests at heart, they can also rest easy knowing that you will work cooperatively with their doctors and nurses. Together, you’ll help them have the best birth possible. (The doctors will also be thankful that you are there!)

They’ll Have Support from Start to Finish

While doctors, midwives, and nurses need to split their attention between multiple patients, you will be with your clients the whole time they’re in labor. Earning your doula certification tells them that you know how to support them from early labor until after their baby is born. From the second she calls you, you be there keeping her comfortable, calm, and informed.

Their Birth Partner Will be Supported, Too

At the International Doula Institute, we pride ourselves on our whole family approach to doula certification. Your clients will be assured that you will not take the place of their partner. Instead, you will all work together. Not only will you show the birth partner ways to support her during labor, you can also allow them the space to step out of the room for a few minutes if they need a breather.

They Have Their Own Personal Information Source

If your client has a question about labor and birth, they know that you’ll have the answer. During your doula certification, you’ll receive a comprehensive education on labor and birth basics. Your clients will value that knowledge, and the fact that you’re only a phone call or text message away.

You Are with Them No Matter Where or How They Birth

During your doula certification process, you’ll learn that doulas support every type of birth and they do it without judgement. Your clients will know that they can count on you to offer unbiased information about common interventions and that you will support them in any birth setting they choose. Whether they plan to have their baby at home, in a birth center, or in a hospital, you’ll be there.

You’ll Help Make the Unknown Less Scary

First time mothers, especially, will be thankful to have you with them during birth. It doesn’t matter how many books they read about labor and birth, there’s no way to prepare 100% for how it’s going to feel or how they’re going to react. And, let’s face, even if you’ve had a baby before, birth is still pretty mysterious. Having your doula certification will tell your clients that you understand the birth process and you know how to comfort them every step of the way. They’ll be thankful for your expertise, your validation, and your encouragement.

Lastly, when your clients know that you earned your doula certification from the International Doula Institute, they will be thankful that they are working with someone who received the most comprehensive training available.

Becoming a new mom can sometimes be overwhelming. Whether it’s your first baby or your fifth, every new mom needs a helping hand to get through labor and delivery, and adjusting to having a newborn at home. Luckily, for every mom there are two different experts who she can turn to for help in transitioning from pregnancy to motherhood. Doulas and midwives are trained professionals who serve in different capacities to help a mother make the transition.

While a common misconception is that both professions perform similar duties, doulas and midwives actually aren’t that similar as they have different training, duties to carry out, and certifications.

What is a doula?

A doula is someone who acts essentially as the expectant mother’s best friend. Both the expectant mother and the doula will develop a bond long before the baby is expected, and plan how the expectant mother would like her birthing experience to go. The expectant mother will also be able to ask her doula, any questions about labor and delivery that she might have.

There are two different types of doulas: birth doulas and postpartum doulas. While both types of doulas are meant to act as support, they have different roles that they play. A birth doula, also known as a labor doula, will be by your side offering nonmedical advice and techniques. A birth doula is trained in helping a laboring mother with breathing, providing massages, and helping to move you into different body positions to ensure that you are as comfortable as possible. Birth doulas can also provide emotional support and act as an advocate on your behalf to ensure that you have the birthing experience that you want and have previously discussed.

No matter what type of birth you have, your doula will be there to help you feel safe and empowered. Your doula will support you in whatever decisions that you make surrounding your birthing experience. If you decide to have a natural birth or use the assistance of medication to help you through, your doula will be there to support you. If you end up having an unplanned cesarean, your doula can help to comfort you and give you the extra attention that you’ll need to alleviate your fears and anxieties about the procedure.

Reports have shown that expectant mothers who have the assistance of a doula report less need for medical intervention during the course of labor and delivery. It is important to note that a doula is not a substitute for a doctor or a midwife since they do not receive the same in-depth medical training.

Having a postpartum doula can be a valuable addition, especially if there are other children in the home. A postpartum doula can help a new mother as she is recovering from the birthing process. A doula assists by caring for the newborn and guiding a new mother through the breast-feeding process.

To become a doula, all must go through a certification process. The certification process will include didactic training, and assisting during live births. Certification requirements will vary from state to state and can be obtained through International Doula Institute.

What is a midwife?

A midwife is a man or woman who has received professional medical training. A certified nurse-midwife can do many of the same things that a doctor can do, such as, perform gynecological exams, provide prenatal care, administer pain medications, give labor inducing drugs, monitor the fetus using electronic equipment, perform episiotomies and stitch tears.

Midwife care centers promote natural births, while detecting complications during labor, and use emergency measures when needed. A certified midwife is authorized to work in a variety of settings, including health clinics, hospitals or in the home for home births.

Similar to doulas, a midwife’s certification requirements will vary from state to state. All midwives must go through specific education and training, have supervised clinical experience, and complete all the requirements for certification that are set forth by the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council.

In the United States, a midwife must be certified through the North American Registry of Midwives and the American Midwifery Certification Board. Many midwives in the United States are also registered nurses, and are called Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNM), and have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution as well as certification from the American College of Nurse Midwives.

Because a doula and a midwife are two different professions that offer different benefits to expectant mothers, you don’t have to choose to only have one to help you during the process of labor and delivery. If you are wanting to have a home birth, you’ll want to have at least a midwife there for their medical training.

Speak to your delivery team to learn more about what is a doula and if you should include one as part of your birthing team. A doula can prove to be a valuable addition to your birthing team if you are a new mother, or if you are wanting to have additional emotional support throughout the process.  

