Is A Doula For Me?
I tend to associate “doula” with a crunchy mom, having a water birth at home, talking about birth like a flower emerging. Well that’s bologna. A watermelon is about to come out of my hooha, I don’t need chanting and calming music, I need some serious intervention here! That must mean a doula isn’t for me…or does it?
Who Is A Doula For?
Well first, a doula is NOT there to tell you what kind of birth to have. They don’t care if you want to have an epidural, if you’re scheduling a c-section or if you’re planning a natural birth at home. They are NOT there to choose your intervention level for you or to dictate your birth plan…nope they are there to help you have the healthiest and most fulfilling birth. So do you…
Want a hospital birth?
Need dad in the room?
Never want to have a mirror placed down yonder so you can see?
Expect an epidural as soon as humanly possible?
Desire a peaceful water birth?
Well then, a doula is for you!
But what if I am…
A first time mom?
Popping out baby #4?
Picking out your room at the hospital?
High risk?
Very sure of my birth plan?
Have no idea what to expect?
The job of a doula is to help you understand your options before the birth, know what you do and don’t want, be in your corner the entire birth and help you deliver a safe, healthy baby. They are there to give you comfort, relief, encouragement and confidence. (If you aren’t sure exactly what a doula does…you can learn more about that right HERE!)
They aren’t for one type of mom or one birth plan.
So crunchy mom? Breastfeeding mom? Formula mom? Free-range mom? Attachment mom? Have no idea what any of these types of moms mean mom?
Then a doula is for you too!
If you are interested in learning more about how one can help you, what the benefits are (births with a doula present are 41min shorter on average…there is more where that came from!) and the costs, you can grab a FREE guide on all things doula to help you decide if one is right for you!
Here is Additional Information for Your Pregnancy!
Ditch Your Birth Plan, Get a Birth Strategy
What REALLY to Expect when Expecting
From Mama Natural: Birth Doula
From Evidence Based Birth: Evidence for Doulas
2 Comments
I guess a doula is for every pregnant woman. You may opt to get one or not. From my experience, I never had a doula for my two pregnancies and I was able to surpass it. It’s a choice that you can make.
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