I have had the pleasure of working with a lot of birth professionals in all types of settings. When I was barely out of college and an expecting mom, I didn’t know that there were options in regards to how you delivered your baby. As I dove further and further into my profession as a birth photographer, I was exposed to all sorts of people and possibilities.

One thing that has struck a deep cord with me is the power of having a doula.

Here are 5 reasons why hiring a doula is something that should be greatly considered:

1. Doulas provide unbiased support.

First and foremost, a doula is there to support you with YOUR birth. They help you develop a birth plan that meets your wishes and in turn help make sure that plan is executed. People often think that doula support should only be needed in the event of having an out of hospital delivery and without pain medication. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

Doulas often take the time to sit down with you and pose questions of how you envision your birth to go. You would be surprised to hear the options you truly have and the questions you would have never thought to ask. They are not there to guide you into the birth they think you should have, but actually provide resources (more on that later) to help you develop the birth that you never thought you could have. I have had the pleasure of sitting in on prenatal visits with Kathleen Wilson as she helps curate the birth our client had envisioned.

Come time for delivery, they are there to help execute your birth plan and offer support to make sure that it is followed as close and safely as possible. If your plan is to have an epidural at the start of the first painful contraction, then it’s your birth, they will help you get there.

Story behind the photo: Doula Nina Spears takes the time after delivery to take notes on her client’s birth story as it relates to her birth plan. Sometimes birth can be such a blur, so having someone there to piece the events as they unfolded together helps parents process their birth.

2. Their trained hands provide physical support during labor.

Unmedicated or medicated, birth is raw and uncomfortable. For those wishing to have an unmedicated birth, doulas provide the support to help alleviate some of the pain during contractions. Or, they help guide your partner to provide that support for you. They are trained to follow the stages of labor and what discomfort that may bring. Whether you want lots of counter pressure through every contraction, or you just need physical touch to help relax between each one, they are there to help alleviate some of that pain. Every person’s needs are different. Some of my clients have simply needed their doulas presence in the birth space, but most need some sort of counter pressure throughout.

For those knowing that they will have a medicated delivery, many don’t realize that the epidural doesn’t always work the way it is supposed to. Sometimes, there are still areas where the pain works its way in, or the epidural is only working on half the body. Not to mention, most moms don’t know that although the epidural will take away pain, it doesn’t always take away from the discomfort of pressure as the baby descends. Doulas can help provide support during these moments to help you feel as comfortable as possible.

Story behind the photo: Doula Joli Ammons helps Mom get comfortable after receiving the epidural so that she can rest before needing energy for pushing at delivery.

3. Along with their information of resources, they make sure that your wishes are respected and accommodated as much as safely possible.

Doulas have a plethora of knowledge at their fingertips. The doulas I work most closely with even have a lending library. They want to provide you with all the resources possible so that you are making informed decisions on how you want to labor, deliver and even get through those first few hours after baby is born. They help you know what to expect so that you are mentally prepared for whatever may come your way.

Should anything arise during your pregnancy that may bring about additional questions, they help go over your options and guide you towards resources that help you come to the decision that is best for you and your baby.

Story behind the photo: Doula Kathleen Wilson offers hip compressions to help alleviate the pressure as surges bring baby further down and closer being in Mom’s arms.

4. They have emotional intuition.

Birth is emotional. No matter how you deliver… at home… at the hospital with an epidural… with a cesarean section, your body and your hormones are powerful. One of my favorite moments to witness as I watch a mom work her way further into her labor is when she hits transition. Where in one moment we all may have been talking and laughing (even dancing), a shift happens and the next moment the room goes quiet and tears are streaming down mom’s face.

Experienced doulas know who to be and when to be them. They have a natural ability to read you as you progress through your labor and the support they provide will match what you need in that moment. Whether it be the needed distraction of shaking her way through Lizzo or a shoulder to cry on. Every. Single. Birth. Is different. They are there to see and feel the shifts and expect to change directions of support in an instant.

Story behind the photo: Doula Rachel Stonebrook and Kathleen Wilson (partially hidden) offer support to Mom as she nears the end of her labor and her emotions rise.

Kathleen Wilson with Labor Enabler and Dr. Gei

5. Experienced doulas also have a network of other providers that they can reach out to in the event that something arises during your pregnancy.

Birth is unpredictable, sure, but pregnancy can be as well. As you get closer and closer to meeting your baby, there may be things that come up that can make for a trickier delivery. Doulas have a wide range of providers that they can recommend you to in the event that your birth plan needs to change. Whether it be to send you to a chiropractor to help relieve any pregnancy-related discomfort or help with baby’s position, or to guide you to a new provider in the event that you can no longer work with your current one.

Whatever it may be, they will guide you to someone that will help you while trying to honor your birth plan as safely as possible.

Story behind the photo: In this feature, you see doula Kathleen Wilson with MFM Dr. Alfredo Gei going over the plan for delivery. Mom wanted a vaginal delivery when she found out she was expecting twins. Her original OB was not comfortable with that plan, so Kathleen introduced her to Dr. Gei to give her the best possible outcome in making that happen. However, the day of delivery, based on baby A’s positioning, a cesarean section was found to be the safest option. Dr. Gei waited until the last moment to give baby the chance for positional change in order to honor her wishes. Even though her delivery ended in a c-section, Mom was able to get a gentle birth by getting to put babies skin to skin while still in the OR.

For a list of doulas that I highly recommend, please check out my RESCOURCES page.

Happy delivery!!!

5 Reasons You NEED to Hire a Doula

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