I love Jacksonville, Florida. It was not always the case, but throughout my adult life, I have experienced enough of this city to fall madly in love with it. I can't imagine living anywhere else and every time I have lived someplace else, I have longed to be home on the beach feeling the ocean breeze on my skin. I met my husband in Orange  Park, a small and cozy suburb of the city. We fell in love walking the streets of Downtown Jacksonville. We fell in love sitting in the stands at Everbank Field cheering our Jaguars on in spite of an abysmal record. We fell in love eating Krispy Kreme doughnuts at the Jacksonville Beach Pier. We fell in love exploring the Riverside Arts Market for local goods and while feeding lorikeets at the Jacksonville Zoo. We fell in love while painting in a park on the Ortega Bridge. We have so many precious memories here. We love our city. Our city is beautiful, and rich, and vibrant. We have a lot to be proud of, but since becoming a doula, I have found even more to be proud of.

Being a doula in Jacksonville has shown me more beauty and generosity and diversity than I knew existed here in Jacksonville.  Florida tends to be mostly conservative in our neck of the woods, however we have three birthing centers and a handful of homebirth midwives. We have over five hospitals, most of which have wonderful reputations and a network of very supportive care providers. The doula community is close knit and supportive. They have offered me a wealth of knowledge. I have learned that a perk of being here is spending a few moments watching the sunset at the beach after delivering a Placenta Encapsulation Package. I can hold the space for a laboring mother who is in her own world while sitting under a huge oak tree in a park on the river. And I can be reminded of why I love my city every time I serve a family while they welcome a new child into the world.

I have spent the last two years building relationships with these providers and serving clients all over this city. Business is steady and I feel incredibly blessed. My husband found a job that is based here, so we never have to worry about being transferred. I can settle in to this beautiful life we have been slowly building for ourselves.

Recently, my cousin gave birth to her first child. When we were talking one day she said she hoped she could be as good a mom as I am. I was the standard for how to do it right. I was really shocked that someone would say this to me because I promise I am not that incredible. When I asked why, she brought up all of the things she sees on facebook. I made my own baby food, and I homeschool my son, and I always plan amazing activities for him to keep him engaged and help him learn, I always seem organized and my child is well behaved.

 I immediately felt terrible. I felt like I had just found out I am daily setting up women to feel like they're falling short. I was a participant in the "best mom ever" contest. I was part of the problem. See the truth is, I often feel like a terrible mother. I feel like my son doesn't eat healthy enough. I don't spend enough of my time crafting amazing activities to further his development. I don't find enough time for exercise and my house is not always clean. I often feel overwhelmed and unsure of how to juggle all of the parts of my life. I am constantly falling short to my own expectations. I constantly compare myself to other moms and their facebook posts. As I write this blog my son is watching The Lego Movie and playing with his toys on his own. He had dry cereal, peanut butter, and bananas for breakfast. He didn't get dressed until almost 11:00 a.m. We have not done any homeschool activities in weeks. We haven't even played in the backyard for over a month. Its too hot and I don't feel like it. I have piles of laundry and dishes and I just can't find the motivation to tackle them.

But here is the thing: none of that is ever on facebook. I (and we) want people to think we are amazing and perfect because as mothers it seems universal for us to feel like failures. We are afraid we are failing our children. We are afraid someone else is doing it better than we are. We are afraid of people finding out that we aren't as wonderful as our Facebook profile would have others think. We see moms on facebook and think to ourselves, "they can do it all, why can't I?" The answer is they're thinking the same thing. And they feel that way, in part, because of how hard we work to project an image of perfection.

I think its time to be open and honest about our lives as mothers in our culture. I want to be perfect, but I will never be perfect, and neither will you. Sometimes I let my kid eat dogs twice in a day. Sometimes I let him watch too much t.v. (try often), sometimes we don't get dressed at all.  Sometimes I don't clean and the only excuse I have is I was being lazy. Sometimes I don't get my meals planned and we're scrambling for dinner at the last minute. Ladies, these things do not and should not measure our success as mothers. We place value on things that do not accurately measure how we are doing as parents. We keep putting only our best foot forward to avoid judgment and it becomes a stumbling block for all of us because none of us are actually doing it all. We all want help. We all want true support and understanding. We all want to know we are good moms.

So lets come together and be transparent. Lets help each other understand how wonderful we are and focus on loving our children and meeting their needs. Lets not be caught up in a never ending contest to "win" at being a mother. None of us will win at the end of the day and we will eternally feel like failures. Focus on supporting each other and we can be invincible.

