Would you run a marathon without training first?

Of course not!

You shouldn't go into birth without preparing (training) either. Just like some people hire a personal trainer or coach to prepare for a big race, hiring a doula (a.k.a. birth coach) can help you prepare for birth.

Sure, women have been giving birth since the beginning of human history, but for most of that time, we had other women to help and guide us. It's just over the last 75 years or so, with the move of birth into the hospital, that we've lost the companionship of having another woman walk beside us during birth and providing that guidance and support.

A doula brings that role back to the birth space.

Many women feel unprepared by the medical system and scared by the media to give birth. Hiring a doula that understands not only what real birth (not TV drama) looks like, but how hospital systems work as well is like having a coach and your best friend by your side when you give birth.

You've probably seen the statistics about doulas:

• having a doula reduces the risk of a cesarean birth by 39%

• having a doula shortens labor by an average of 42 minutes

• having a doula increases the likelihood of having a spontaneous vaginal birth by 15%

• having a doula reduces the need for pain medication including epidurals

• having a doula is associated with fewer preterm births and lower birthweight babies

• doula support can reduce stress and anxiety during labor and lowers the risk of postpartum depression and anxiety

Although there are no guarantees, for most women, having an experienced doula by your side during pregnancy, birth and postpartum not only increases chances of fewer interventions and faster labor, there is an overall greater satisfaction in their experiences when a doula supports them.

If having a doula by your side sounds like something you want for your birth or postpartum, reach out to me or go to www.doulamatch.net to find a doula near you.