Is there benefit to hiring a doula for a home birth? I say YES absolutely.
An oldie but a goodie, from Desirre, in honor of International Doula Month.
As a seasoned doula who has attended home births as labor support and now an intern midwife who clinically supports the mother, I believe that many women can keenly benefit from a doula when having a home birth.
The most simple reasoning is that the doula is there physically, emotionally and educationally specifically for the mother and family just like at the hospital or a birth center. She (he) is an integral part of the birth team.
- The doula will likely be laboring with the mother first, providing a continuous care support framework for when the midwifery team arrives.
- As the midwifery team sets up and prepares the space clinically, the doula is right there maintaining the comfort, peace and encouragement of the mother. Often lessening any disruption that new people in the environment can cause.
- The doula is there SOLELY for the mother and husband (partner), step by step, eye to eye while the midwifery team is there to first and primarily clinically assess, maintain safety and be unobtrusive as possible.
- The doula offers guidance and suggestions for position changes, physical/emotional comforts and helping to ensure the mother eats, drinks, voids and rests.
- The doula gives the husband (partner) the opportunity to rest, have less stress, do the very best he/she can do along with enjoying the process more.
- A doula can be present specifically to help with the other children.
- A doula’s presence offers reduction in any interventions and cesarean.
- A doula’s presence offers increased satisfaction with birth, bonding and breastfeeding……….
Simply put. A doula being present at a home birth is effectively the same as at a hospital or birth center, with the general exceptions that she would have to help a mother and family self advocate or navigate institutional policies, protocols and staff.
I again say YES to doulas at home births.
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