While many different studies have shown that having a birth doula reduces the chance of having a cesarean, that is not always the case. When a cesarean happens, a birth occurs through an incision in the mother’s abdominal wall and uterus rather than vaginally. Recent reports from the Center for Disease Control show that the number of cesarean births are on the rise, which means that more than 1 in every 4 women is likely to experience a cesarean delivery.

What are the reasons for more and more women having to have a cesarean delivery? There are many different reasons why an expectant mother’s healthcare provider might recommend a cesarean. Other situations don’t give the mother the option, such as, critical situations where it is imperative to get the baby out as quickly as possible. And still, other women elect to have a cesarean versus trying to have their baby vaginally. Below are some of the most common reasons women have cesarean deliveries.

Placenta previa: This occurs when the placenta is low in the uterus and partially or completely covering the cervix. One in every 200 pregnant women will experience placenta previa during their third trimester. Treatment of placenta previa includes being placed on bed rest and frequent monitoring. A partial or complete placenta previa means that a cesarean is necessary. If only a marginal placenta previa is detected, a vaginal delivery may still be possible.

Placental abruption: This occurs when the placenta separates from the uterine lining. This generally occurs during the third trimester. Approximately only 1% of pregnant women will experience placental abruption. When this occurs, the mother will experience bleeding from the site of the separation, and pain in the uterus. The separation can interfere with the baby’s supply of oxygen. Depending on the severity of the separation, an emergency cesarean may be necessary.

Uterine rupture: Uterine rupture is cause for an immediate cesarean, as the results could cause hemorrhaging in the mother and interference with the baby’s oxygen supply. This occurs in 1 out of every 1,500 births where the uterus tears during pregnancy or labor.

Breech positioning: When a baby is in the breech position, often times a cesarean is the only option. Under certain circumstances a vaginal delivery can still happen. If the baby is in distress or has cord prolapse (which is common in breech babies), a cesarean is necessary. If the baby is premature, a cesarean may also be done to help deliver the baby safely.

Cord prolapse: While this condition is uncommon, when it does occur, an emergency cesarean is performed. Cord prolapse is when the umbilical cord slips through the cervix and protrudes from the vagina before the baby is born. When the uterus contracts, this places pressure on the umbilical cord that is protruding out, which then diminishes the blood flow from the mother to the baby.

Cephalopelvic Disproportion (CPD): CPD is when the baby’s head is too large, or the mother’s pelvis is too small to allow for the baby to pass through.

Preeclampsia: This is a condition that occurs during pregnancy and involves high blood pressure. As a result, the placenta could be prevented from receiving the proper amount of blood needed, or decreases the oxygen flow to the baby. As a treatment of preeclampsia, delivery is sometimes recommended. Only in cases of severe preeclampsia is a cesarean required.

Multiple births: Expectant mothers who are carrying twins or any set of multiples may require a cesarean delivery. Twins may be delivered vaginally depending on their positioning, estimated weights, and gestational age. Multiples of three or more are most likely going to be required to be delivered via cesarean.

While these are not all of the reasons that require cesarean delivery, cesareans are not uncommon. A birth doula will be able to help an expectant mother prepare for a cesarean, and help to calm their fears and anxiety about the procedure.

For new parents, sleep is a priority. After becoming a doula, you can help families with newborns sleep safely and soundly.

A recent study put out by the American Academy of Pediatrics reviewed the safe sleep practices of new parents. The crux of the study was that the majority of the participants did not follow safe sleep practices consistently. Non-approved objects were found in the crib, babies were placed on non-approved sleep surfaces, and they were put on their sides or stomachs to sleep.

In response to this article, Adrienne Hodges (from Baby Center) rebuttals by saying that part of the reason new parents are resorting to such risky behavior is because the AAP’s sleep guidelines are failing new parents. How? They exclude information about safe bed sharing.

Her argument is that the current safe sleep guidelines are “one-size-fits-all”. That is, they do not take into consideration the fact that all families, and all babies are different. Parents are led to believe that bed sharing is not a safe or viable option. In lieu of this, they experiment with other unsafe practices in the name of a restful night.

Additionally, by not releasing guidelines for safe bed sharing, parents who choose to try it may not be doing it safely, and are therefore putting their infant in danger.

What does this have to do with becoming a doula?

What stands out to me most in Hodges’ article is the emphasis on all families being different. Becoming a doula means that you will work with families with different backgrounds and different ideals about parenting.

After becoming a doula, you’ll also find that most, if not all, of these families will have one thing in common: they want to know the best way for everyone in the family to get the most sleep.

To achieve this goal, some families will feel passionate about keeping their baby in the crib from day one. Others will want to experiment with bed sharing. Still others may have no what they want to do (or may change their minds once their baby arrives).

Here’s another helpful article breaking down some of the guidelines for safe sleep and SIDS risks: Baby Safe Sleep Guide

A doula has to balance supporting the parent’s wishes with keeping the newborn safe. Therefore, it’s imperative to study ALL safe sleep practices while becoming a doula. You can review this information with your clients and ensure that the baby’s sleeping environment is safe. If something’s not working for them, you can also remind them that it’s okay to change their mind and try something else.

Overall, becoming a doula means being knowledgeable on all things having to do with newborn care. You’ll find that sleep will be a common theme in your work. The families you work with will find comfort in knowing that you support their decision no matter what and that you know how to keep their sweet babies safe.