Birth doula
Few things are more important than the care and support you receive during your birth. Expecting parents want to know that their birth team supports their chosen delivery method and is excited to welcome their new baby into the world. Based in East Hollywood, Katharine Whetzel, of Rose Moon Birth Services, is a certified full-spectrum doula offering birth doula services to birthing people in and around Los Angeles, California. To schedule a consultation, call Rose Moon Birthing Services, or request one online today.
What is a birth doula?
A birth doula is a perinatal professional that supports a birthing person and their partner/family before and during labor.
While doulas do not provide medical care or perform clinical tasks they do offer evidence-based, judgment-free education to help you envision your ideal birth. Doulas advocate for you along the way to ensure that your birth adheres to that vision as much as possible.
Birth doulas can also provide vital educational resources to help you prepare for birth and ensure that you feel confident in your choices regarding your birthing experience.
While birth is unpredictable, preparing can help you embrace the experience and empower you to make necessary decisions in the event your birth does not go as envisioned.
Full-spectrum doulas can also provide postpartum care to the birthing person and their family as they navigate this significant transition into the fourth trimester.
What are the benefits of having a birth doula?
Having a birth doula can provide a myriad of benefits, including:
Greater sense of confidence entering labor
Less pain and/or more effective pain management
Diminish the chance of cesarian birth by 50%
Less time spent laboring
Lessens the chance of an epidural request by 60%
Lessens oxytocin (petocin) use by 40%
Lessens analgesia (narcotic) use by 30%
Diminishes the chances of forceps and vacuum extraction by 30%
Having a birth doula also helps ensure that you and your partner feel well-cared for and supported during your birthing time.
What’s included as part of birth doula services?
With Rose Moon Birth Services you can expect:
Two 90-minute prenatal meetings to discuss birth preferences, comfort measures, infant feeding, fourth trimester and more
In-person labor support in home and/or birth location
Individualized resources and referrals to support your specific needs
On call support at 38 weeks
Access to lending library
One 90-minute postpartum visit to assist with infant feeding, newborn care tasks, processing the birth and healing
Birth doulas provide additional, nurturing support that can help you and your family navigate pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period .
Why is it so difficult to find a doula?
Finding a doula can be difficult for a wide variety of reasons.
Time
The primary reason that finding a quality doula is difficult is that it takes time. Many parents-to-be don’t know where to look or what to look for in a great doula. Interviewing doulas takes time and many individuals and couples struggle throughout the process. A few uninspiring interviews can leave parents-to-be feeling defeated.
Cost
Another reason parents-to-be don’t seek doula care is the perceived cost, which discourages them from seeking out these services. However, having a compassionate and supportive care team that understands you and your family’s needs can help ensure that the early days of your child’s life are as peaceful, enchanting, and stress-free as possible. The cost of a doula remains the same regardless of when you book their services.
Risk
Even if you do all of the necessary research and follow the recommendations of close friends and loved ones, it can still seem like there is a great deal of doula-matching that’s left to chance. While it can be important to confirm your doula’s credentials, you also want to make sure that their style, temperament, and experience align with your needs and the needs of your growing family.
To learn more about birth doula services, call Rose Moon Birth Services or request a consultation online today.