Everyday Miracles Doula Service

                                                        Doula FAQ’s     

How can a doula help me?

One of your doula's first goals is getting to know the mother and her partner and building a trusting and warm relationship so that by the time your baby is ready to be born you will know and trust all of your support people.  Your doula helps you to determine your goals for your birth, and works to help you meet those goals. She often helps to clarify information discussed with the doctor or midwife and suggests topics for future discussion with your caregiver.

Once your labor begins, she will stay with you throughout your whole labor and delivery, using non-medical pain relief techniques, and providing emotional support. Your doula helps ensure your partner is involved in the birth. She is also trained in the physiology of labor, helps explain medical terms and procedures, and keeps everyone calm.

After the baby is born, she will help with the initial breastfeeding, and in processing the birth experience. She is also available to answer questions, make suggestions or just lend a friendly ear over the phone before and after the birth.

What is the difference between a nurse or midwife and a doula?               

A nurse or midwife is trained to do medical procedures and evaluate the well-being of both mother and child, whereas your doula’s priority is your emotional support and physical comfort.

As shifts change, you may see many different nurses throughout your labor, whereas your doula stays with you continuously. Also, your doula focuses only on you, but a nurse or midwife has other moms to look after at once.

Whatever caregivers you choose, doulas works cooperatively with your entire health care team.

Do I need a doula if I have a midwife?

Absolutely!  Although there is some cross-over between the roles of doulas and midwives, there are many important distinctions.  Primarily, the midwife's responsibility peaks at the time of the birth, which is when she must be at her most alert to perform her job effectively.  This means that she must conserve her energy throughout your labor to perform her job as best as she can.  This does not mean that midwives do not provide labor support--they do--just that they have many other responsibilities that must take precedence.

In contrast, a doula's responsibility peaks during active labor and transition, when you need the most help coping with your contractions.  By the time the birth rolls around, the doula has already accomplished most of her work--she has helped you through your labor to the point of delivery.  As a result, a doula can afford to spend most of her energy in the labor stage. 

As the midwives are busy setting up for the birth, taking fetal heart tones, charting, and many other important tasks related to monitoring the health of mom and baby, you doula is there with you, coaching you through each contraction, heating up your hot water bottle, adding fresh water to your labor tub, and fetching a glass of juice for you, and a mug of tea for your partner.  Ideally, doulas and midwives work hand-in-hand at every birth. 

Will we feel comfortable having a stranger at our birth?

Well, a doula is not really a stranger; she is someone that has built a warm and trusting relationship with you and your partner prior to labor.  She will be familiar with you; your preferences, your fears and your concerns, and you will have a good sense of her as a caregiver and as a person.  As well, if you are birthing in a hospital, you probably won't have met your nurses and delivery doctor beforehand, so your doula provides the continuity of care for your birth. 

Your doula is a supporter of the team (you and your partner), and encourages and expects that your labor and birth will be a loving experience between the mother and her partner. 

What doesn’t a doula do?

Doulas do not perform medical tasks such as vaginal exams or fetal heart checks. Doulas do not speak to the medical staff on your behalf. Doulas do not make decisions for you.

Isn’t my partner my doula?

No. Your doula has training and experience above and beyond what your spouse may learn from a prenatal class. No matter how much experience your spouse has with childbirth, the birth experience can be stressful and confusing, and the presence of a doula frees your partner from the heavy responsibility of being your only support person. Your partner is now free to be loving, supportive, responsive and emotionally involved in the thrill of the birth of your child. Your doula in no way replaces the presence of your partner; she enhances it.

How does a doula help my partner?

Your doula is there to support both you and your partner. From simply letting your spouse take a break to reassuring your partner that what is happening is normal, your doula takes a lot of pressure off of birth partners, who may sometimes feel overwhelmed. Partners may also feel unsure about what to do. A doula will make suggestions, helping your partner help you.

Do doulas help single moms?

Yes! Birthing alone can be scary and confusing because it can be very difficult to focus on bringing your baby into the world while still trying to communicate with your caregivers. While your doula never makes decisions for you, she can be a great help with explaining what is happening.

We believe that every woman should have at least two support people at her birth, and will work with any friend or family member you invite.

Do I need a doula if I'm planning to have an epidural?

A doula's goal is to help you have the best birth experience possible, however you define it.  If using drugs is important to you, your doula will educate you about all of your options and help you make an informed choice about what's best for you and your baby.  She will help you avoid further intervention; support you and your partner in the early stages of labor before the epidural can be started, and later through the pushing stage.

What if I have a cesarean birth?  Do I still need a doula?

If you have planned a cesarean birth, a doula is a great help.  Your doula will help you be as informed as possible about the surgery and the post-partum recovery. 

If your caregiver suggests a cesarean at some point during labor, your doula will guide you in asking questions that will help you gather necessary information about the reasons your caregiver recommends a cesarean, the risks and benefits relative to your particular situation, and any alternatives you may have.  In this case, you will likely make an informed decision and will therefore be more satisfied with a surgical outcome. 

She will also help to reinforce that even though a cesarean may not have been your goal, you are still giving birth.  She will celebrate with you; facilitate closeness between the new family, and photograph the baby's first moments. 

Other ways in which a doula might help with a cesarean section, planned or unplanned, include:

Assisting in relaxation during the administration of the spinal or epidural; Video taping or photographing the birth; Facilitating closeness between the new family; Staying with mom while the surgery is finished when baby and mom's partner go off to the nursery; Relaying information to mom about the baby; Helping mom with the initial breastfeeding; Sharing information about recovery.

Can a doula help me avoid a repeat cesarean?

Absolutely!  Doulas are especially important if you are planning a VBAC (Vaginal Birth after Cesarean) because she helps you avoid the interventions that increase your likelihood of having another cesarean birth.

At what point in my pregnancy should I contact a doula?

The earlier the better!  Although the number of visits you have with your doula will be the same whether you contact her at 12 weeks or at 35 weeks, the difference is that you'll have someone you know that you can call on with those "Is this normal?" or "What does this mean?" sort of phone calls throughout your pregnancy.  As well, the longer you have known your doula, the more of a relationship you will build.