Why are Doulas a Big Part of a Birth Plan and Why Should I Consider Hiring One?
As a maternity and newborn photographer, I spend hundreds of hours with women at different phases of their pregnancy journey. Throughout the years, I’ve seen over and over again what a powerful (and empowering) role doulas play in their clients’ pregnancy and birthing journeys - as well as the postpartum period.
It doesn’t feel like an exaggeration to say that doulas can become a lifeline for new mothers/parents during a reverent, tender (and sometimes scary or anxiety making) period of their lives, and that the newborn household’s physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing is the better for it.
Doulas Facilitate Brilliant Births and More Positive Outcomes for Mother, Baby & Family
One incredible doula I’ve gotten to know for some time now is Heidi Kate, the founder of Brilliant Births, a doula agency specializing in birth doulas, postpartum doulas, lactation support, and more.
A while back, we posted an article about whether hiring a doula is right for you. After publishing that post, I was inspired to go directly to the source, and speak to Heidi Kate in person, to hear her take on how including a doula in the birth plan results in more positive outcomes for mothers, babies, and their families.
I’ve included the full interview script at the end of this post, so you can scroll below if you’re interested in all the details. Here, I’m posting each question and the gist of Heidi’s answers.
Why are doulas a big part of a birth plan and why should you consider hiring one?
While hospital or birthing center labor and delivery teams are technically working for you, they also potentially have multiple other patients they’re caring for at the same time. Plus, you can’t text them in the middle of the night with a burning question.
Doulas, on the other hand, are “hired directly by you, as part of your team, to provide continuous care during your transition into parenthood. Statistically, having a doula decreases the chances of encountering interventions and increases the overall satisfaction of birth experiences, regardless of how your labor unfolds.”
Also, a doula’s focus is “to make you feel heard throughout your prenatal, labor and postpartum experience!”
What's a doula's role during your birth, at home or in the hospital?
“Regardless of the setting; during your birth, your doula will continuously be by your side to provide hands-on comfort measures, guide your partner in supporting you, encourage advocacy if needed, provide unbiased information and be there to hold you so that you feel safe while moving through labor.”
What if there are complications during birth and you need a doctor?
There’s a misconception that doulas only support natural, unmedicated births and pressure clients to avoid medical interventions. This is not the case at all. Doula’s find out what you want, and fully support whatever choices you make.
Heidi says, “doula’s support all kinds of births! We encourage people to seek medical attention as soon as they feel something isn’t quite right. Doula’s...support cesarean births, medical and unmedicated births of all kinds.”
What's the difference between a birth doula and a postpartum doula?
“Birth doulas support people during their pregnancy, labor and initial postpartum period. Our birth doulas provide one postpartum visit where they help families process their birth, help with feeding, caring for the birthing person, and baby care.”
The postpartum doula role takes over where the birth doula left off for mothers who would like more support, be it more sleep at night, help with household work, meal preparation, and more. They are there to serve the household and are also educated, informational sources regarding all things newborn. “There are postpartum doulas who provide daytime support and doulas who come to help throughout the night.”
What's the benefit of hiring a doula through an agency?
“There are many benefits of hiring a doula through an agency. Agency doulas are vetted, managed, reliable and professional, plus you can hire all of your services in one place! Plus they have a secure network of backup doulas in case of emergency and have layers of mentoring support within.”
Why is Brilliant Births my best choice when hiring a doula?
When it comes down to it, it’s all about safety (and heart!) first.
“Brilliant Birth’s doulas are knowledgeable, reliable and professional. Plus each member has provided documentation of an accredited training, is background checked, CPR certified, has a business license and attend educational yearly workshops to maintain up to date on current information. Not only are our doulas passionate about everything birth and postpartum, but they are passionate about providing their clients with the individualized care they deserve.”
If you’re debating whether or not to hire a doula for your upcoming pregnancy/birth, I highly recommend visiting Brilliant Birth’s website and scheduling a consultation.
As long as you’re planning ahead, I invite you to peruse my photo gallery, and then give me a call at (510) 747-9019, or contact me online, to schedule your maternity and newborn photography sessions. Like Katie and her team of doulas, I, too, am passionate about everything birth and postpartum, and love creating once-in-a-lifetime works of art, celebrating one of life’s most precious moments.
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Here’s the full transcript of my interview with Heidi:
Why are doulas a big part of a birth plan and why should I consider hiring one?
Doulas do a variety of things, but the bottom line is that having someone hired directly by you, as part of your team, to provide continuous care during your transition into parenthood is valuable. Statistically having a doula decreases the chances of encountering interventions and increases the overall satisfaction of birth experiences, regardless of how your labor unfolds.
Doulas provide information that is molded to your individual experience, they practice comfort measures that make sense for you & are able to be there to support you and your partner in an unbiased way. Consider hiring a doula so that you feel heard throughout your prenatal, labor and postpartum experience!
What's a doula's role during my birth, at home or in hospital?
Regardless of the setting; during your birth, your doula will continuously be by your side to provide hands on comfort measures, guide your partner in supporting you, encourage advocacy if needed, provide unbiased information & be there to hold you so that you feel safe while moving through labor.
What if there are complications during birth and I need a doctor?
Doula’s support all kinds of births! We typically work with clients who are birthing in hospitals where doctors are present in case of complications. We encourage people to seek medical attention as soon as they feel like something isn’t quite right. Doula’s are a valuable addition to any birth team; we support cesarean births, medical and un-medicated births of all kinds. We do our best to allow our clients feel truly informed throughout their labor, so that they are able to process complications if they arise.
What's the difference between a birth doula and a postpartum doula?
Birth doulas support people during their pregnancy, labor and initial postpartum period; Our doulas provide 1 postpartum visit where they help families process their birth, help with feeding, caring for the birthing person, and baby care. Birth doulas also provide information or community referrals as needed.
Postpartum doulas are there to support clients after the birth has happened. There are postpartum doulas who provide daytime support and doulas who come to help throughout the night.
Both daytime and nighttime doulas support clients in a variety of ways. They help families adjust into parenthood by providing recommendations for infant feeding and care, supporting the birthing person through their emotional and physical healing process, providing nutritious meals, running errands, & tidying the house.
While daytime support can be valuable to learn how to care for your newborn & get things done around the house, night care is provided to allow the family to get more sleep! Some clients choose to have their postpartum doula work some daytime shifts and some night shifts in order to benefit from both types of care.
What's the benefit of hiring a doula through an agency?
There are many benefits of hiring a doula through an agency. Agency doulas are vetted, managed, reliable and professional, plus you can hire all of your services in one place! Plus they have a secure network of backup doulas in case of emergency and have layers of mentoring support within.
Why is Brilliant Births my best choice when hiring a doula?
Brilliant Birth’s doulas are knowledgeable, reliable and professional. Plus each member has provided documentation of an accredited training, is background checked, CPR certified, has a business license and attend educational yearly workshops to maintain up to date on current information. Not only are our doulas passionate about everything birth and postpartum, but they are passionate about providing their clients with the individualized care they deserve.