Blog & Birth Stories

Blog posts are written by Owner and Doula of Katie Marie Doula Services.

Birth stories are anecdotal stories of births in which the author was granted permission to share from the birthing parents. All persons involved are kept anonymous.

5 Benefits to Hiring a Birth Doula

5 Benefits to Hiring a Birth Doula

July 21, 20233 min read

Physical comfort during labor

During labor as contractions begin to get uncomfortable, your doula can be a set of hands to provide different comfort measures during contractions to counteract the pressure felt in your lower back and hips. In between the contractions, your doula can offer light massage and touch to help keep you relaxed and in your labor zone. Keeping your muscles relaxed and free of tension is KEY!

Mental/Emotional support during labor

This is a big one! The end of pregnancy can be a mental game and it is easy to get overwhelmed during the laboring process. Having someone to talk to during those last couple weeks can be so helpful to staying in the right mental space for the upcoming birth. Birthing a baby is hard work (whether you are med free or not)! There is no getting around that. Having constant emotional support to remind you of all the hard work you are doing, that what you are feeling is normal and encouraging you through every step of the way can make a huge difference on the experience of labor.

Education

Doulas are not “know-it-all’s” but we are very educated in birth and babies, we have experience and we have resources. It’s no secret that births rarely go exactly to “plan.” A doula on your birth team can hold the space for you to make informed decisions if unexpected deviations from your preferences unfold either before or during labor & delivery. Your doula is there to answer your questions, help you formulate medical questions for your provider, talk through pros and cons of different options and help you explore alternatives so that you can be confident in your decisions!

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Education

Doulas are not “know-it-all’s” but we are very educated in birth and babies, we have experience and we have resources. It’s no secret that births rarely go exactly to “plan.” A doula on your birth team can hold the space for you to make informed decisions if unexpected deviations from your preferences unfold either before or during labor & delivery. Your doula is there to answer your questions, help you formulate medical questions for your provider, talk through pros and cons of different options and help you explore alternatives so that you can be confident in your decisions!

Positional Encouragement

The best thing you can do in labor to help your baby turn and move down the pelvis is to stay mobile and fluid. Your doula will encourage positional changes throughout your labor process. If your labor is “stalling” or slowing down, doula’s can suggest positions that may help your baby turn into a better position for a more efficient labor.

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Doula’s & Partners

Spouses/partners report more positive birthing experiences with a doula present. Doula’s can help to foster the connection between the laboring mom and her partner prior to and during labor and delivery. One of the ways a doula can do this by teaching the partner comfort techniques, and holding space for birth conversations between mom and partner. Doulas and partners often make a great team during labor and delivery to offer mom maximum support for her needs and wants.

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FAQ'S

What does a Doula do?

A Doula provides physical, emotional and educational support throughout pregnancy, birth and postpartum.

What type of births do you support?

I support all types of births. I support births at home, in a birthing center or in a hospital. I support non-medicated and medicated births. My role is to give you the information to make evidence-informed decisions regarding your pregnancy and birth and then to support those decisions whatever they are.

What areas do you serve?

For birth support, I serve all areas between and surrounding Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio. Childbirth education can be done 100% virtually.

What happens if you cannot be at my birth?

When you are my client, you are my #1 priority. I will make every effort to be at your birth as promised. In the rare event I cannot be there such as severe illness or family emergency, I have a backup Doula I work closely with. You will receive her information at one of our prenatal appointments. In addition, I have several back up doula contacts in the community that I work with.

What is your refund policy?

I require a non-refundable 50% deposit at the time of contract signing with the remainder of the fee due at 36 weeks. In the event you decide to cancel I offer a % refund depending on the gestation you are to cancel. Any cancellations past 36 weeks are not refundable. For my refund policy in detail, please contact me for more information

Does a Doula replace the support of my partner?

Doulas and birthing partners work together as a team to provide continuous support to mom throughout labor and delivery. We will practice physical comfort techniques during prenatal appointments so that partners can feel confident in their support on delivery day.

Does having a Doula really make a difference?

YES! Women who have a Doula are much more likely to report a positive birthing experience. Although a Doula cannot guarantee any outcomes, evidence shows that having a doula reduces the rate of birth interventions, medicinal pain relief and C-sections.

How does a Doula support me if I plan to have an epidural?

There are many tools available to a laboring mom and the epidural is one of them. I support all birthing options and make sure you have all the information you need to decide what feels right to you at the time. Before an epidural there are sensations that require focus to work through. I will help to keep you comfortable with providing comfort measures such as breathing, positions, massage and other tools until an epidural is available to you. After the epidural is placed, there is much to be done between resting to manually mobilize the pelvis and encourage baby to continue to rotate & descend now that we do not have the added benefit of gravity.

Is a Doula necessary for me if I had a baby before?

Every birth process is unique and therefore having the experience of a Doula to guide you allows you to go through this journey with more ease and confidence. Many of my clients are on their 2nd, 3rd, 4th, even 5th babies when they hire me.

I've heard labor is faster after my first. Why do I need a Doula?

Many experienced parents talk about how the second and subsequent births can go faster than the first experience. This is because the uterine muscle has done this before and therefore can travel through the stages at a greater speed but this is not always the case. Every birth experience is truly unique and there are many variables in birth to be considered. Having a doula's support and expertise can optimize the chances for a more efficient and pleasant birthing experience.

How is Doula support different than family and friends?

Family and friends are an amazing community of support to have. The challenge is that many of them do not have the same experience or unbiased support that a Doula can provide. Friends and family tend to share many of their opinions and may feel that the way they did things are the right way. Your Doula is your guide to find “your” way through this journey.

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