Are you an expecting mother in Kentucky? Have you ever considered hiring a birth doula for your birth experience?
Pregnancy is a beautiful but sometimes stressful time in a woman’s life and you may have questions about the process of bringing your little one into the world. It is also a time when many women feel they need extra support, especially when the added challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. A doula can help. Would hiring one be the right choice for you?
I interviewed Angelia Reed, a central Kentucky doula and photographer serving Lexington, Winchester, Harrodsburg, Berea, London, Louisville, and Shelbyville, to learn everything you might want to know before you hire a doula.
Q: What exactly does a doula do? What services do they provide?
A: Doulas are birth professionals whose knowledge and experience are highly valued by expecting families. They provide physical, emotional, and informational support during pregnancy, childbirth, and early postpartum to help better birth experiences.
- During pregnancy, a doula can help you explore your options, rehearse coping techniques, create your unique birth plan, and communicate your vision of the perfect birth.
- They provide continuous support during in-home early labor and when you’re ready to birth at the location of your choice helping in guiding the safe and satisfying experience that you desire!
- Doulas do not perform clinical tasks, diagnose or give medical advice. We leave all of that to your OB or Midwife.
- When your baby is born your doula will stay with you until your family is ready for quiet time together and will meet with you one last time to make sure all is well during early postpartum.
With your doula’s knowledgeable view on birth, your partner’s special knowledge of you, and your care provider caring for your medical needs, this team makes the perfect support for the complex needs of childbirth. Your doula will make sure you’re in charge, never alone, feel safe, and understand what’s going on.
Q: What are the benefits of working with a doula?
A: The benefits of having a doula on your birth team are endless! Research studies have shown that women who hire a doula have a more positive outcome on birth overall.
- The doula’s presence alone lowers the risk of cesarean by 39% and shortens labor by an average of 41 minutes.
- For women who desire a more natural experience, having a doula decreases the use of medical interventions and even lowers the number of women who request epidural analgesia.
- Doulas are with the laboring person 100% of the time compared to the 6-12% caregivers are able to be.
- The presence of a doula alleviates the pressure a partner may feel, allowing them to enjoy the experience more.
- The benefits don’t stop there. According to research, the use of a doula has a significant impact on postpartum as well as increasing breastfeeding numbers and more positive maternal perception.
There are endless benefits to having a doula, and only positive outcomes!
Q: What should you look for when choosing a Kentucky doula?
A: Expecting families can begin their search for the perfect doula anytime (DoulaMatch is a great site for finding local doulas and any central KY families can reach out to me abirthdoula.com). I’ve been interviewed by families planning to conceive and have even been hired as late as 37 weeks into pregnancy.
- The first and most important thing to look for in a doula is a connection! All doulas are different, from their practice to their personality. Your birth space is sacred. It’s important to build a birth team consisting of those who make you feel safe and supported.
- The next thing to look for in a doula is training and/or experience. If professional training and certification mean a lot to you, look for a doula that has taken one and who may be certified (certification is not required to practice as a doula). If experience means a lot to you, ask them how many families they have supported. Many newer doulas offer discounts when just starting out and can be very beneficial too.
- Pricing may be an important aspect of your decision-making as well. Check out their prices to help narrow down your decision, but remember, they are worth every penny with many ways to help make their services more affordable.
- You can also ask for recommendations in local mom groups or from friends and family who may have had one.
When you have a few doulas in mind, reach out and schedule a consultation. Meeting them in person or over Zoom will help you make your final decision.
Q: What are some of the most important questions to ask your doula once hired?
A: Once you’ve found the perfect doula for your family, you will meet during your pregnancy to get to know one another and prepare for the experience you desire.
- Ask your doula about your options. Your doula will know things you may not have known about that could help make your experience better. This is great for creating a birth plan or to simply discuss your options so you’re ready for informed decision-making.
- Another great question to ask your doula is how to know when it’s time to head to the hospital or call your midwife. Doulas help families know when the time is right and will be by your side whenever you’re ready.
- Be sure to ask your doula about advocacy, especially when birthing in the hospital setting. Knowing your rights as a birthing person and being able to advocate for yourself are extremely important. This is your birth and your baby. You are in control and you are the main decision-maker.
