Empowering Birth: Doula FAQs and Beyond

Welcome to our hub of knowledge, where we briefly touch on the most common inquiries we receive about Doulas, pregnancy, birthing, and the postpartum phase. There is much more to cover - have for example also a look at the Childbirth and Newborn Care Resources page and our Empowered Birthing Blog. We would be more than happy to discuss any question you have and provide our Doula support!

1. What is the difference between a Doula and a midwife?

The word Doula originates from Greek; it meant a women who serves. The word has however now a modern meaning.

A Doula is a woman who helps and supports another woman during pregnancy, childbirth, and after giving birth. She is however not a medical professional and doesn't do any medical examination or administer medication. The Doula supports the mother emotionally, physically, and with information.
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​A Doula works alongside a midwife and OB to provide comprehensive care to expectant mothers. The midwife and OB responsible for the medical aspects of pregnancy and childbirth. This includes checking the health of both the mother and baby (e.g., monitoring blood pressure) and delivering the baby.

2. Ten Benefits of a Doula:

• Less likely to need Pitocin
• Less likely to have a cesarean birth
• Less likely to use any pain medication
• More likely to rate their childbirth experience positively
• Always someone with the mom in the room
• Partner can relax
• Someone to share your worries with
• Helps you to be a better advocate for yourself
• Someone around with experience about the birth process. What is normal, what is not normal
• Helps you with initial breastfeeding

​Doulas are also very useful for the expat families of which there are many in the Washington DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia region. Our Empowered Birthing Blog explains why a Doula is very helpful for expats. We can arrange a zoom call to explain the role of Birth and Postpartum Doulas. We are happy to do so.

3. Will a private insurance or employee benefits cover a Doula?

Currently, private insurance providers may not consider Doulas as in-network, because Doulas are not medical professionals, and the provided care is not considered essential care. However, employers and insurers are more and more starting to recognize the benefits of having a birth and postpartum doula. As a result the possibilities for getting reimbursed are increasing; like for example employers using Carrot to offer pregnancy and postpartum support benefits.

We recommend that you check in advance with your insurer and employer about the possibilities of covering Doula care. In particular, find out if there are conditions for the coverage (e.g., certification of the Doula, like certification by DONA) and provide the receipts for the incurred expenses to your insurance provider (or employer). 

If you have a Health Savings Account (HSA), it should also be possible to use it to pay for Doula services, but be sure to check with your administrator. 

If you have no coverage and it is financially challenging, we are also open to discuss payment plan options with you.

Benefits of a Doula

Pregnant women talking with Doula

From the beginning of time, family, friends and neighbors from the community would rally around the new family to help guide them through their tender early weeks and months with a new baby.
​Today there are also Doula's that can provide further professional support during pregnancy, labor and for newborn care.

For more information, also have a look at the website of DONA International, the world's leader in training birth and postpartum doulas.

4. Questions to ask when selecting a care provider:

• What do you see as my role and responsibilities during pregnancy & birth? How do you prefer to work with your clients?
• How do you feel about my partner, other family or friends or a doula attending my birth?
• What are your feelings about childbirth preparation classes? Do you have any recommendations for good classes?
• What are the chances that you will be present when I give birth? Who covers when you are not available? Will I have a chance to meet that person? 
• How do you feel about birth plans? If I prepare one, will you check in for safety and compatibility with your practices and hospital policies?
• Do you have the flexibility to accommodate individual preferences or needs of your clients?
• How far can I go over my due date?

5. What to bring to the hospital:

Preparing for the birth of your child involves a lot of planning, and making a checklist of what to bring to the hospital can help ensure a smoother experience. Here's a list of essential items to consider packing:

• Extra pillow
• Music/playlist
• Charger phone
• Birth plan
• Snacks & Gatorade
• Chapstick
• Slippers
• Headbands
• Massage lotion/tools
• Nursing bras/pads/cream
• Car seat
• Baby outfit
• Baby hat
• Toiletries
• Cloths parents/underwear
• Insurance card
• Info pediatrician

The Golden Hour

The Golden Hour

The Golden Hour refers to the first hour following birth when a mother immediately holds her baby skin-to-skin without interruptions. Allowing this time assists with the stabilization of the newborn, decreases stress in both the mother and baby, promotes maternal-infant bonding, and improves breastfeeding outcomes.

6. When do you need to go to the hospital? Sooner than the "5-1-1" may be good.

5-1-1: If your contractions are 5 minutes apart, lasting for 1 minute, for 1 hour or longer, it's time to head to the hospital. There may be good reasons to go earlier:

• If you vomit with contractions
• If you feel rectal pressure
• If you are unable to talk or walk-through contractions
• If you think that your "water" has broken
• If you have vaginal bleeding
• If you test positive for strep B
• If you live far from the hospital
• If you progress quickly

​7. What are the advantages of baby-wearing?

