Is a doula really worth it?

This is an important question to consider. In this day and age it seems that many women are content to show up to the hospital, do as they're told, and leave a couple days later with their fresh little baby. That's all fine and dandy, but what about the incredibly life-changing time between arriving at the hospital with a swollen belly, and heading home with a still-probably swollen belly, but now with a ginormous responsibility wrapped up in a 7-pound bundle of love? Does that time in between matter? Does the care a mother receives make a difference? Many people might think not. They'd say a mother's mindset makes all the difference, or that it's best to just "leave it to the professionals". But, the thing is, we know that birth is transformative, both for the mother and for the baby. And even for the father! So why wouldn't we want support during such a vulnerable and precious time?

According to a 2017 Cochrane review, a mother can greatly benefit from having a knowledgeable support person. This is found in many ways, including: higher rates of spontaneous vaginal births, shorter labors, lower c-section rates, and even more interestingly- women are less likely to report negative feelings surrounding their birth! That last one is particularly interesting to me. Personally, I think it has less to do with having a support person there, and much more to do with a mother that is properly informed and knowledgeable of her options. One who has researched and thought over each little detail. It makes sense that if you're more aware of the process and what might go on during it, you'd feel more in control of your outcome. This is what I am most passionate about. Sure, I have my own birth preferences, as most women do. But the thing that is most important to me as a doula is that a mother is informed of her options, and is given a respectful amount of time to actually consider each of them. A mother that is thrown into a generally chaotic situation without any preparation is bound to leave frightened and traumatized, in one way or another. I want to empower women to really take hold of their role as a mother. This role encompasses much more than just the day-to-day diaper changes and dishes. It also includes advocating for our little babies that cannot speak for themselves. And what better time to start than at their entrance to the world? God has given us women incredible instincts! Let's use them!

So, all in all, I would say that a doula is very worth it. Even if just for the extra information and resources she could provide. It doesn't have to look like labor massages and birth affirmations, although I am happy to do any and all of that! It really could look like a mother just having someone there that she can rely on. After all, our bodies are made to do this. An informed mother is a confident mother, and I truly believe this is what makes a doula worth it.

https://www.cochrane.org/CD003766/PREG_continuous-support-women-during-childbirth