Frequently Asked Questions
What is a birth doula or postpartum doula?
Like a personal tour guide for the childbearing year!
We've been there before and can answer your questions, point out important things, and walk beside you every step of the way with individualized support on your unique journey.
Birth doulas are trained companions who provide pregnant people with continual emotional and physical support throughout pregnancy, labor, and birth and the immediate postpartum period. Birth doulas also assist new parents in obtaining information before, during, and after birth to allow them to make informed decisions and advocate for themselves.
Postpartum doulas provide similar education and emotional and physical support but focus on the postpartum period, after baby has arrived. Many postpartum doulas are trained in lactation support and can help new parents with breast/body feeding. Postpartum doulas also often help with household tasks such as light cleaning, laundry, errands, and postpartum nutrition, cooking and meal prep.
Do postpartum doulas take the place of partners? What about other family?
No, doulas and partners make a great team!
During the postpartum period the burden of household chores, emotional support, infant care, or childcare for older siblings often falls to the non-birthing parent while the birthing parent recovers. As doulas we provide an extra set of hands to let everyone get a rest or spend time together as a family.
And non-birthing parents need emotional support, too! We can provide partners with birth education, emotional support, and answer any questions that arise for them. We can also offer partners encouragement and advice on how to support the birthing parent throughout the childbearing year.
Extended family support is often wonderful for new parents, and a doula can be helpful even if you have a strong support network of family and friends - doulas will slot in wherever their support is needed! We can also help manage visits from outside family and friends, whether this is making everyone snacks and tea, or gently letting visitors know when the new parents decide it's time for them to rest. Or sometimes the arrival of a new baby can be a tense time for new parents and their relationship with extended family: for example, if grandparents have anxieties or strong opinions on how to care for the new baby. As doulas we're neutral outsiders who are there 100% specifically to help you. In these situations we can cheer you on and help you feel confident and supported in making choices that are right for your family as you navigate new parenthood.
Why should I have a doula if I already have a doctor or midwife?
The primary role of midwives and doctors is to ensure healthy medical outcomes, and they're amazing at that. However, in most cases they simply do not have the time or skills to provide the holistic support you need, nor should they have to! That's where doulas come in! We complement the important role of your healthcare provider and fill in the gaps to make sure you are lovingly supported throughout the childbearing year, whether this is providing comfort measures during labor or doing your laundry once you get home.
Doulas also recognize the long-term emotional impact of pregnancy, birth, and new parenthood. By ‘holding space’ for you during this transformative time we honor your emotional needs along with the physical ones.
Before birth, birth doulas form an important part of your care team and they can assist you in formulating your vision for your birth, choose a healthcare provider in line with your values, and support you before, during, and after healthcare appointments throughout your pregnancy.
After birth, postpartum doulas continue to be an important part of your care team and can be particularly helpful in supporting maternal mental and physical health, successful breast/bodyfeeding, and providing references to other healthcare professionals such a lactation consultants, pelvic floor physical therapists, psychiatrists, etc..