Why Hire a Doula?
Doulas are professionally trained, non medical experts who support you through pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. Our aim is to dispel any myths surrounding pregnancy, labour, birth and the postnatal period, including breastfeeding. We don’t pass judgement or offer advice. Instead we provide you with evidence-based, up to date information so that you feel empowered to make the decisions which are right for yourself, your baby and your family.
The way we give birth has changed. Since birth moved out of the home and into the hospital, it has become a bit impersonal: with institutional routines, bright lights, high intervention rates and a lack of privacy. These conditions can knock a woman or birthing person’s confidence and, in turn, disrupt their labour.
If you are giving birth in hospital, my job as a Doula is to act as a ‘buffer’ to this environment by providing continuous support and companionship - promoting your confidence, cutting through any medical jargon and staying by your side throughout. If your partner needs a drink, to check on your older kids or to pop out of the room- I’ll still be there. Doulas are a form of pain relief in themselves: with continuous support, women and birthing people in labour are less likely to require pain medication - though of course, medical pain relief is fine too when coupled with informed choice.
Benefits of a Doula
More likely to have the birth you desire.
Women/ birthing people who use Doulas are more likely to have a natural, physiological birth, as opposed to an assisted birth such as forceps/ ventouse or a caesarean birth. Doula’s help to ensure that a woman’s/ birthing person’s wishes for their birth are followed as closely as possible.
Less likely to require pain medication.
Women and birthing people who have a Doula with them during the birth process are more calm and relaxed, so their body produces more natural pain-coping hormones.
Shorter Labour & a Better Experience.
Women and birthing people who have a Doula are more likely to have a shorter labour - by up to 25% - and are more likely to be satisfied with their birth experience.
More likely to succeed with breastfeeding.
I can support you with breastfeeding if this is your chosen feeding method. If there’s a problem we cannot solve together, I will refer you to the right specialist to gain extra support.
Less likely to develop post-natal depression.
Doulas are there to support you - before, during and after the birth of your child. Women and birthing people who use a Doula are less likely to suffer from post-natal depression.