FAQ
What is a doula?
The word doula is a Greek word meaning women’s servant. Women have been serving others in childbirth for many centuries and have proven that support from another woman has a positive impact on the labor process.
A doula is a professional trained in childbirth who provides emotional, physical, and educational support to a mother who is expecting, is experiencing labor, or has recently given birth. The doula’s purpose is to help women have a safe, memorable, and empowering birthing experience.
What does a doula do?
A doula develops a relationship in which the Mother feels free to ask questions, express her fears and concerns, and take an active role in creating a birth plan. Doulas make themselves available to the mother, by phone, in order to respond to her questions or address any concerns that might arise during the course of the pregnancy. Doulas do not provide any type of medical care. However, they are knowledgeable in many medical aspects of labor and delivery. As such, they can help their clients gain a better understanding of the procedures and possible complications in late pregnancy or delivery.
What support does a doula offer?
Physical Support
Position ideas for comfort and labor progression cross over with hands-on comfort measures like comforting touch, counter pressure, breathing techniques and other “doula magic” for families. A doula’s skilled hands and positioning tools can often help a malpositioned baby find its way through the pelvis and into the birthing parent’s arms.
Emotional Support
Doulas help families to feel supported, easing the emotional experience of birth and also helping to create a space where the hormones of labor can work at their best. Whether a birth is completely unmedicated or medically very complex, every family can benefit from nurturing and connection at this tender, incredible time in their lives.
Partner Support
Whether it’s a romantic partner, a friend or another family member, the birth partner’s experience matters in birth. Doulas are there to support every birth partner in being as involved as they’d like with the birth. Physical and emotional support make a huge difference for everyone involved.
Evidence-Based Information and Advocacy
DONA International doulas are trained to help families connect with evidence-based resources so they can ask great questions and make informed decisions about their births. Doulas serve as a bridge of communication between women and their providers, lifting them up to help them find their voices and advocate for the very best care.
(DONA International)
Does a doula make decisions on my behalf?
A doula does not make decisions for clients or intervene in their care. A doula provides informational and emotional support, while respecting a woman’s decisions.
What are the benefits for my partner?
The role of the doula is never to take the place of the husband or partner(s) in labor. Instead, the role of a doula is to complement and enhance the birth partner's experience. Whether the partner wants to play an active role in the birth process or prefers to enjoy the delivery without having to stand in as the labor coach, a doula can help guide either path. Doulas (can) encourage the husband/partner to use comfort techniques and will step in if he/she wants a break. Having a doula allows the husband/partner to support the Mother emotionally during childbirth and enjoy the experience without the added pressure of trying to remember everything learned in childbirth class.
I'm already taking Childbirth classes. Do I still need a doula?
Doulas can help in further explanation of your childbirth class information. A doula can also remind you and your partner of what you learned in your class, during labor and after your birth.
If I hire a doula, do I have to have a natural childbirth?
For women who have decided to have a medicated birth, the doula will provide emotional, informational, and physical support through labor and the administration of medications. Doulas work alongside medicated mothers to help them deal with potential side effects and encourage birthing positioning (if position changing is allowed through the hospital's protocol.) Even with medication, there is likely to be some degree of discomfort. A doula can help you cope with that discomfort (physically and emotionally).
For a mother facing a cesarean, a doula can be helpful by providing constant support and encouragement. An unexpected cesarean can leave a mother feeling disappointed, discouraged, unprepared, and lonely. A doula can be attentive to the mother at all times throughout the cesarean, letting her know what is going on throughout the procedure. (Disclaimer: Most hospitals will allow the partner and a doula in the OR. Though, please check with your hospital's protocol.) In this situation, the partner can attend to the baby and accompany the newborn to the nursery, while the doula attends to the Mother.
Will having a doula help increase my chances for an unmedicated birth?
Many women report needing fewer interventions when they have a doula present. With the support of a doula, women were less likely to have a medical-administered birth and less likely to have a cesarean birth. Women also reported having a more positive childbirth experience.
(Childbirth Connection)
Other studies have shown that having a doula as a member of the birth team decreases the:
- Overall cesarean rate by 50%
- The length of labor by 25%
- The use of oxytocin by 40%
- Requests for an epidural by 60%
(Hodnett ED. Gates S Hofmeyr GJ. Sakala C. Continuous Support for Women During Childbirth. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. CD003766, 2003.)
Studies have also shown that doulas can help cut back on time spent in labor, reduce a mother's anxiety, and improve mother-baby bonding post-birth.
How much will a doula cost?
According to various sources, the cost of a doula services vary by region, but they often range from $800 to $2,500, with the average cost around $1,200. On a per-case basis, I will make arrangements for clients who cannot afford services.
Are the costs of a doula covered by insurance?
As more and more women are choosing doula's for birth and postpartum, and more research is being done showing the positive benefits and outcomes of having a doula, more insurance companies are covering the cost of doula services. Many insurance providers will also cover the cost of breastfeeding equipment, lactation consultants and childbirth classes. It cannot be guaranteed that your insurance provider will reimburse you. It is your responsibility to check with your insurance company. Labor Like a Boss will provide any client with all receipts and any information you may need to file for your insurance reimbursement. At this time, Labor Like a Boss will not directly bill any insurance company.
When should I hire a doula?
To ensure availability, the ideal time to hire a doula is as early in your pregnancy as possible. This also allows both you and the doula to get to know one another and to discuss your plans for your pregnancy, labor and birth, and breastfeeding and postpartum. It also gives you more time to explore the resources she will provide you with.
How do I hire you as my doula?
Please contact me via the Contact Us link!