Doula, Schmoola. What is That?
“You’re a doula? What’s a doula?”
This question is asked immediately when in conversation with someone and we begin to discuss our career path. I know this question is coming. I know they don’t know what is it, or often times believe it is the same as a midwife. I know it is such an unfamiliar to term to many. And on the inside, I’m super excited to talk about what it is that I do.
If you’ve ever gone through the home-buying process, it’s safe to say that a doula is to the birthing world, what a realtor is to the home-buying world. Just as a realtor has relationships and access to mortgage loan officers, home-buying programs, and various listings that aligns with the desires you seek in a house, doulas also have access to various resources and individuals, and have a wide range of skills and techniques that aligns with the desires you seek in your pending childbirth experience.
Pregnancy creates a lot of wonder: “What next? How do I maintain my health? What proper steps do I need to take in order to feel ready for labor? And how do I prepare for my baby’s arrival?”
The thought of childbirth may also create a lot of confusion and overwhelming emotions in general. So as doulas, in addition to providing continuous emotional, physical, and spiritual support throughout the pregnancy and labor experience, we put forth our best effort to ensure that you understand all of the options and resources that are available to you in order to make informed and educated decisions.
Doulas are a wonderful addition to your birth and postpartum team. Here is a general break down of the differences are between a labor doula and postpartum doula, how it is beneficial, and why many women feel it has changed their outlook on pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum.
Labor support doula (aka birth doula)
A doula that provides support services throughout a woman’s pregnancy and during her labor and delivery. While a midwife or an OB is typically concerned with the clinical health of the pregnant woman and her baby, a doula is more focused on any other need that the mother might have. We are very familiar with the physiological process of pregnancy and labor, and understand that labor can be very intense, both physically and emotionally. Because of this understanding, we provide education on what to expect and the best way to employ different coping mechanisms in order to help maintain the mother’s comfort at all times.
If you have a spouse, partner, or significant other that plans to be part of the birth experience, do not fear that a doula will take this experience away from them. We have ways to be sure that your partner is part of this experience and also educate them on what to expect as a partner. Here is an awesome statement that I once heard and that I like to tell women who are considering a doula: Your partner knows you intimately, and a doula knows birth intimately. Together we can apply our knowledge and make a perfect team for creating your best experience.
It is generally advised to contract with a doula early in the pregnancy so that it will allow the doula enough time to get to know her client, what their likes or dislikes are so that we know how to best support our client throughout her pregnancy and during labor, and to generally build upon the client and doula relationship. This is also beneficial from a financial standpoint, as it allows more time to pay your doula and create a payment plan that works for everyone.
Postpartum doula
A doula that provides support after a woman has given birth. During the postpartum stage rest, bonding, and healing is crucial, regardless of how birth was achieved. Processing the pre-delivery events, the post-delivery events, and adjusting to a newborn and their needs and the physical difference that is felt within your body, demands attention for the physical and emotional healing that is necessary. A postpartum doula will help facilitate this by performing many services you feel you’d need the most; she is all about helping to fulfill your needs.
Postpartum doulas also provides information from an educated perspective. During the day, some will run errands for you, help you maintain your home (especially great for families with other children in the home), host any guests that you allow to visit you, cook light meals and can even allow you to get any rest, or other personal duties completed, as she watches the baby for you. Some also provide night (including overnight) services and help you adjust to night time feedings and diaper changes, and any other nighttime duties that the baby requires. This list is not all-inclusive, and it is best to speak with a postpartum doula to inquire about their individual services.
Essentially, a postpartum doula is invested in your overall well-being and healing as you adjust to life with baby in your arms. She is equipped with the necessary tools and techniques to help make your postpartum stage a positively memorable one.
What else can you do?
Many of us, both birth and postpartum doulas, have also achieved other specialities that the mother might be concerned with and that she might benefit from once she has given birth. As an example, we we may also be a Certified Lactation Counselor, Child Passenger Safety Technician assisting with proper car-seat installation and education, yoni steaming facilitator, belly binding, baby-wearing, cloth diapering, and much more as the list can be endless.
I hope this clears up any questions about what a doula is, and whether you would like a doula present on this journey. Let me know what you think in the comments!
Are you looking for a doula?
Currently, I serve the Metro-Atlanta area, Columbus, GA, and Phenix City, AL. So, if I serve one of the ares you reside in, feel free to book a Discovery Session with me. If you are outside of the area in which I serve, check out my Resources page for the doula directories that I have linked there.
updated 05/18/2023