Everything a Doula Can Do for You During a Home Birth
If you are considering having a home birth, hiring a doula can be one of the best decisions you make. A doula is a trained professional who provides emotional, physical, and educational support to mothers and families before, during, and after childbirth. Doulas are not medical professionals and do not perform any medical procedures, but their presence can greatly enhance the birthing experience. Below, we explore everything a doula can do for you during a home birth and after.
What Is a Doula?
Before we dive into the role of a doula during a home birth, let’s first understand who they are and what they do. The word doula comes from the Greek word meaning “a woman who serves.”
In modern times, a doula is a trained and certified professional who provides ongoing support to the mother and her support partners before, during, and after childbirth. They are not there for just the physical aspects of labor; they also provide emotional and informational support. However, a doula cannot and will not intervene medically in any way.
Preparing for Birth
Hiring a doula for your home birth means having an extra set of hands to help you prepare. Doulas are a great resource for mothers who want to know more about the birthing process and how to best prepare for it. A doula can provide you with resources and tips for pain management, relaxation techniques, and different birthing positions. They also assist in creating a detailed birth plan, ensuring that your care provider knows your preferences and wishes, whether in or out of the home.
Emotional Support
Giving birth can be a physically and emotionally intense experience. A doula is there to provide continuous emotional support throughout the labor and delivery process. They offer encouragement, reassurance, and a calming presence during moments of stress or uncertainty. Doulas are also trained in recognizing signs of anxiety or fear and can help mothers and supporters manage intense emotions during labor.
Physical Support
During a home birth, a doula can provide physical support to the mother in various ways. They assist with comfort measures, such as massage, breathing techniques, and helping the mother find comfortable positions. Doulas are also trained in using natural methods for pain relief, such as aromatherapy or hydrotherapy. These techniques can be especially helpful during a home birth, where medical pain relief options may be limited or unavailable altogether.
Advocacy and Communication
One of the most important roles of a doula during a home birth is acting as an advocate for the mother. Doulas are knowledgeable about childbirth and can help mothers make informed decisions throughout the process.
They ensure that the mother’s preferences and wishes reach the care provider and can help facilitate communication between the mother and medical staff. Medical staff attendance during a home birth is generally limited to a certified nurse midwife, but a doula’s communication factors remain the same regardless of the professionals in attendance.
Postpartum Support
The support of a doula does not end with the birth of the child. They also provide postpartum care and support to the mother and their family. This may include assistance with breastfeeding, emotional support, light household tasks, or referrals to additional resources if necessary. Additionally, mothers can ask doulas for support through the clean up after a home water birth since there will be many things to accomplish, and your family’s hands may be tied.
Everything a doula can do for you during a home birth ranges from helping prepare the home to cleaning up the space afterward. Hiring a doula is on the more affordable end, and it pays to have additional hands-on support and guidance.
