What is a Doula and why do you need one?
When you think of giving birth and the postpartum period, you probably think of midwives, health care visitors, and doctors, but probably not Doulas. Although in the UK Doulas are only becoming popular, they have officially been around since 1973. Providing physical and emotional support to Mum throughout labour. So why do we need Doulas in this day and age? Are they needed, or is it just another gimmick to have around birth? Hopefully, you will find this blog post helpful to see if having a modern Doula would be beneficial for you or not.
The definition of a modern Doula is still similar to when they were created. They are defined as a non-medicated birth partner who can be a part of your pregnancy, labour, and postpartum period for emotional and physical needs. Doulas DO NOT take over the role of a midwife. Instead, they are an addition to your support during birth.
Each Doula looks different with their services and support. As well, they adapt and work with each family as individuals. You may want a more hands-on Doula who can help you practically by going to appointments, helping you get into positions when in labour, and being more hands-on after birth, supporting you with feeding and other assistance. On the other hand, you may need a Doula to just be there, holding your space for you and being a voice and advocating for you when needed. This can be a great source of comfort for a lot of families and can be a great tool for anyone.
When do you need a doula?
Again, as doulas come in all shapes and sizes, you can quite literally have them in any pregnancy scenario. From having a home birth to a hospital birth, even having them if you are having a planned C-section can be organised (depending on hospitals) for your doula to be with you. You don’t have to just have a doula for birth either. Some families find that they need more support in aftercare, so it's worth looking for a doula that can help provide guidance, signposting, and support for postpartum care too.
The proof is in the research
Research over the last few years has shown that having a doula can:
Shorten labour
Reduce the rate of induction of labour
Increase parental satisfaction with the birth experience
Increase the likelihood of initial breastfeeding
Lower the incidence of depressive symptomatology
Improve equity and provide culturally responsive care
I hope that small snippet of how a doula can support you has been able to clarify a little about whether a doula would be right for you on your journey. For any more info on doulas, feel free to contact me or go to Doula UK for the directory or to explore more about doulas.
