It’s no secret… I LOVE doulas. 💙 I am a certified + practicing doula and a total believer in the benefits doulas offer the birth experience. I even co-created a course specifically to train doulas to better support their VBAC clients.
Our team here at The VBAC Link is made up of mamas who are doulas and have hired doulas for their births, and we make it a goal to connect mamas like you with amazing doulas around the world.
Even still, we get so many questions like this…
So, let me help you today… let’s dig in and find out if hiring a doula is right for you.
What does a doula do?
Birth doulas walk beside parents during pregnancy, labor and postpartum by offering informational, physical and emotional support. They use their training to meet you where you are, educate you and help you have the birth you most desire.
Prenatally
- Spend time getting to know you, building a relationship and trust
- Learn about your birth preferences
- Provide information on the birthing process, what to expect in labor and more
- Offer additional resources for other forms of education and care
Labor & Birth
- Provide a consistent & calming presence and support throughout your entire labor
- Assist with comfort measures using touch, time and tools
- Suggest and support position changes to help progress labor
- Ensure both parents are cared for with hydration, nourishment, rest and encouragement
- Offer comfort and reassurance during times of unpredictability, when options are given or you feel anxious about moving forward
Postpartum
- Support immediate postpartum needs
- Connect you to other forms of care (pediatrician, pelvic floor physical therapy, lactation support and more)
- Offer a lifeline for difficult days, never-ending nights, highs, lows and everything in between
- Focus and keep tabs on your well-being, nourishment, rest and care
Why Doula Support Matters
We’re not the only ones who believe in the benefits of doula support. There’s actual evidence linking doula care to better birth outcomes…
And if you’re still not sure about hiring a doula, check out these additional resources…
Finding a Doula for Your Birth Team
Whether you’re all-in and ready to find your doula or you’re still a bit unsure, my advice is INTERVIEW! There are so many incredible doulas out there, the majority offering free consultations, so meet and ask questions to truly find out if hiring a doula is the route you want to go.
The best place to start is our Find a Doula Directory. We have a list of over 500 certified doulas who have completed our Advanced VBAC Doula Certification. You can search our site and find a doula near you.
Doulas who have taken our doula training online know the current facts and evidence about birth after Cesarean. They are 100% ready to coach you through your unique needs.
ProTip
Many women of strength do a fundraiser in lieu of baby gifts. If you are not able to hire a VBAC-trained doula, we highly encourage you to take our How-To Prepare for VBAC/HBAC Course. This will further prepare you to recognize signs of uterine rupture, bait and switch provider behavior and more.
Other ideas to help you find a doula — ask your friends & family who they hired, check with your local mom groups and engage with our community.
Oh, and have your husband ask around! Dads usually become a doula’s number one fan after birth because they experience how powerful doula support truly is.
Once you’ve scheduled a few consults, use this list of 20 Questions to Ask When Interviewing a Doula for Your VBAC.
It’s easy to see, I could go on and on for days about doulas! If you want to hear even more about the impact doulas have, listen to some of my fav podcast episodes…
- Why You Need a Doula and How to Pay for One, episode 241
- Morgan’s Empowering VBAC + The Power of Doulas, episode 233
- Harmony and Kimberly + Doula Support, episode 162
- VBAC Doulas Tell All, episode 146
- Lindsey + The Evidence for Doulas, episode 33
And don’t miss my recent conversation on Ask the Doulas Podcast!
You’ll hear my birth stories, my top tips for VBAC preparation and our best advice for doulas who are supporting VBAC clients.
As always, I’ll leave you with this affirmation and reminder…
2024 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE