So, you took a pregnancy test, and surprise you are pregnant! The advice may be coming at you fast and furious and you may not be sure where to begin. Your positive pregnancy test may have sent you on an online search that ended with words you’ve never heard before – like “doula”. What in the world is a doula? We can help with that!

More and more women are turning toward natural childbirth, which allows a woman to shape and experience birth in a way that can be a more relaxing and memorable experience. This often means having a birth doula present for the birth.

A doula is a trained support person that provides continuous physical and emotional care throughout labor and birth. A birth doula will often provide prenatal sessions to prepare for birth, and she will also provide care after the baby is born. This is known as postpartum care. Birth doulas assist in a wide variety of birth situations: women who want little or no intervention during labor, women planning homebirths, women who want epidurals or other pain medications, women delivering after having a previous c-section, and women having a scheduled c-section.

Before birth, the doula will often meet with her client and prepare for labor. The doula will teach her breathing techniques and positions that will help bring her comfort during labor. The doula will also use this time to get to know her client and build a bond with her before the birth.

This is also a time that the doula can meet with any family that will be present during delivery to learn how she may assist them as well. Sometimes, the father of the baby may feel as if he should be the one performing this role, so she can quickly teach him how to perform some of the techniques. The doula can easily incorporate herself into the birth experience with a natural ease that will support them both. Doulas help families feel supported, easing the emotional experience of birth and helping to create a space where the hormones of labor can work at their best.

A doula is not a trained medical professional. A doula can offer emotional support, as well as physical support for pain and comfort relief. She cannot diagnose or prescribe medications. But there are benefits of having a doula that can be medically and emotionally beneficial for you and your family.

If you’re facing an unplanned pregnancy and not sure what to do next, Alcove Health can help! Located right here in Newport News, we provide lab-grade pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, options consultations, STI testing, and more. All of our services are free and confidential. You’re not alone, we want to help. Click here or call to request your no-cost medical appointment today!