I always felt so bad for families who lost their child. I would see a story of a baby being stillborn or a child dying of SIDS and I would think how awful. How do they survive? How do they ever recover? How do they keep on living? I would praise God for blessing our family with healthy pregnancies and healthy children. 

Then I had Nora. I gave birth to our daughter, Nora Marie, on November 13th 2013 via emergency c-section. I was 35 weeks and 5 days. She had been diagnosed with Intrauterine Growth Restriction and was failing in utero. She went to the NICU and we were told testing was being done to determine the cause. We were never prepared for the results. Eight days after she was born, we were told our daughter had a genetic disorder called Trisomy 13. They explained that there is no treatment. There is no cure. We were also told it was a minor miracle our daughter was still alive at 8 days old. We were told that there was no way to determine when our daughter would die, but she would die. It was unlikely she would live months, and almost impossible that she would see her first birthday.

I was trapped in a nightmare. This couldn't be real. My daughter can't die. Those things don't happen to me. They don't happen to my children. What had I done wrong? Was it my chromosomes that did this? How would we tell our family? How would we keep breathing? How do I make sure my son is being taken care of? How do I survive this? Why is God doing this to my daughter?

 Thankfully, Nora was actually doing amazing and was not on oxygen, not on an iv, and not inside an isolate. She was doing everything a normal healthy baby could do. Maybe they were wrong. Maybe she would be fine. How could she be dying when she was so perfect? But even with her amazing progress, every moment with her was tainted by grief, despair, and anxiety. Every cough, or strange sound, or unfinished bottle brought with it the terror that this was it. Then she was placed back on oxygen two days after her diagnosis. They tried to be encouraging but I knew we didn't have a lot of time left with Nora. We did what we could to get her home as soon as possible, and with the help of an incredible non profit perinatal and pediatric hospice program called Peds Care, we took her home just three days after our diagnosis.


The day she came home was happy and devastating. She was hooked up to an oxygen tank when we brought her home, and a specialist came to install a gigantic tank for her. People kept tripping over the tubing. Panic constantly ensued. Nora began to have trouble breathing and needed her oxygen increased. Everyone was constantly terrified. My husband and I took shifts so that someone was always awake to watch her. Because of that we were not really sleeping at all. I was dealing with oversupply and pumping around the clock. Every day, hour, moment, and second was painful. I prayed for God to save her knowing that she was going to die. I would become hopeful at progress only to be devastated when she would decline a small bit shortly after. Thanksgiving was just a few days after she came home. We stayed at the house and had a small intimate meal. Nora began having episodes where she wouldn't breath properly. We had to call our nurse three times. That night, I took most of the shifts to sit with her because I was so afraid she would die if I fell asleep. I was so worn thin. I was so exhausted. I was tired of the constant stress that entails waiting for your baby to die knowing you cannot to do anything to help her. That night I reached a breaking point. I cried. I cursed. I yelled. I begged God to save my daughter. I begged God to end her suffering. I begged God for it to be over. I couldn't handle this. My husband couldn't handle this. Our family couldn't handle this. And our son was being left behind because of it and he didn't deserve that. 

Nora died the next day. She died in mine and my husbands arms. She died surrounded by our best friends, family, and her Peds Care nurses and social worker. She died knowing we loved her more than anything. And she died not understanding what was happening. We had to watch our daughter cry because she couldn't breath. It probably hurt. It probably scared her. And we couldn't stop it. All we could do was sit there and hold her and cry and apologize. All we could do was tell her she was loved more than anything else in that moment.

And then my daughter was gone. And so was I. I cried. I screamed I held her tightly as if my life literally depended on me maintaining physical contact with her body. I couldn't let her go. I needed to keep her with me. I wouldn't be able to keep breathing if I let her go. But I had to let her go. Our nurse and social worker comforted us and helped us make memories and preserve things like her handprints and footprints. They helped us make arrangements. They helped me change Nora's diaper and put fresh clothes on her.  They let me carry Nora out to the transport van. I kissed her and told her I was sorry. I told her I loved her. I told her I would miss her. I told her I would never be the same. Then I laid her down in the transport van and I never saw my daughter again. 

