Frequently Asked Questions
What is a birth doula?
A birth doula is someone who supports you and your partner through pregnancy, birth, and the early postpartum period. I’m there to offer encouragement, comfort, and information so you both feel confident and cared for every step of the way.
What is the difference between a doula and a midwife?
A doula is a non-medical support person who focuses on caring for you emotionally and physically and helping you feel informed and confident. A midwife, on the other hand, is a medical professional whose main focus is the health and safety of you and your baby.
Both doulas and midwives work with you before birth, support you during labor, and follow up afterward. During a birth, a doula is often helping with comfort measures like hip squeezes, refilling your water, offering guidance and reassurance to you and your partner, and giving encouraging words. A midwife may do some similar things, but their top priorities include monitoring vital signs, checking on you and your baby, performing exams, giving medications if needed, and delivering your baby.
Together, doulas and midwives make a great team, combining emotional and physical support with professional medical care to help you feel safe and supported throughout your birth.
When should you hire a doula?
As soon as you’re ready! Most people find that securing a doula at the start of the third trimester works well. I recommend beginning your search in the second trimester, talking to a few doulas, and finding someone who feels like the right fit for you. You want someone you connect with easily and who matches your personality and the kind of support you need.
How do you work with my partner?
A lot of people think a doula replaces the partner, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. My role is to support both of you. Your partner knows you better than anyone else, and together, we make a great team. Even if they’re not sure exactly how to help during labor, they know your hopes, fears, and preferences better than anyone.
I help your partner feel confident and involved by offering gentle guidance, ideas for comfort measures, and encouragement when it’s needed. Whether this is their first birth or they’ve been through it before, they deserve to feel supported too.
Is a doula still useful with an epidural or cesarean procedure?
Absolutely! I support every type of birth, so even if you plan on getting an epidural or know you will be having a cesarean, I am here to help you feel through the process.
If you have an epidural, I can help you get comfortable, suggest positions that keep labor moving and make sure you and your partner both feel supported. If you have a cesarean, whether it is planned or not, I will help you prepare, talk through what to expect, and offer emotional support from start to finish.
No matter how your birth unfolds, I am here for you.