Frequently asked questions.

Birthwork and Doula work is a part of our Integrative Model of care.

Integrative medicine is a holistic approach to healthcare that combines traditional medical practices with complementary therapies to address the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of health. This methodology emphasizes the importance of a patient-centered approach, actively involving individuals in their own care through education and collaboration with healthcare providers. By integrating conventional treatments, such as medication and surgery, with alternative therapies like acupuncture, yoga, and nutritional counseling, integrative medicine aims to enhance overall well-being and promote healing. This comprehensive framework encourages the consideration of lifestyle factors, mental health, and social support, ultimately striving for a balanced and optimal state of health.

WHAT IS A DOULA?

A doula, derived from a Greek term meaning "woman who serves," refers to a trained professional who provides emotional, physical, and informational support throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. Doulas are increasingly important in addressing gaps in maternal health care, where many individuals lack consistent, compassionate support from the medical system.

We are dedicated to guiding you and your family through the birth experience, offering continuous care, and helping you navigate your options. Whether it's assisting with communication between you and the medical team, helping you make informed decisions, or providing hands-on comfort measures like massage, breathing techniques, and position changes, our goal is to enhance your experience. By being a consistent presence, doulas fill the critical gap left by overburdened healthcare providers, who may not always be able to offer personalized, one-on-one support.

As independent professionals, we work solely for you, not for hospitals or medical staff. This allows us to focus entirely on your needs and preferences, ensuring you feel supported and empowered every step of the way. This kind of continuous, compassionate care is essential in a maternal health system that often struggles to provide individualized attention.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS AND DISADVANTAGES?

Overall, doula care improves the childbirth experience, contributing to both maternal and infant well-being, while addressing gaps in the current maternal health care system. Doula care provides a range of benefits that can significantly improve the childbirth experience and maternal outcomes. Some key benefits include:

Emotional and physical support

Doulas offer continuous emotional encouragement, reassurance, and physical comfort, helping reduce stress and anxiety during labor. Their presence helps individuals feel more confident and empowered throughout the birth process.

Improved birth outcomes

Research shows that having a doula can lead to better birth outcomes, including a lower likelihood of interventions such as C-sections, forceps deliveries, or the use of epidurals. Continuous doula support has also been associated with shorter labor times and fewer complications.

Reduced medical interventions

Doulas can help individuals make informed decisions by providing evidence-based information and advocating for their preferences. This may reduce the need for medical interventions by promoting natural pain management techniques, such as breathing exercises, movement, and massage.

Better postpartum recovery

Doulas provide support not only during labor but also after the baby is born. They assist with breastfeeding, newborn care, and emotional recovery, offering resources that can ease the transition into parenthood.

Improved communication with healthcare providers

Doulas act as a bridge between the birthing person and their medical team, helping ensure that the individual's wishes are heard and respected. They facilitate clear communication, helping individuals make informed choices in moments of uncertainty.

Reduced anxiety and fear

By being a consistent, familiar presence, doulas can ease the fear and anxiety that often accompany childbirth, especially in clinical or hospital settings. This can lead to a more positive birth experience.

Partner support

Doulas also supports the birth partner by offering guidance on how to assist the laboring person and reducing the pressure they may feel. This enhances the partner’s ability to be present and involved during the birth.

Lower rates of postpartum depression

The emotional and practical support provided by doulas has been linked to lower rates of postpartum depression. By offering guidance, validation, and hands-on help, doulas help new parents adjust more smoothly to life with a newborn.


WHAT IS THE EFFECT DOULAS HAVE ON BIRTH OUTCOMES?

  • 50% reduction in the cesarean rate

  • 25% shorter labor

  • 60% reduction in epidural requests

  • 40% reduction in Pitocin use

  • 30% reduction in analgesia use

  • 40% reduction in forceps delivery

  • Improved breastfeeding

  • Reported satisfaction with birth experience Decreased postpartum depression

There are no disadvantages to having women supporting other women/birthing people during birth.

HOW IS A DOULA DIFFERENT FROM A LABOR AND DELIVERY NURSE OR PARTNER/SPOUSE?

A doula differs from a labor and delivery nurse or a partner/spouse in several key ways, especially regarding their roles, training, and the kind of support they provide:

1. Role and Focus

  • Doula: A doula’s primary role is to provide continuous emotional, physical, and informational support throughout labor, delivery, and postpartum. Their focus is entirely on the birthing person and their family, helping with comfort techniques, emotional reassurance, and advocating for the birthing person’s wishes. They do not perform medical tasks but focus on ensuring a positive, empowered birth experience.

  • Labor and Delivery Nurse: Nurses are medically trained professionals responsible for monitoring the health and safety of both the birthing person and the baby. They perform clinical tasks such as checking vital signs, administering medications, and assisting with medical procedures. While nurses may offer some emotional support, their primary duty is managing the medical aspects of labor and delivery.

  • Partner/Spouse: A partner or spouse typically provides personal, emotional support, offering comfort through familiarity and shared connection. They may be involved in helping the birthing person make decisions, but their primary role is more personal than professional, based on their relationship rather than specialized training.

