Do you actually need a doula?

The answer to that question is entirely up to you! Everyone has their own unique set of circumstances surrounding their birth and their post partum care. A doula is a trained professional who provides emotional, physical, and informational support to individuals during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. They offer continuous support to expectant parents, helping them navigate the various stages of pregnancy, providing comfort measures during labor, and offering guidance and education on newborn care and breastfeeding.

The first thing to evaluate is what are your goals for your birth? And what are your goals for your post partum care. Do you have the support necessary to achieve those goals realistically? My husband is non-confrontational to a fault, fortunately we ended up having c-sections because as much as I adore him, he is not someone I can count on to ask questions or vocalize my concerns if I was in labor. Studies have shown that having a doula present during childbirth can lead to reduced rates of interventions such as cesarean sections, epidurals, and the use of pain medication. If it’s important to you to have vaginal delivery, having a doula instantly increases your chances of having a c-section.

Landyn was born in late August, earlier that month our first kid started high school and another started Kindergarten. As a family we experienced three massive transitions at once and it was important to me to have the support of doula. I wanted to be emotionally present to enjoy these big milestone years and enjoy my new baby. Having a post partum doula is an amazing resource if you have a partner who will have to return back to work quickly, you have another child at home, will be recovering from a c-section or if you’re concerned about struggling with post partum depression.