Frequently Asked Questions.
What is the Difference Between a Doula and a Midwife?
During your birth, doulas help with comfort measures and adjust as you navigate each stage of your labor. Even pre-labor cesarean births benefit from a doula—someone to stay with you by the table when your partner goes with the baby.
Midwives are medical providers that practice the midwifery model of care (as opposed to the medical model of care practiced by most OB’s), they are responsible for the health of you and your baby. It’s the midwife’s job to keep an eye on your your vital signs as your labor progresses and baby’s tolerance to labor.
My favorite way to explain it is, doulas help you from the waist up, midwives help you from the waist down.
Do I Need A Doula if I Have a Midwife?
Some midwives also act in a doula-like capacity during labor. A midwife is more likely than an OB to rub your back or ask how you’re feeling. However, a vast majority of midwives do not have your comfort as their primary concern. With that being said, drug-free, natural birth with a midwife is a recommended place to have a doula. Midwives and doulas work together and make for a great duo on your birth team.
What are the Benefits of Having a Doula?
Research shows that, with the continuous support of a doula present in labor, you’re more likely to have a vaginal birth. A 39% decrease in cesarean birth has been shown with doula support! It is less likely to need Pitocin, less likely to ask for pain medication and more likely to have a positive childbirth experience.
At Presently Blooming we will ALWAYS support your decision to have c-section or utilize pain medication or not – if that is your desire. We will stay with you through shift changes, overnight, and into the next day if necessary. We help your partner to be more supportive, teach you how to navigate the hospitals rules and procedures, provide prenatal assistance with questions, assist with choosing a medical care provider, and help you create a birth plan best suitable for your scenario.
Can my Husband/Friend/Mom/Partner be My Doula?
In the olden days, the birthing parent received labor support from family members and friends. Most of them were there for comfort and would have seen plenty of birth before. If you have someone in your life who can act as a labor support person, that may work just fine. The reservation and backfire usually comes due to their close association with you.
One of the benefits of a doula is our ability to be objective during your pregnancy and birth. We work well and think quickly under pressure, and are not paralyzed or confused by birth it the way someone who is part of your daily life may be. I tell our clients, your partner/parent knows you intimately, we know the birth process intimately, what a great collaboration to have by your side.