Since then, we have had her memorial service. We have scattered her ashes in a special place. We have gone to counseling. We have mourned. We have healed. We have mourned some more. It has been almost a year since we met and said goodbye to our daughter. I'm still not the same. I still have a hole in my heart. I still despair. I still miss holding her. I still sleep with her favorite blanket. I still wear her baby lotion from the NICU. I still cry when I see babies wearing something she wore. I still cry when I hear the song I always to sang her while I was pregnant. I cry when I see a pregnant woman sometimes. 

Being a birth worker through all of this has been one of the most difficult things and one of the most joyous things for me. It reminds me that birth does not always end in tragedy. Miracles happen. Healthy babies happen. Peaceful birthing experiences happen. And when they don't happen, I am equipped to give that family a level of empathy that most other people are not capable of offering. I know what it is to put the heavy coat of my grief on daily. I know what it is to look at the empty nursery and know that your baby will never sleep there again. I know what it is to pack up your baby's belongings in a neat box after her nursery has been cleared out and the items donated. I know what it is to struggle at simple questions about how many children I have. I know what its like to suddenly be paralyzed with grief, to see a baby hat or hear a song and crumble at the weight of the loss you feel. I know what it is to have your arms literally ache to hold your baby, with no relief in sight. I know what it is to lose.

So friends, be patient with the bereaved mother. A mother's grief is never ending. It is eternal. Be gentle with the mother who mourns the loss of a part of her. She is fragile while she is strong. She is despairing while she is smiling. She is dying while she continues to courageously live.
 

Placentophagia (eating the placenta). You're hearing about it a lot these days. Many high profile celebrities sing its praises and mommy groups all over are discussing the possible benefits. Still though, you're just not sure encapsulating your placenta is for you. Today I am going to discuss why you should give placenta encapsulation a chance, because there are a lot of reasons!

Before we can understand why Placenta Encapsulation is beneficial, we have to understand what the placenta is and what it does. The placenta is an organ that is created as a result of conception. It attaches to the inside of the mother's uterus during pregnancy. The placenta has six main functions:

1.) it transfers oxygen, blood, nutrients, and antibodies to your baby
2.) it produces hormones that make pregnancy and fetal development possible
3.) it acts as a protective filter to keep out most bacteria
4.) it acts as a barrier, ensuring maternal and fetal blood do not make contact
5.) it sustains fetal functions during fetal development
6.) it acts as a waste removal system, getting rid of carbon dioxide

Now that we understand the functions of the placenta, lets talk about birth and what happens to the placenta and your body during the postpartum period.

Once your baby is born, your placenta is next. Once it naturally detaches from your uterine lining, the placenta is then birthed and a rapid change begins to happen inside your body. Because your placenta was responsible for producing hormones needed to maintain your pregnancy and your baby's development, it was full of various hormones and nutrients that are incredibly beneficial to you. Once you give birth, your body experiences a rapid decrease in all of these hormones and nutrients. This can lead to extended recovery time, increased bleeding postpartum, increased instances of baby blues or postpartum depression, and milk supply issues.

Luckily, nature in its beautiful and perfect design, has given us a remedy to these problems: our placenta. By consuming our placenta, we can remedy or prevent a lot of the problems that are becoming more and more prevalent in our culture. Inside your placenta are numerous nutrients and hormones specifically tailored to your body that can help aid in your recovery and ensure a happy and healthy postpartum period. A few examples of what your placenta contains and how it helps are:

1.) oxytocin: this is often called the "love hormone." It is a natural pain reliever, increases bonding between mother and baby, counteracts the production of the stress hormone, Cortisol, reduces postpartum bleeding, and helps the uterus shrink more quickly.
2.) Prolactin: stimulates milk production, increases milk supply.
3.) Iron: combats anemia, increases energy, and reduces fatigue and depression.
4.) Hemoglobin: oxygen-carrying molecule that provides energy boost.
5.) Interferon: triggers the immune system to help fight off infection.
6.) Prostaglandins: promote uterine contractions to help it shrink quickly.

So there you have it! Your amazing, incredible, life sustaining placenta and its important purpose postpartum! I encourage anyone who is expecting to give it a chance! You wont be sorry!

If you are interested in taking advantage of the benefits of placenta encapsulation, you can contact me at fullspectrumbirth@gmail.com, (904)710-4057 or via my contact form found here. I look forward to helping you achieve a happy, healthy postpartum period! Make sure to take advantage of the 10% off coupon that is currently available!