- Your partner may be wondering how they will work together. Ask your doula how she plans to support your partner through this experience and how they will team together to help you during labor.
- Another thing to ask your doula about is what coping techniques you can use. During labor, each surge (aka contraction) becomes stronger, longer, and closer together. It’s important to stay relaxed and as comfortable as possible. Doulas are trained in many different positions and comfort techniques that they can show you and your partner. Not only do these keep mom comfortable but they also help your baby get into a good position, create space in your pelvis, and help labor progress.
- If you plan to get an epidural or have a planned cesarean, ask your doula how they plan to be a help. Even moms who plan to have a medicated experience can greatly benefit from a doula.
- The last thing I’d definitely recommend asking your doula is how she will help you overcome any fears. It’s okay to have worries; birth asks you to be brave, not fearless. It’s important to talk about what’s on your mind, put it in a jar, and set it on the shelf. Your doula can help remind you that your body was meant for this. We want you to be relaxed and welcoming each surge knowing you’re in control.
Q: What are some common misconceptions about doulas?
A: Some people may not know what a doula is or understand their role. This is why there may be a few misconceptions about doulas. Here are a few things that are often confused:
- “Doulas replace the partner.” No no no no and no. Doulas are not for replacing anyone, just a very beneficial addition to the birth team. Doulas have knowledge about birth that can be very reassuring to your partner and help them become more involved in the experience. I’ve even attended births where the mom’s partner and mother were both present. They are all the power, I just fill in when needed.
- “Doulas are the same things as midwives, but cheaper.” This is another big misconception. Midwives are medical care providers just like your typical OB, although their scope of practice trusts more in the natural process of birth. You can even find midwives at your local hospital or Certified Professional Midwives in the area who attend home births. Doulas on the other hand are non-medical. We do not perform any medical tasks or give medical advice. We only provide physical, emotional, and informational support and are highly recommended by care providers who understand our role.
- “They only support moms who want an unmedicated birth.” Let me tell you something – doulas are for every kind of mom. The mom who wants an epidural, the one who wants an unmedicated experience, she who plans to breastfeed, or she who wants to formula feed, the mom birthing at home, and even the mom who will be having a planned cesarean birth. Doulas are for everyone and can be extremely beneficial no matter how you plan to birth. You just have to find the right one for you!
- “Doulas don’t get along with care providers.” We are there to make sure you have a good experience and birthing environment. I have attended many births, in and out of the hospital – never have I ever had a bad experience with my client’s provider. We are all there for you, supporting you in all the decisions you make. If a provider does not seem doula friendly, that may be a red flag. Providers should always be supportive of your birthing desires especially having an extra support person who can be with you 100% of the time.
- “Doulas are hippies.” You may come across a doula who’s like that, but this is where we come back to the idea of finding the right doula for you. Whatever you’re looking for, whether it be a nurturing, mothering, reassuring presence or someone who will sing and sway their hips with you, there is a doula for everyone!
Q: Why did you choose to become a doula?
A: My journey to becoming a doula started in high school when I chose human child development as my career pathway. I studied conception to early childhood as I watched my sister’s belly grow with my first niece.
By my junior year, my dream of becoming a doula was clear and my sister invited me to attend her second daughter’s birth. Standing by my sister and watching my beautiful niece be born was the very experience that led me to attend birth doula training that next year.
Now, I have supported a total of 14 families with many more to come. It is an honor to provide support along such an exciting journey. My passion grows with every birth I attend and family I support.
Angelia is a trained Kentucky doula through DONA International with experience serving many families in central Kentucky. You can check out her website abirthdoula.com or contact her directly at info@abirthdoula.com.
About the Author
Jennifer is a writer and blogger who founded The Bluegrass Village. She also blogs at The Nerd Mom, a mommy blog for parents who love nerd culture. She is a wife and mama to four rambunctious kiddos. She and her family moved to Kentucky in the fall of 2019 and immediately fell in love with the Bluegrass State. She loves reading, gardening, and spending time outdoors with her kids and chickens.