But What Does a Doula DO?

But what does a doula do? I know, I know. It’s the million dollar question and the answer is full of misconceptions, depending on who you ask (if you ask me it’s more like what doesn’t a doula do!).

By definition, a doula is a woman who holds a certain degree of knowledge about birth and the birth process. She utilizes her intuition, training and experience to guide, or coach, women through the birth process. Doulas have no formal medical training but that’s ok! Their role isn’t to provide medical advice or support (we’ll leave the clinical stuff to the doctors and midwives!). Rather, they are there in a physical and emotional capacity - during pregnancy, the birth and postpartum.

And physical and emotional support? It’s not just fluff. Doulas provide physical labour relief through massage and touch (hey, hey counter-pressure!) and emotional relief through reassurance and constant, continuous care. Many first time parents have the expectation that their doctor or midwife is at their disposal for the duration of their birth. And while it’s true, your doctor or midwife is around, they typically only check in with you periodically in order to to confirm progress (the exception to this being homebirth where a midwife is in the vicinity throughout the birth but might be occupied with other duties to prepare for baby’s arrival). A doula, on the other hand, is there for you the entire time. Your wellness and comfort is her only mandate.

Here are some of the *standard* ways a doula works for you in the birth process:

• Ensuring you, and your partner, are kept nourished through food and drink

• Making sure you are emptying your bladder with frequency (sounds silly but… it’s important)

• Using hot/cold therapy to keep you comfortable

• Suggesting new positions to try to ease the discomfort of your sensations/efficiently move your baby down, down, down (DOWN!)

• Reassuring you that what you are feeling is normal and that your body is doing exactly what should

• Coaching and reminding you to advocate for your body, your baby and your experience

• Using massage and counter pressure to alleviate intensity of sensations

• Keeping your birthing space a place of comfort and calm

• Adhering to your birth preferences

• Making sure your partner’s needs are met - giving him peace of mind that you are with someone who you feel safe with so that he can take breaks to eat, sleep, etc.

• Anything else required to make sure your birth experience is the best it can be

And if you’re thinking that a doula’s job starts and ends with birth, you’re in for a pleasant surprise. Some of a doula’s most important contributions take place before the birther has entered the birth process. Ideally, a doula will support their client for the majority of their pregnancy; offering reliable and evidence-based information and providing comprehensive education on topics like physiologic birth, pain management and medically assisted birth options, unexpected outcomes, practical postpartum expectations for mother, father and infant. Laying this groundwork is important and it facilitates an environment where women enter the birth process from a place of confidence and self-assurance.

Before you cast doulas aside as a fad, consider this: the doula is a position steeped in tradition and history with the role during dating back to the Ancient Greeks. The best part? Present day evidence corroborates assertions that having a doula present greatly benefits birther and partner. Amazing statistics like shorter labours, less likely to require medical-assisted deliveries, less chance of cesarean, less likely to use pain medication or other interventions, and overall more positive birth feelings about the experience have not only legitimized, but exemplified, the traditional role of doula in modern day birth.

My Best Labor Trick (That You Haven't Heard Of)

My Best Labor Trick

(That You Haven’t Already Heard Of)

There are a lot of tips and tricks out there that claim to help to lessen a woman's discomfort while in the birth process. If we're being honest, most of them are probably placebos (I'm TOTALLY cool with placebos if it helps though!).

Most of the time, implementing comfort tools results in the birther feeling more in control because they are actively "doing something" to provide relief. In my experience, it's a really good way of distracting the birther so they aren't hyper-focused on sensations coming and going - and this is, what I believe, what part of the success of those tricks.

With that being said, I do have one tried, tested and true birthy comfort tool that you probably haven’t heard about and that I absolutely swear by. I acknowledge that there’s a little bit of prep that goes into this but the result is magical and totally worth it. You’re going to need four, pretty common, household items.

Your Supplies

1) Face cloths. Quite a few (at least a dozen). They don’t need to be luxurious quality by any means. I use ones from the dollar store and they’re still holding up well 4 years later. I like to have about 20 on hand to be safe.

2) A crock pot. Pre-2018 and the rise of the Instant Pot and air fryer, the crock pot was everyone’s favourite kitchen gadget. But you’ve probably never used any of those gadgets like this!

3) Lavender essential oil. I know what you’re thinking. You’ve stumbled on this really awesome doula blog (thanks, by the way) that you LOVE because she seems just like you and now here she goes down the essential oil rabbit hole. Just breathe for a moment before you hastily hit the close button. I’ve used this technique myself and, you guys… it really works. So, please join me in welcoming Lavender Essential Oil to our birth teams. Just like you chose the best quality of people for your birth team, chose a good quality essential oil. You deserve the best.

4) Kitchen tongs. Self explanatory.

Execution

When you start the birth process, start boiling some water. Either one large pot or several medium sized pots. Once that water has boiled, transfer it to your crock pot. Fill up the crock pot with regular hot tap water (this will bring the temperature down so it’s not scalding).

Add your face cloths. All of them. Don’t cut corners. There’s no point saving ‘em. Go ahead. Put them all in there.

Add roughly 20 drops of your lavender essential oil (start with less and if you need more, add it).

Put the lid on the crock pot and set to either low or hot depending on whether your crock pot runs warm or not. Check it (or have someone on your birth team) intermittently to ensure it’s hot enough. Add more boiling water or turn up the temperature setting if it isn’t hot enough.

What To Do With It

When your water is hot and the lavender and face cloths infused, remove one face cloth (with tongs to avoid anyone sticking their hand into a crock pot of hot water - this is a great job for your partner!). Wring out excess water from the face cloth and place it where you’re feeling your sensations (whether it’s in the front of your abdomen or in your back or your thighs… wherever! for the duration of the sensation. Remove at the end of the sensation and place face clothback in the crock pot to reheat. Repeat the process however many times necessary, cycling through all of the face cloths so that you’re getting a hot one each time.

When To Use

Don’t use this one right off the start line. It’s one of those things that would fall under the “save the best for last” category. If you’re at the point where you’re questioning your ability to cope, it’s time.

Why It Works

Lavender is known to promote relaxation and pain relief. Relaxation is key (physically and mentally) as it helps a woman settle into birth, allowing sensations to come and go without tensing up - which can hinder progress. The heat from hot water can help your body release endorphins (your natural pain killer, what what).

And there you have it! I’ve been waiting a long time to share this little trick of mine. I hope you find the same relief with it that I - and dozens of my clients - have. Happy birthing, boss!