Who needs a doula?

Only 5% of women in the US have doula support for their birth, so clearly you do not NEED a doula. However, would you benefit from hiring one? The only way to find out is to contact several doulas and see what they can offer you. Doulas attend a wide variety of births. It doesn’t matter if you plan on getting an epidural as soon as possible, with a doula by your side you will be guaranteed to have one person supporting you, believing in you, and cheering you on.

If your birth plan includes something, or several things, your family members disagree with, it can be beneficial to have a support person who actually supports your decisions. Keep in mind, a doula cannot make anyone agree with you, including medical staff, but doulas help you communicate with your birth team. Don’t worry about disappointing your doula. Birth is unpredictable. Plans change. Doulas understand this and continue to provide support even if everything you wanted goes out the window. In fact, in times when nothing is going right a doula’s unrelenting support can make an experience less traumatic and more enjoyable.