Baby-wearing are for example: the cotton wraps, ergo baby, baby Bjorn, baby K'tan, Moby ring sling, Boba wrap. Advantages of baby-wearing:

• Promotes secure mother baby attachment.
• Baby cries less.
• Aids baby's  healthy psychical development.           
• Makes mother more responsive to baby.
• Reduces reflux symptoms.
• Helps depressed mothers to nurture their babies.
• Improves breastfeeding rates.
• Soothes baby when distressed.     
• Encourages wellbeing and relaxation in both mother & baby.
• Baby spits-up less.
• Lowers risk of otitis media.
• Improves baby's digestion.
• Eases transition in to world by mimicking womb.
• Baby less fussy.
• Meets newborn's needs to be close to mother.
• Humans have biological adaptations to carry their infants.
• Touch & motion physiologically calm baby.
• May lessen postpartum depression.
• Reduces risk of flat head.
• Uses less energy than in-arm carrying.
• Synchronizes mother & baby biologically.
• Supports physical growth in preterm infants.
• May increase mothers' resilience and parental confidence​.

Read the blog post titled "Benefits of a Baby-Wearing Hoodie" to discover for example more about how wearing your baby promotes bonding.

Empowering Birth Experience

Did you know that a study published in the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing revealed that the presence of a Doula during labor can decrease the likelihood of a mother requesting pain medication? This highlights the unique ability of Doulas to provide continuous emotional support and comfort, leading to a more positive and empowering birth experience.

Baby shoes

8. How do you know if a baby latch on well?

The following are signs that the baby is sucking properly at the breast:

• Upon initial latch baby will begin to suck quickly
• These quick sucks will trigger mothers letdown reflex.
• Baby’s sucking will become longer, and a suck-suck-pause pattern should develop as the milk lets down.
• Baby’s ear and temple will wiggle with each suck.
• Mother should feel a gentle tugging, but no pain.
• The baby flanges its lips and cup the breast with their tongue.
• See it: The temple/ear wiggle, jaw movement.
• Feel it: Gentle tugging at the breast.
• Hear it: Audible suck, swallow, pattern.

     (Additional resources: La Leche International or KellyMom)

9. When do you need to call your OB/GYN Postpartum?

• If you have fever over 100.4 F or 38 C
• If you have foul-smelling vaginal discharge
• If you have increased uterine pain
• If you have a heavy bleeding
• If you have a burning feeling with urination
• If you feel a lump or hard area, or pain in your breast
• If you have a red, tender, painful area on your leg
• Any other concerns about your health

​10. Ten strategies to cope with sleep deprivation postpartum:

• ​Sleep (or try to relax!) when the baby sleeps.
• Say yes to anyone who offers to help.
• Discuss ways your partner can help.
• Take a day to stay in your pajamas and rest.
• Try to get outside every day.
• Drink water and eat healthy foods.
• Limit caffeine.
• Try not to look at the clock at night.
• You are not spoiling your newborn by responding at night.
• The period of sleep deprivation WILL end.​

11. Ten reasons a mother benefits from using a Birth Ball during birthing:

• ​The Birth Ball helps babies to get in better alignment in the pelvis. 
• It allows our moms to relax deeply in an upright position. 
• It encourages pelvic mobility and can so help to turn a posterior baby.
• Aid in baby descending into the pelvic and applying its head to the cervix.
• To shift her weight, rock her pelvis and find comfortable positions to relax in more easily.​
• The mother creates a rhythmic movement that allows her to get "in sync" with the rhythmic progression of her contractions.  

Using a Birth Ball

• Lower to the ground for getting up and down to go to the bathroom. 
• Practice hypnosis techniques and deep relaxation on it every day. 
• Increases the pelvic diameter temporarily as a mom rocks for comfort and to help the baby to descend. 
• In the semi squatting position, you'll help your baby get into the right position for birth. ​

Another useful aid is the peanut birthing ball, which helps mothers feel more comfortable and speeds up labor and delivery. You'll find more background on the benefits in the blogpost titled "The Labor Peanut Ball: For a Smooth Birthing Experience."

12. Things to do before baby comes:

• Having everything packed and ready for the baby's birth by 37 weeks. 
• Keep all the necessary information at one place all together. 
• Keep hard copies of the preference birth plan to give to the nurse, doula or doctor.
• Plan several routes to the birth facility and know which entrance to use after office hours. 
• Having the car seat installed and safety-checked. 
• Ask the mom what else she needs to feel ready because if she doesn't feel ready, she's NOT ready!

​Do You Have More Questions?​

LET'S TALK!