Photo credit: Leah Rempel Photography
To the birthing person who has a supportive partner and/or family flying in to be with you, and/or ecstatic friends who have been waiting forever for the arrival of your baby and have promised to give your baby all the cuddles… why hire a doula if you have any of the above to support you during this next chapter in your life?
In short, a doula is an essential role to the already existing support. Doulas offer unbiased and professional support in conjunction with the support you receive from those who know you on a personal level. Below, I’ll briefly discuss the differences between doula support and the support you may receive from loved ones.
Your Partner
Your supportive partner may offer personal, emotional, physical connections and strength in a unique relationship to everyone else. They are likely the one to communicate with friends and family the easiest and have a unique role with your older children. Your supportive partner can recognize reactions to certain experiences and has knowledge of past health concerns/issues. You bond with your baby with your partner in a way that is exclusively yours.
Doulas offer knowledge on unique comfort techniques, alternatives and options, informed consent practices, and feeding and sleep solutions. Doulas are aware of hospital, birthing centre, and home birth experiences and can indirectly facilitate communication between the birthing person, partner and health care practitioners. Doulas give the supportive partner breaks to ensure they are healthy and alert for the arrival of baby, and provide unbiased, professional strength and in difficult situations, calmness, and a safe space.
Doulas help guide your supportive partner to support you and baby and offers quality time with each other, baby, and loved ones.
Family & Friends
Family and friends all have unique relationships with you, and may know you much longer than your partner has. They are undoubtedly overjoyed about your journey through pregnancy, birth, and parenting! Family and friends however often visit during the evening and weekends, which may coincide with the quality time you have with your partner. Visitors may focus on spending time with baby and catching up with the parents and older siblings and may bring their own subjective biases and stigmas regarding pregnancy, birth, and infant care. You and your partner may find it hard to ask help from friends and family.
Doulas focus on whole-family health by supporting your needs, your baby and older children’s needs, as well as your partner’s needs. Doulas have clear, professional boundaries and compassion, and provide unbiased, objective, evidence-based information on all topics related to pregnancy, birth, and newborn/infant care. Doulas provide help to the family that in turn helps the baby. Doulas offer support during all hours of the day – including when partners, friends, and family are unavailable.
Photo credit: Leah Rempel Photography
In summary, doulas do not exist to diminish the roles of your existing support team, but are there to work with them to enhance your pregnancy, labour/delivery, and postpartum year. Whether you need support for the labour/birth or for your postpartum year, doulas offer unbiased, professional support and knowledge during any time of the day and can help guide your loved ones to support you and baby.
My name is Karena and I am a birth and postpartum doula, serving Edmonton, Alberta and its surrounding areas. Contact me today to see how I can complement your existing support team!
Photo credit: Leah Rempel Photography
