My own mother, who has four children of her own, said to me “you make new motherhood look easy!” I must credit some youtube videos such as the video “how to travel with an infant” (which helped me prep for our Miami trip), my mom friends who offer good advice, and my boyfriend who follows my directions puts in work when it comes to the care of our child! However, it is my doula who has made me feel like Superwoman/Supermom from the moment I shared my positive pregnancy test result.

When you think doula, think support. A birthing doula does not deliver babies as midwives do, but they are there to offer support for both mom and dad as they prepare for birth and postpartum.

Here are 5 reasons why investing in a doula is a great idea!

1. A trained individual to support you during pregnancy

My doula lives in another state. We started out having zoom sessions every few weeks but once my pregnancy became labeled as “high risk,” she jumped into action and suggested we meet weekly. I ended up in the hospital for a few weeks before I delivered my son, and knowing that I had a weekly appointment with my doula was part of what kept me sane.

Anything can occur during pregnancy. But when you have a doula, you have someone at your call to help you through any obstacle that may arise.

2. A human version of the book “What to Expect When You’re Expecting ”

Throughout your pregnancy and even postpartum, your doula should constantly be giving you the heads up on what you may encounter. For example, my baby ended up being born at 29 weeks just like my doula’s kids. She let me know exactly what to expect in the nicu and once baby comes home. This helped me feel prepared and ready to tackle any issues with a calm spirit.

3. Some peace of mind knowing you have someone to coach you through labor

The thought of labor can make any woman want to ball up in a fetal position and cry. However knowing that you have a doula who will be there making you feel as comfortable as possible during labor makes the thought of labor a bit more painless.

4. Sets mom and dad up for a successful first year

Your doula is there to support both mom and dad! My doula explained to my boyfriend and I certain new parent hacks such as each parent taking shifts when baby comes home to cut down on sleep deprivation. From then on we knew that I would take the night shift and dad would take the morning shift. This has provided structure for us and helped my boyfriend and I get some shut eye!

Also, often times the pregnancy/postpartum journey is all about mom and baby. However my doula made sure to always ask my boyfriend “how are you feeling?” She even had her husband offer my boyfriend some “nicu dad” advice.

5. She (or He) is your secret weapon

While in the hospital, many different staff members will come to your room with advice and questions. This can be overwhelming after your vaginal birth or cesarean section. It was great to be able to say “oh I already discussed that with my doula” or “my doula will come for a postpartum visit to go over everything with me.” Your doula can be your secret weapon for getting everyone else out of your hair.

I had the experience of my child staying in the nicu for an extended amount of time. The nicu nurses will give you tons of directions during and after baby’s stay. One thing that my doula said to me that really helped is “this is your baby, so when he gets home you do what feels right!”

One of the best ways to find a doula can be word of mouth. You can try doing a google search and typing in “birth doula near me.” It also wouldn’t hurt to get on instagram and type “#doula” to see what comes up.

I had the pleasure of having a birth doula who constantly told me that I was doing a great job, made sure that I was loving on myself and reminded me of the amazing work that my body did. Find her information below. Happy doula hunting!

My Doula: Desiree Cameron

Instagram: @bamaternal

-Leah C. Powell