what is a doula?

I've had many people ask us what a doula is. We used Stacia Hemmes for Wren's birth (http://www.mydoulastacia.com/) and found the experience to be wonderful.

A doula is a woman who is with you during your labor, and who will go to doctor's appointments with you and help you with breastfeeding and other questions after delivery. She's someone who has been with other women as they deliver their babies so she gives you confidence and can be very reassuring to have with you in your labor. She does the best she can to help you have the kind of birth you would like to have (natural, with epidural, or cesarean) by helping you create a birth plan ahead of time and reminding you of your choices during labor. She helps your partner massage you and do the right things for you and has lots of suggestions for different birth positions and things to try to make labor and birthing easier. I have read in several places that studies show that when women have a doula with them in labor, it significantly lowers the chance of them ending up having pain medication they hadn't planned on, or from having a cesarean after laboring!

A doula is with you and your partner for the duration of the labor. She comes to your home whenever you're ready, so can be with you at the beginning of your labor. This can help you not worry and leave for the hospital too soon when you would be more comfortable at home for the early stages in labor. This can help you labor more quickly and efficiently. Then she will go to the hospital or birthing center with you and stay until after your baby is born. At a hospital, you have a labor nurse who attends to you, but depending on how long you're in labor, the nurses may change shifts and then you would have a new labor nurse, which could be distracting to you. A doula is always there and only focusing on you. This can allow great support for your partner, and in a long labor, can let your partner take a break, get something to eat, leave the room without leaving you alone with the hospital staff. Another benefit of having a doula is the fact that she is someone who is not personally attached to you (like your partner is), so won't be unnerved by your pain, like your partner could be.

After the birth, doulas can be available to help you learn about caring for your baby. We have met with Stacia a couple of times since Wren was born, and she has been a great positive support. It has been good to have her to answer and discuss questions we've had about baby care and breastfeeding. Stacia explains more about doulas on her website: http://www.mydoulastacia.com/

I would definitely recommend hiring a doula for your birth. We are so glad we had Stacia with us because she provided experience, confidence and reassurance during our labor. To us, the fee seemed nominal for the extra support and peace of mind! Stacia helped us have a very special and satisfying birth experience.