FAQs

Answers to your Questions

I want you to feel safe and sure about everything to do with your birthing experience.

Read some frequently asked questions about doulas and what we do. If you don't see your question, or you need more info please email me, oakandivydoulaservice@gmail.com or hit that Lets Chat box!

What does a birth doula even do?

My birth doula packages include two prenatal visits, attending your labour and delivery, staying with you after you deliver until your family is settled, and at least one postpartum visit within the first two weeks after you have your baby. At the prenatal visits together we will go over your birth plan, assess for any gaps in your prenatal knowledge and I will do my best to answer your questions.
When labour begins I will offer information and can come to attend to your emotional and physical comfort needs in your home and/or the hospital through your entire birth. I will work with you to help you decide when it is a good time to go to the hospital or call your healthcare provider.
Once your baby is born parents begin to bond with their new baby and I will remain with you for 1-2 hours postpartum to assist with initial breastfeeding (if you are planning on breastfeeding). I will be available to you by text if you need help and within the first week, I would love to come to your home to make sure feeding is going well, talk about your birth experience, and ensure that you are aware of community resources that may be helpful.

Once hired, I am available by phone and/or e-mail for any questions and support until about two weeks postpartum.

Do you perform any physical examinations?

I do not; as a doula I am not a medical professional, I am a maternal support practitioner. A doula does not perform any medical tasks - like vaginal exams, listening to the heartbeat or catching babies, etc. I do not give medical advice, but can provide public medical information, and will facilitate asking questions to get the information you need to make informed choices for your family.

Doulas do not make any decisions for their clients but will help you understand your options.

Will you replace my partner?

A doula should enhance the experience for everyone attending your birth by providing a calm presence and allowing everyone to participate to the level of their comfort. I am there to provide support for your desired birth and this includes all members of your support team. Many partners feel that doulas encourage them to participate more than they would have without a doula, as the doula is able to show them comfort measures that could work at the various stages of labour, that they would never have known otherwise. My intention is never to replace your partner. Doulas make it so your partner can concentrate on loving and supporting you, while I help take care of everything else.

What benefit is there to hiring a doula?

There are many studies that show the benefits of doula support, according to the 2017 Cochrane Review on continuous support by a doula, during labour in comparison with women who did not receive continuous support, the women with doula role support were an impressive:

39 percent less likely to have a cesarean birth
35 percent less likely to have a negative birth experience
15 percent more likely to have a spontaneous vaginal birth

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6491161/

Who should hire a doula?
Do you only go to home births? Vaginal births? Hospital? or...?

Doulas support ALL births. Doulas do not have any agenda and offer non-judgemental support. A doula's job is to help you make choices that are right for you - what those choices end up being are not important, so long as they are yours. Doulas are trained to support all kinds of births - at home, in the hospital, with midwives or doctors, medication free or with pain medication, vaginal or cesarean.