Doula MythBusters

Doula MythBusters

When you hear the word “doula”, what do you think? Hopefully something positive! There are a lot of misconceptions about what a doula is, what they do, and how they do it.

Lets explore some of those misconceptions and set the record straight!

Myth: Doulas think epidurals/pain medication are evil

Absolutely not! I'm sure there are some out there who think that epidurals are always these awful, horrible, harmful interventions, but fortunately most doulas do not believe this. While epidurals have their risks, they also have their benefits. Epidurals can be a useful tool in birth when you have reached the point of exhaustion. If you have been laboring for 24 hours and haven't slept you may just run out of energy. An epidural can help give you the opportunity to relax and rest up to give birth to your baby.

Myth: Doulas are pointless if I'm planning an epidural

This one couldn't be farther from the truth. In fact, if you're planning on using an epidural, a doula would be a really helpful addition to your birth team. Epidurals require you to stay in your hospital bed and limits mobility. Contrary to popular belief, laying in bed for hours while your body works to birth your baby isn't always as straight forward as it seems. A doula will suggest and help you get into positions which can help keep your pelvis open and allow your baby to move down easier.

Also, I know you may not want to hear this...but epidurals don't always work. Sometimes you're only numb on one side and you feel all of the intensity of the contractions on the other side. Changing positions can help this, or it may not. I recently attended a birth where the epidural worked well for a short time, but once the client started transition, she started feeling all of the contractions again. This is actually pretty common. In these situations your doula can help you with coping techniques to work through the rest of your labor.

Myth: Doulas take the place of my partner

Nope, Nope, Nope! This is a concern that many husbands and partners have voiced. They fear that if they hire a doula, they will be pointless and their partner wont need them. Nothing a doula can offer will even begin to take the place of the love and comfort that you can offer your partner. Your doula can also help you to be more hands-on to help your partner through labor. Its hard to see the person you love in pain and not be able to help. When labor gets intense and you don't know what else you can do, your doula will have ideas for you and they can reassure you that this is a normal part of childbirth.

Your doula will also help you take care of yourself during the birth. Labor can be long and you may need to take a break to keep up your strength too. You can feel reassured that while you are grabbing something to eat or taking a walk to clear your head, your doula is there caring for your partner.

Myth: A doula will argue with my doctor/midwife

Your doula should not be arguing with any care provider. Unfortunately, this is the view some care providers have of doulas. They see a doula in the room or on a patients birth plan and they think, “Great, this person is going to make my job so much harder and fight with me about everything.” I believe they have probably had a negative experience with a doula in the past and hopefully I can change their mind and perception of doulas.

Your doula should be a positive addition to your birth team, and arguing with your doctor or midwife does not make for a positive experience. Your doula will help you get all of the information you need to make an informed decision. If you are presented with a possible intervention, your doula will ask if you have any questions. If your provider explains something and you seem confused, your doula will ask if you understand. It can be intimidating to question your provider; your doula can help open the door to that communication. Your doula won't speak for you; they will help you speak for yourself.

Myth: Doulas are just a trend

While the demand for doulas is definitely increasing, the idea of a woman or group of woman caring for and supporting a laboring mother is not new. The word “Doula” comes from the ancient Greek word for “Woman's Servant”. When the birthing place was largely moved into a hospital setting, this type of support practically disappeared. Slowly we moved back into practices that allowed fathers into the birthing room, then families, and other support people like doulas.

I was only able to touch on a few of the misconceptions people may have. Hopefully this has helped to clear up some of the beliefs you may have had about doulas in the past. Bottom line, your doula works for you. They are there to help you and support your decisions, whatever those might be.

"IF A DOULA WERE A DRUG, IT WOULD BE UNETHICAL NOT TO USE IT." - DR. JOHN KENNELL

HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW I CAN HELP YOU HAVE A MORE POSITIVE BIRTH? LET’S CHAT! CONSULTATIONS ARE ALWAYS FREE.