7 Reasons You Should Definitely Hire A Doula (Especially If You’re A First Time Mom)

Did you know doulas reduce the rate of c-section by 50%? That crazy awesome. Not only that, but women who hire doulas typically report having a positive birthing experience (I’m one of those women). Unfortunately, many women don’t know what a doula is or the benefits of hiring one. So, I want to give you a list of reasons to at least consider hiring a doula to be part of your birth team.

1. Pain management.

Having a doula decrease epidural requests by OVER HALF. Why? Because they teach you pain management throughout your pregnancy and use techniques like counterpressure to reduce pain during labor. A doula is basically a professional labor assistant who’s entire knowledge base centers around making labor easier for you, including what makes it more comfortable. They use techniques like;

1. Counter pressure – During labor there comes a time when you feel a lot of pressure in your back and butt. A doula stands behind you while you’re on your knees (however is most comfortable) and apply pressure to counteract the pressure you’re feeling from the inside. For many mamas this reduces a lot of the pain caused by the pressure, making it much more bearable. I was personally totally obsessed with being in the water and didn’t want counterpressure because I didn’t want to get out of the tub, but
2. Massage – Some women don’t want to be touched or move around during labor (I sure didn’t), but other women welcome it. For the mamas that aren’t totally against any kind of human contact during labor, massage can be an amazing distraction from the pain and help you relax. That relaxation is incredibly important during labor being that tension will make birth a lot more painful and difficult.
3. Position Changing – You may be like me and not want to move at all while you’re in labor. Unfortunately, moving is necessary to help labor progress quicker. It can also help get your baby in a position that’s more comfortable for you or find a position that you might be more comfortable in. Doulas know the best birthing positions to help you both feel more comfortable and progress quicker.
4. Acupressure – Pressing on certain pressure points can help to reduce pain and many doulas know where those points are.
5. Relaxation Techniques – As I mentioned before, relaxation is KEY to giving birth efficiently and feeling less pain. I know, it’s hard to relax when you’re in so much pain but doing so will benefit you so much with the pain. Doulas know tons of techniques to help you relax and can teach you beforehand so you’re able to make use of them while in the thick of it.

2. Reduced chance of medical intervention.

Yep! According to the American Pregnancy Association some studies show “having a doula as a member of the birth team decreases the overall cesarean rate by 50%, the length of labor by 25%, the use of oxytocin by 40%, and requests for an epidural by 60%.” If you’re hoping for a totally natural and unmedicated birth having a doula will help you more than you can imagine. Through prepping you for birth, pain management techniques, and coaching you through your labor a doula will totally support your dreams of an unmedicated birth!

3. Less stress.

Doulas are your support during labor; they encourage you, reassure you, helping you relax. But encouragement and reassurance aren’t the only tools they have to help you destress and reduce anxiety levels. They use touch and massage which, according to Marshal Klaus and John Kennel (two physicians), this helps release natural oxytocin which not only helps you relax but can also speed along your labor. Contractions are caused by the release of oxytocin (Pitocin being synthetic oxytocin, the drug used to induce labor) so being able to release more oxytocin will help you out.

4. Your biggest advocate.

While you may have a super supportive spouse who can help with all the other things, a doula knows how to stand up for you the best. They know what normal labor looks like, they know what your rights are and because they aren’t super emotionally tied to your baby like you and your partner are they’re able to keep a clear mind and stick to your plan as safely as possible. They’ll make sure the doctors and nurses respect your wishes and won’t allow anyone to walk all over you.

5. Personal birth trainer.

Lots of doulas offer birthing classes, and even if yours doesn’t she’ll still prepare you as best she can for labor and delivery. She’ll practice labor positions with you, give you tips for labor, give you a check-list for your hospital bag (if you’re giving birth at a hospital), and tell you exactly when you need to head to the hospital or birthing center.

7. Partner support.

You know how so many women complain about their partners during labor? The men who freak out because they’ve never experienced anything like this or who are insensitive without realizing it. With a doula, they don’t have any excuses. She’s not just there for you, also there for your partner. She can explain what’s happening to keep your partner calm and informed so they aren’t constantly questioning if something is normal and feeling scared, as well as give your partner tips on how to best support you. The doulas that taught my birth class gave each partner a list of things to do to be helpful during the labor process and it was really helpful!

This is a photo of my husband massaging my face and playing with my hair during labor – he did so amazing.

8. Birth planning.

With soooo many things to think about, making a birth plan can be really overwhelming for moms, especially for first time moms. A doula knows all the things you need to think about and will walk you through creating a birth plan you’re truly excited about. SOOO much stress is relieved by simply having a birth plan and somewhat knowing what to expect.

Choosing a doula.

If you’ve read up to this point and have been convinced but don’t know where to start, here’s a step by step and some more helpful info.

Most doulas are hired early on in the pregnancy, around the end of the first trimester or beginning of the second. They also tend to book up really fast, so make sure you start looking early (not to say you won’t be able to find one if you’re farther along, it’s just easier earlier).

Start by looking up doulas in your area. You want to make sure you’re COMFORTABLE with your doula and you actually like her because ya’ll are about to get really close really fast. I made the mistake of choosing a doula based on money and I ended up deciding I didn’t really like her. Dumb choice, that sent $800 down the drain and I still had to pay for a new doula. Make it easy on yourself and choose the doula you like.

When you find a doula you think you might like, contact her for an interview. The purpose of the interview is to see if you like her and if she’s a good fit. You’ll also likely go over pricing, everything she offers, and any questions you might have.

TIP: Some doulas take insurance, so if money is a problem try to find one that will take your insurance! This would be a question to ask over the phone or through text/email before setting up an interview.

Other types of doulas.

Antepartum – An antepartum doula is specifically for high risk pregnancies or women on bed rest. They give you support on every level and walk you through the stress of a high risk pregnancy.

Postpartum – A postpartum doula is there to help you through your first couple weeks postpartum. She cooks and cleans, helps out with the baby when you need a break, and pretty much gives you any kind of support you might need. If you have a really supportive partner and a baby that sleeps pretty well you probably don’t need a postpartum doula, but that’s up to you!

Doula pricing.

Depending on where you live, a doula will run you anywhere from $500 (on the very low end) to $3,000 (on the very high end). Average is around $1,000 in my area. As mentioned earlier, many doulas take insurance so you may not have to pay this much out of pocket, just expect to pay around that price point.