Studies have proven (link), that continuous support during labor reduces the need for medication and other interventions, leaves the women with a more positive birth experience and reduces the chances a cesarean birth will become necessary.
So, yeah - but what do I DO?
I hold prenatal visits with mamas, where we will review birth plans and I'll answer questions that the mama or partner has regarding pregnancy, labor, breastfeeding, or even post-pregnancy baby care. Mamas can call or text me with any questions, which is one of the best parts - speaking from personal experience. "Why do I have a twinge in my hip?" "What can I do for a sore back?" "Am I allowed to eat sushi?" "Can you tell me if this is my mucous plug?" Oh yeahhhh, that happens.
Before labor starts, I helps mamas determine if this is really "it". I spend a lot of time helping mamas deal with prodromal labor. Spoiler alert: always try and stop contractions, if it's the real deal you can't stop them on your own.
When labor really starts, I'm right there with the mama and partner from start to finish. I can go an labor at home with parents, or I can meet them at the hospital. Ideally, I try and get to them once labor is in a nice pattern that's starting to get difficult to navigate through so that I can help avoid any unnecessary fear or overwhelmed emotions the mama might start to experience.
During labor, my #1 goal is to continuously remind women that they are STRONG and CAPABLE. Our bodies are made to do this incredible thing. I don't give women strength, I remind them that they have everything they need to birth this baby within them. I offer physical support which is PRICELESS during contractions. I talk parents through the decisions as they come up, to help offer them unbiased information to make their own informed choices. I protect the space. I respect the space. I ATTUNE to the space. I live to serve as a doula, I will be who is needed for the mama and the partner. That can be holding hands, squeezing hips, reading affirmations or reminding everyone to sleep when they can.
There are a few things that I find to be paramount in my doula practice. When people choose to hire me I make sure these things are known:
1. I am not a doctor hater. I have a family full of doctors and I believe that OBs have their place, just like midwives do.
2. I have zero preference on how a woman decides to birth her baby. My only wish is that she feels empowered and involved in what happens to her body.
3. I don't like to give my opinion on what you should do. It really doesn't matter what I would do. My birth story and life has it's only million little paths that lead into my decisions. I will share everything I can about what information I would use to make your decision though. And gladly!
4. I don't believe in birth "plans" as much as I believe in birth "preferences". It's kind of semantics, but essentially, I believe women should research every little detail they could be presented to make a decision on in childbirth (and parenting really), and then I think they just let it go. Set the stage, and then understand that so much of birth is up to God/fate/the universe - whatever you believe in - you're definitely not calling the shots. Women that can surrender to this, and trust their body to do what it needs to, and for their providers to pick up any slack have the best shot of feeling empowered and content with their birth experience.
My favorite part of what I do, is just being invited to those moments. I will never, ever stop being humbled by the honor of being invited to share the first moments of life with these families.
So hire doulas, guys! Everyone woman deserves one!