2. Training and Expertise

  • Doula: Doulas receive specialized training in childbirth education, labor techniques, postpartum care, and emotional support. Their focus is on non-medical aspects of the birthing process, including comfort measures like breathing exercises, massage, and helping the birthing person navigate their birth plan.

  • Labor and Delivery Nurse: Nurses have medical training, typically holding nursing degrees with specialized knowledge in labor and delivery. Their expertise centers on the clinical management of childbirth, including monitoring fetal heart rates, administering medications, and handling potential medical complications.

  • Partner/Spouse: Partners often receive no formal training, though they may attend childbirth classes to understand the process better. Their support is based on their personal relationship and shared emotional connection with the birthing person.

3. Continuity of Care

  • Doula: Doulas provide continuous support throughout the labor process and often during the prenatal and postpartum periods. They stay with the birthing person from the onset of labor until after the baby is born, offering consistent emotional and physical assistance.

  • Labor and Delivery Nurse: Nurses typically work in shifts, meaning the birthing person may interact with multiple nurses throughout labor. Nurses often have to divide their attention between several patients, and their presence can be more intermittent.

  • Partner/Spouse: A partner is usually present for the entirety of labor but may lack the expertise to provide specific labor support techniques. They may also experience stress or uncertainty, which can impact their ability to offer continuous, calm support.

4. Support Approach

  • Doula: A doula is trained to use comfort techniques like massage, movement, breathing exercises, and positioning to ease labor pains. They also help with decision-making, ensuring the birthing person understands their options and feels empowered throughout the process.

  • Labor and Delivery Nurse: Nurses may assist with pain management, but their focus is on medical interventions, like administering epidurals or medication. Their involvement in comfort techniques is typically secondary to clinical care.

  • Partner/Spouse: Partners provide emotional comfort through words, touch, and encouragement. While they can be hands-on, they may not have the same level of knowledge about specific labor techniques as a doula.

5. Advocacy and Communication

  • Doula: Doulas serve as advocates for the birthing person’s preferences, helping ensure that their wishes are respected by the medical team. They facilitate communication between the birthing person and healthcare providers, helping interpret medical information and empowering the birthing person to make informed decisions.

  • Labor and Delivery Nurse: Nurses follow hospital protocols and the directives of the medical team. While they provide care and support, their priority is managing the clinical needs of labor and ensuring patient safety, rather than advocacy for individual birth plans.

  • Partner/Spouse: A partner can advocate for the birthing person’s wishes, but they may lack the confidence or understanding of medical protocols to do so effectively in the moment. A doula can support both the birthing person and partner by helping them communicate more effectively with the medical team.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A BIRTH DOULA AND A MIDWIFE?

Birth Doula: A birth doula provides emotional, physical, and informational support throughout labor and delivery. They focus on comfort techniques (like breathing exercises, massage, and positioning), advocacy, and helping the birthing person navigate their birth experience. Doulas do not perform any medical tasks.

Midwife: A midwife is a licensed healthcare provider trained to manage pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum care. They handle medical tasks such as monitoring the baby’s health, managing labor complications, and delivering the baby. Midwives can work in hospitals, birth centers, or at home, providing comprehensive medical care during childbirth.

Postpartum Doula: A postpartum doula focuses on supporting the birthing person and their family after the baby is born. They provide emotional support, guidance on newborn care, breastfeeding assistance, and help with household tasks to ease the transition into parenthood. Like birth doulas, postpartum doulas do not perform medical tasks, but they play a critical role in ensuring a smooth recovery and reducing stress in the postpartum period

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A POSTPARTUM DOULA AND A BABY NURSE?

Postpartum Doula:

  • Focus: A postpartum doula supports the entire family during the postpartum period. Their role is holistic, focusing on the emotional, physical, and practical needs of the birthing person, baby, and family.

  • Support Provided: They offer help with newborn care, breastfeeding support, emotional support, and guidance for the parents. They also assist with light household tasks, sibling care, and education on newborn development. The goal is to ease the transition into parenthood and support recovery.

  • Training: Postpartum doulas are trained in non-medical support and family care. They do not perform medical tasks but are knowledgeable about the postpartum healing process and infant care.

  • Duration: Postpartum doulas generally work in the home for a few hours a day or week during the initial postpartum period (typically the first few months after birth).

Baby Nurse (or Newborn Care Specialist):

  • Focus: A baby nurse’s focus is on the care of the newborn, with less emphasis on the parents' emotional or household needs.

  • Support Provided: They provide specialized infant care, including feeding, bathing, diapering, and sleep training. Baby nurses are often hired to assist with night shifts, ensuring that the newborn’s immediate physical needs are met while parents rest.

  • Training: Baby nurses may or may not have formal medical training, but they are skilled in newborn care. Unlike postpartum doulas, their focus is almost entirely on the infant's physical well-being.

  • Duration: Baby nurses often work for longer stretches of time, sometimes staying overnight or full-time in the home, particularly during the first few weeks or months when newborn care is most intensive.