Are Doulas and Epidurals Compatible?
People often associate doulas with unmedicated, all-natural, and at-home births. But let’s be honest: this isn’t the way most people in the U.S. today give bith. If you are among the many mamas who choose to give birth in a hospital setting with an epidural on board, you may not have even considered that a doula could be a powerful asset to your birth team. Maybe you know someone who had an amazing experience with a birth doula, but you are wondering, “What, if anything, can a doula do for me?”
As a professional doula who is specially trained in supporting both medicated and unmedicated births, I would love to answer that question. I would hate for you to miss out on the benefits of doula support at your birth just because you choose to use an epidural for pain management.
The fact is this: even with an epidural, you are still going to undergo an intense and life-changing experience. You are bringing a new life into the world . . . by pushing that life out of your body. That is beautiful, but it can be difficult, and it can be scary if you feel unsupported during the experience of labor and delivery.
That’s where a doula comes in. Birth doulas like myself are dedicated to helping to relieve both physical and emotional distress throughout labor. My basic goal as a doula is that each person I support feels empowered, supported, and in awe of herself at the end of her birth experience. I work with women before, during, and after birth to help ensure that they have the best experience possible within the bounds of their own birth preferences.
Here are some of the ways I help mamas who opt for epidurals:
Before Labor
During your pregnancy, I’ll meet with you a few times to help you prepare for labor and delivery. We’ll discuss your concerns, values, and preferences related to labor and delivery. I’ll talk with you about any previous births and what you want to replicate or avoid this time around.
You can ask any questions that may be on your mind, practice physical and emotional coping strategies, and prepare to advocate for yourself in the hospital setting with help and guidance from a trained labor-support professional.
When Labor Begins
When labor begins, you might have a lot of questions. Sometimes it can be hard to know “Is this really labor?” “When do I go to the hospital?” or “Is what I am experiencing normal?”
I am on-call for you as your estimated due-date approaches, and I will be availbe to answer your questions and provide informational, emotional, and physical support as you go into labor.
Most women choose to labor at home for a period of time before going to the hospital. During this time, contractions are ramping up in frequency and intensity. Many women also wait for a while once they get to the hospital before they choose to have the epidural placed, and even if you don’t want to wait, it may take some time to get you settled in the room and for an anesthesiologist to be availble. During these times, a doula can help you cope with your contractions, help your birth partner know how to support you, and help you navigate the hospital environment. Having this experienced support on hand can improve your experience and decrease anxiety that you may be experiencing as labor begins.
After Your Epidural is Placed
Once you have an epidural, it may be significantly harder to move your body to get into positions that encourage labor to progress. A doula can help you to continue to switch positions and keep labor moving forward. She will also continue to tend to your emotional well-being and your physical comfort.
A doula can also keep track of your wishes and preferences to help remind you and those supporting you of important things that will help you have the most satisfying birth experience possible. Your mind may be wholly engaged in labor at this point, but you can rest assured that the plans you made before labor began will not be forgotten.
When the Unexpected Happens
Birth often takes unexpected turns. Sometimes an epidural doesn’t work as expected, leaving the birthing person with more pain to manage than she expected. It is also possible that labor may progress so quickly that there isn’t time to place an epidural, and the mother will need to deliver the baby without the planned medication.
If you end up facing changes to your birth plan, or dealing with discomfort that you didn’t expect, a doula can help you cope both mentally and physically.
A birth partner (spouse, family member, friend) may also be surprised by the challenges of birth and may experience a lot of stress when they are called on to be your primary support person through the ups and downs of labor. They want to help, but without training, they often aren’t sure what to do. I can guide your partner to support you in the most effective ways possible to help them feel confident and useful in their role.
When You Need Navigational Support
Navigating the hospital setting can be intimidating. If you feel like you are being pressed into a medical intervention that you aren’t comfortable with? I can help you make space to express your feelings and make sure your consent/lack thereof is clearly understood by all in the room. I can also help you know what questions to ask your providers as you navigate decisions that come up during your labor and delivery. A doula changes the dynamic in the hospital room by being a witness to the process and to your wishes, and is great at creating time and space to make sure that your questions are answered and all of your options are understood.
Postpartum
Your need for support doesn’t end when your baby is born. Your journey with baby has just begun. This is why I include a postpartum visit for each birth client. During this visit, you’ll have a chance to process your experience giving birth with someone who was a witness to the event. You can also recieve breastfeeding support during this visit. For additional postpartum support, you can also hire a postpartum doula.
The Bottom Line
As a doula, I am all about supporting you, not supporting a certain style of giving birth. By embracing the support of a doula, you can enhance your birthing journey, ensuring that you feel heard, supported, and empowered every step of the way, whether or not you give birth with the help of medication.