Family Centered C-sections (also known as gentle or natural c-sections) are gaining popularity with mothers and doctors alike in the United States. This approach involves slowing down the process and ensuring the mother is as involved as she can be and that when possible, it is treated more like a birth than an emergency surgical procedure. Of course there are some instances when these measures are not possible but if you're planning a scheduled c-section it is very possible to enjoy the benefit of slowing down and truly enjoying and experiencing your baby's birth! 

Some options on a Family Centered Birth Plan may be:

• Lower lighting
  
• Slowing down the process
  
• Optimal Cord Clamping
  
• Lowering curtain during birth/clear curtain
  
• Not tying down mom's hands
  
• Individual levels of anesthesia to allow mom to be more alert
  
• Immediate skin to skin contact for mom and baby
  
• Minimal disruptions postpartum to facilitate recovery and bonding
  
• Doula/birth photographer present during birth

If you are planning a c-section, I highly recommend looking into your options with your care provider. Observing even just a few of these preferences can make a huge difference in how you experience the birth of your child.

Links for Information on Family Centered C-section:

Video of "Family Centered C-section"

"Family Centered Csection" Birth Plan Tips

"Family Centered Csection" Birth Plan Example

Prenatal Support

If you know ahead of time that you will be having a C-section, you can do a lot of things to prepare. During your pregnancy, your doula will:

• Create a birth plan. Even during a C-section, you have a lot of options to review. Your doula will help you and your partner by giving you the information you need to make choices about your birth. You then will be able to discuss these preferences with your care provider so everyone is on the same page. Later this week, I will talk about the options that you have to consider when planning a c-section. 
  


• Prepare for your C-section. Your doula will spend at least two prenatal during your pregnancy. During these visits, a doula will direct you to information outlining what to expect before, during, and after your C-section. 
  


• Create a Postpartum Plan. Your doula will help you put a plan in motion for when your baby arrives. She will help you set up meal trains, help in the home, and any postpartum doula services you may need.
  


• Practice Relaxation Techniques. Your doula will help you learn and practice different relaxation techniques to use during your C-section. This will help maintain a calm and peaceful environment while you’re being prepped for the OR.
  


• Process any Fear or Anxiety. For some women, planning a C-section can be scary or disappointing. Your doula will work with you to help you process and confront any of these feelings before your C-section (if it’s planned)
  

Pre-Op Support

When you arrive to the hospital to be prepped for your C-section, your doula can:

• Help you and your partner navigate fears. If you are having a hard time with fear and anxiety, your doula can help you relax using various methods such as focusing on breathing, visualization, and massage. She will also be there to help your partner with any fear or anxiety before heading into the OR.
  


• Take photos. Your doula can take photos of the pre-op process so that your partner can focus all their attention on you and your impending birth. Documenting the whole process can be incredibly important for remembering and celebrating the birth of your baby. 
  


• Hand out Birth Plans. Your doula can ensure that everyone who will be in the room during your C-section has your birth plan so that they all know what your wishes are. 
  


• Keep Family Updated. Naturally, many family members may be at the hospital with you. Your doula can give them updates on your status during pre-op so that you and your partner can relax and focus on preparing for the OR.
  

Inside the Operating Room

Sometimes, a doula is not allowed to be in the operating room with you, but this is not always the case. Ultimately this decision lays with your anesthesiologist so discuss this with your care provider ahead of time. During your C-section, your doula can:

• Take photos. Just like pre-op, your doula can take beautiful photos of the entire process so that you are able to remember/celebrate the birth of your baby. This way your partner can focus on you. 
  


• Explain what is happening. Your doula can also regularly update you and what is happening as surgeons don’t usually do this. This way you know what your surgeon is doing and when your baby is being born. 
  


• Remind staff of birth preferences. While your doula cannot speak for you, she can gently remind staff/your partner of birth preferences. Surgeons and staff can be so used to normal hospital protocol that preferences can be forgotten during the birth. 
  


• Be by Your Side. If you do not want any photographs or information during the surgery, your doula can simply be at your side to physically support you during the birth. 
  


• If Your Doula Cannot be in the OR. She can coach your partner on how to comfort you and suggestions for photographs. She can remain with your family and encourage and support them while they wait for updates on you and baby. 
  

After Birth:

After the birth of your baby, your husband will likely accompany your baby to the nursery. Before surgery, you can discuss the possibility of your doula joining you for the remainder of your surgery/during recovery. This will need to be discussed during pre-op as your doula will need to scrub up. Other options of support after the birth include:

• Assistance feeding your baby. Your doula will help you with comfortable nursing positions if breastfeeding or she can help you with formula feeding guidelines for a newborn. Nursing can be especially difficult postpartum because of pain so comfortable positioning is key.
  


