3. A doula is a third-party team member
Only after delivering my first baby did I realize, it is important to have someone at your birth who is there to support you but who is also removed from your close circle of family or friends. A doula is not as attached to you as your husband or your mum. So, when you start to break down and say you “can’t do it” or you “need the epidural”, your doula is best at staying grounded and reminding you what you really want for your birth. She will encourage you and drive you forward as your family or friends may not be able to (because they don’t want to see you in pain.)
4. A doula also supports your spouse/significant other
The labor process can be long. In some cases, it can last all day, through the night, and beyond. Not only is this exhausting for you, but it is also exhausting for your partner. A doula is there to relieve your partner so that they may also care for themselves.
Having a doula there to help your partner allows them to be the best they can be for you. I know that my husband was really tired by the end of my labor. Once my baby was born, I would’ve prefered he had been able to rest during my labor so that he could’ve been more energized after the birth (it didn’t help that my baby was born at 3:00 AM).
5. A doula is with you through your postpartum recovery
Navigating those first weeks with your new baby is exhausting to say the least. You’re not sleeping. Your baby eats and poops on a solid hour-by-hour rotating schedule. Breastfeeding is way harder than you prepared for it to be. On top of it all, you’re in pain. You’re healing. And you’re processing your recent labor and delivery experience. Your doula is there to support you through all of this.
Not only do I wish I would’ve had a doula for my birth, but I also would’ve really benefited from having a doula postpartum. I won’t sugarcoat it, my recovery was rough. Of course, I was so happy to have my baby in my arms, but I was struggling with all of the things I mentioned above, and then some. A doula will typically visit you one or two times after your birth. She is there to do what she can to make you comfortable, help with breastfeeding, and help you process your recent birth experience. The doula I am working with now is also available 24/7 by call or text if I have any questions or concerns before or after my birth.
So, what do you think? Should you hire a doula for your birth? Hopefully my advice will help you answer yes! Overall, a doula is a valuable asset when it comes to achieving your desired birth experience. Although rewarding, birth is hard. Why not set yourself up for success in the best way that you can?
Kaeli Stolt is a 24-year-old wife, mama, and freelance writer, living in a small Northern Michigan town. Kaeli shares bits about her relationship, kiddos, and lifestyle on her personal blog www.SimplyStolts.com. You can also find her on Instagram @simplystolts.
