Doulas
About Doulas
A doula is someone who can accompany you before, during and/or after childbirth. They can provide physical, emotional and informational support throughout this exciting time in your lives.
Doulas are non-medical professionals who work alongside your midwife and/or OBGYN. They can provide information, evidence and experience, and can help families make informed decisions. They listen, hold hands and provide care.
Sessions with a doula, both in pregnancy and postpartum, tend to be longer (on average a couple of hours), to explore the body with movements, positions and touch, and to focus on the emotional landscape of desires, fears and expectations. Sometimes the support is very practical (from helping with pregnant body discomforts to cooking for new parents), sometimes it focuses more on the ritual aspect (blessing way and closing-the-bones ceremonies).
Why you might need support
- You couldn't find a midwife or want additional support
- You want 1-on-1 support during birth
- You need some help around the house after giving birth
- You need some emotional support after giving birth
- You need some help during the day or at night so you can rest
Doula qualifications and different types of support
Doulas may support you in different stages of your journey:
- Birth doula: supports you during pregnancy and is present at your birth
- Postpartum doula: supports you after your baby is born
- Full-spectrum doula: supports you through reproduction, fertility, pregnancy, loss, abortion, birth and postpartum
Doulas don't have to be certified to call themselves a doula, however all the doulas on our platform participated in doula training and have practical experience working with families.
How to choose a doula?
Since a doula will accompany you during some of the most exciting but also vulnerable times in your life, you want to make sure that the doula is a good fit for you and your family.
Most doulas offer the opportunity to have a chat before you decide so you can meet them and ask them your questions. So while experience, qualifications and languages spoken do play a factor, it will also very much depend on chemistry to make sure you feel comfortable and can extend trust to your doula.
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Find a doula
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