Pregnancy, birth, and those early days of parenthood are experiences you’ll carry for life. A doula offers emotional, practical, and informational support to help you feel calm, confident, and empowered—no matter how your journey unfolds.
I am honoured to share with you a guest blog from the incredible Gemma of The Doula Gem, a Wiltshire based Doula. Here is Gemma on the value of Doula support.
Gemma (The Doula Gem)
Ensuring you feel well-informed, supported, and excited about your pregnancy, birth and postnatal journey is so important, as these experiences will stay with you for years to come. As Ina May Gaskin eloquently said, “whenever and however you plan to give birth, your experience will shape your emotions, mind, body, and spirit for a lifetime.” Similarly, I believe the early days of parenthood hold immense significance.
While having a doula can’t guarantee your ideal birth scenario (no magic wands here I’m afraid!), it significantly increases the likelihood of a positive experience.
Preparing for parenthood can be overwhelming, with a myriad of conflicting advice and uncertainties, especially for first-time parents. Determining where to focus your time and resources can be daunting.
You may find yourself grappling with questions such as: Are doulas truly beneficial and worth investing in or are they simply a luxury? Should I allocate funds to doula services or spend my hard earned cash on material items like a top-of-the-range pram?
Reflecting on my own journey, I faced similar dilemmas and ultimately opted for the pram, eagerly awaiting its arrival. However, did material possessions truly prepare me for birth and early parenthood? In reality, many items marketed as essentials may not be necessary, and opting for borrowed or secondhand items can be both cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
What if we prioritise the support we genuinely need? What if we invest in support that enables us to look back positively on our birth and postnatal experiences in the future? While the journey may not always be smooth sailing, with the right support, your birth experience can be empowering, regardless of the outcome, and the transition to parenthood can be smoother in those initial weeks and months.
Still uncertain about hiring a doula? Consider these questions:
The evidence supporting doulas is compelling:
- Reduced risk of Caesarean birth † *
- Reduced risk of instrumental birth † *
- Reduced need for painkillers or epidural during birth † *
- Reduced rate of induction of labour † *
- Shorter labour †
- Increased parental satisfaction with the birth experience †
- Increased likelihood of initiating breastfeeding *
- Increased likelihood of successfully establishing breastfeeding & breastfeeding at 6 weeks *
- Lower incidence of depressive symptomatology †
- Improve equity and provide culturally responsive care
* Brigstocke S. MIDIRS Midwifery Digest, vol 24, no 2, 2014, pp 157-160
#Meghan A Bohren and Sarah Chapman Cochrane review
† Hodnett ED, Gates S, Hofmeyr G, Sakala C. Continuous support for women during childbirth. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2013, Issue 7. Art. No.: CD003766. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003766.pub5 and Bohren MA, Hofmeyr GJ, Sakala C, Fukuzawa RK, Cuthbert A. Continuous support for women during childbirth. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2017, Issue 7. Art. No.: CD003766. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003766.pub6.
A crucial point to highlight is that much of the evidence presented above demonstrates how doulas can aid in supporting physiological birth. It’s essential to emphasise that doulas have a beneficial influence on ALL births and ALL paths to parenthood. Regardless of your journey or choices, I’m here to provide support.
Several advantages of having a doula may be challenging to quantify, yet they encompass:
- Consistent, non-judgmental support
- Establishing a trusting relationship with your doula
- Cultivating self-assurance in yourself, your body, and your baby
- Facilitating trust in the birthing process for you and your partner
…consequently, alleviating fear to enable confident decision-making - Reassurance of someone’s presence throughout your journey
- Ensuring your voice is heard and prioritised in your experience
- Equipping you with self-advocacy skills or advocating on your behalf
- Providing nurturing postnatal support
- Offering emotional support during the postnatal period, creating space for sharing concerns and questions
- Offering breastfeeding support (some doulas have formal training, other don’t)
- Unwavering support and encouragement
Approaching parenthood armed with adequate support and knowledge, and feeling excited rather than fearful sets a positive course for the journey ahead. If you’re contemplating hiring a doula, please take a look at the services offered on my website. Whether you’re in Swindon, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Berkshire or beyond, I’m here to provide support, whether in-person or virtually! X
Doula Support
If you want to learn more then email Gemma at [email protected] or book a discovery call via Calendly.
Sleep
If your little one is struggling to sleep, please get in touch. Book a free, no obligation call and we can talk about working together to get you a better night’s sleep.
