Doula Support for a homebirth?
Midwife Kitty here, those who know me, know that I strongly advise hiring a doula for your first birth or for your first VBAC birth. Why is that you may ask, in the comfort of my home with Midwifery care, I won’t need a doula, right?
Here are a few points to consider:
There is solid evidence for doula support: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/the-evidence-for-doulas/ Doulas are so efficacious that not advising their use/support is unethical. Doula support is proven to shorten labor, to enhance parents perception of their birth, and to support vaginal birth (over c-section).
The main reason for transfer from a planned homebirth is Pain management and exhaustion, (not emergencies). One of the key tools to prevent these issues is doula support.
A doula is another quality source of information. Pregnancy, birth, and postpartum is a discovery of information and each person is going to vary in their questions and priorities. A doula is another avenue to meet those needs.
Doula’s provide support in all environments. In the event that we need to go to the hospital, doula’s support folks in the hospital regularly and may know those environments better than a homebirth midwife.
Doula’s priority is your COMFORT! Midwifery care aims to support your best birth and that means keeping you comfortable, but in rare emergent events, our priority is you and your baby’s well-being. Doula work and midwifery overlap GREATLY, but a doula is the only person entirely dedicated to your comfort!
Doula’s are hired by you and they work for YOU!
Doula’s can be a support for your partner and encourage your partner’s best participation in your birth. A skilled doula can help your hubby/person be their best self and whisper in their ear when the doula spots something you need or would benefit from. Your doula can help your person by tagging out and keeping them well-rested if need be.
Doula’s are integrated within the community and they can often help you find other resources you may benefit from such as childbirth education, baby-wearing groups, parenting groups, etc.
A doula is another set of eyes to watch out for you when you are postpartum. Because your partner is tired too it is often helpful to have a caring objective person see you in addition to your midwife.
A doula is a part of your birth team. We are all working together to best support YOU achieve your best birth!
These are just some of the reasons I strongly advocate for doula support. I am happy to refer you to some amazing doulas or work with a doula that you feel amazing about. I am happy to connect with and communicate with them with your permission.
Reference info:
https://matrescencedoulaservices.com/doulas-and-homebirth-yes-they-go-together/
https://mothernurtureva.com/2023/10/21/midwife-vs-doula-support-metro-dc/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10292163/
https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/doula-vs-midwife#midwife
