Five Reasons to Hire a Doula - Ask an Expert

Thinking hiring a doula? I asked a local Seattle Doula and founder of Thresholds to give us the straight story. 

5 Reasons to Hire a Doula by Amity Kramer

1. Choice.

The great thing about having a doula is that you get to choose who that person will be. This does not happen with a nurse or birth assistants that come in and introduce themselves when you are in the middle of your labor.

It is a good idea to interview more than one doula to make sure they land on the person who is the the best fit. There are so many great doulas that you may really like someone you interview, and think they are the one, until that is, you interview someone else. 

2. Timing.

There are stages that seem to drag on…and on. Other stages that seem to happen so fast it is hard to keep all the details straight. This slow, then fast nature of birth can be really confusing. A doula can help with each of these extremes. A doula does not have a magic wand to stop or start time— but they do have training on ways to physically and emotionally support a laboring person. The rhythm that a doula is able to provide can lead to a family having more balance feelings about their birth. 

3. Togetherness.

In most births much of the attention is rightly given to the pregnant person and baby. A doula has space and time to ensure that the birth partner also feels supported too. A doula provides support that is different than other providers. They are there to support you and your partner.

4. Unconditional.

A doula is with you through thick and thin, before, during, and after your baby is born to offer physical and emotional support. A doula supports you making the best decisions for YOUR FAMILY.

This ensures that there is one person that will just know your experience and you will not have to explain, justify, or prove anything to your doula. They are unconditionally there to support you and your choices.

5. Nurture.

Parents need care that fills the gap in our modern medical system. Having consistent nurturing support will leave new parents with a better experience and that in turn lead to more opportunity for family bonding.

Amity Kramer has been helping families cultivate unconditional love since 2008. She is a Birthing From Within Mentor, Certified Gottman Educator, and founder of Thresholds. Amity leads soulful workshops for families in transition. She also is a practicing birth and postpartum doula which gives her a unique window into the joys and struggles of family life.

  For a previous posting on breastfeeding from a local expert, see this article Breastfeeding: One Breast or Two? https://jenniferloomis.com/2019/03/breastfeeding-an-expert-opinion/