"I Am a Doula"

Nicole at Bellies and Babies wrote this lovely post about what it is to be a doula. She briefly and beautifully tells the story of her role at a woman's birth, and toward the end writes:

Pregnancy and childbirth is a time when women can be motivated or de-motivated to fulfilling their roles as strong, capable and competent individuals, which then translates into their mothering roles after birth. The difference often lies in how they are treated during their pregnancy and birthing time.

Empowering women with options and support enables them to take ownership for their healthcare and their bodies, which, later, gives them the confidence to take responsibility as mothers. A doula-relationship allows for that mental and emotional wellbeing while also freeing the medical professional to focus solely on the physical wellbeing. This holistic approach to pregnancy and birth has been proven to be the safest and most satisfactory approach for all involved.

Doulas support women who are choosing unmedicated birth, medicated births, hospital, home, and birth center births. We support women with multiple gestations, medical complications, variations, and normality. We are trained in what is normal and natural and how to make situations where interventions are chosen or become necessary as productive and risk free as possible.

I thought she did an excellent job of explaining doulas' value. For many of us, our first birth in particular is filled with so many unknowns. It can be scary! A doula can be an incredibly reassuring presence. With their knowledge and experience, they can provide very helpful suggestions, information, and affirmation- to both the birthing mother and her partner.