• Comfort Measures. Your doula can help with different techniques to be as comfortable as possible during your recovery.
  


• Postpartum Visits. Typically, because a doula spends much less time with you during your C-section than she would during a typical birth, she will likely come to your home at least twice for postpartum visits. During these visits, your doula will help you process any feelings or thoughts you have regarding your birth. She will help with feeding concerns. She may even help you with any chores or housekeeping tasks you can’t do during recovery. 
  

As a mom who has had an emergency C-section and a vaginal birth, I can say I needed a doula much more for my C-section. There are so many different demands and challenges that go with a C-section birth and I encourage any woman who is preparing for one to reach out to a doula. She will be an invaluable resource to you during your pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum period.

My last post discussed why a doula charges so much. It can be confusing for some people to figure out how a doula sets her fee. Now that we have all of that sorted out, lets talk about the new problem: how in the world can you afford a doula if money is tight? There are thankfully several ways to pay for the cost of a doula if it is not necessarily in your budget!




1. Ask your insurance company if a doula is covered!
There are multiple insurance companies that are now reimbursing for doula services! This varies by plan and company so check with your provider before any other option is explored!

2. Use your FSA or HSA
Anyone with a FSA or HSA should look into being able to use the funds available for paying your doula costs. Many of them offer this option. 

3. Add doula services to your shower registry.
We add so many things we may never even use to our registries (how many of us end up giving away extra baby clothes??) Instead of letting people guess what you need, add doula services to your registry! Someone may just end up seeing this need and helping you take care of it!

4. Ask if your doula offers gift certificates. If so, tell your friends and family!
Always ask your doula if she accepts gift certificates! For the record, I do! All your family members need to do is contact your doula via her website and purchase the certificate. You would just need to bring the certificate to a prenatal meeting to redeem it for services.

5. Find out if your doula offers payment plans.
Most doulas understand that not everyone can just drop 600.00 in one sitting. I certainly do. Ask your doula about a payment plan. I, for example, am happy to sit with a couple and outline when they expect to make their payments. we just include it in your contract. As long as payments are made before I go on call at 38 weeks, then you're all set to go!

6. Barter!
Are you a photographer? Do you knit or make clothes? Are you a painter? Any skill you have at all can end up being your method of payment for a doula! I personally have bartered birth doula services in exchange for family photography sessions! It is a win-win situation for everyone!

7. Cut out non-essential spending (e.g. going out to eat) and save over time.
If you have exhausted all other resources and those are not options, one thing that will almost work is to put yourself on a budget. I find if something is very important to me, I make it a priority over things like new clothes, eating out, movie dates, etc. 

I hope this list helps reassure you that while doulas can be difficult for some families to afford, it is possible! Just be honest with your doula, and seek out help where you can!

Have you ever asked yourself, “why do doulas charge so much? I really want one and I know they're important, but I can't justify the cost!” 

Today I am going to break down the answer to your question! I will use my own fees and personal expenses as an example to illustrate what work is performed and how much of my own money is put into your support. For the example, I will use my "Birth Doula Support" package. It can be seen that the "C-Section Birth Support" package is set at the same fee. This is because while I spend less time at your birth, I spend more time with you during postpartum visits. 

Birth Support Package:

• Initial Consultation (Average 2 hours)
  
• Two Prenatal Meetings (Average 4 hours)
  
• One Provider Meeting (Average 2 hours)
  
• Assistance Creating Birth Plan (Average 2 hours)
  
• Phone/email Support during business hours (Average 5 hours)
  
• 24/7 on-call Availability from 38-42 Weeks: I cannot put an average time on this. Simply put, at this time I am unable to travel, drink alcohol, or make firm commitments of any kind. I must available to come to you at a moments notice.
  
• Continuous Labor Support (Average 14 hours)
  
• Immediate Post-birth Assistance (Average 2 hours)
  
• One Postpartum Meeting (Average 2 hours)
  


Personal Costs:

• Travel Time: Average of 25 miles one way for five trips ( 7 Hours)
  
• Gas Costs: (calculated using this MPG calculator, based on 25 miles one way for five trips: $50.00)
  
• Childcare: Average five trips (based on $20.00 per session: $100.00)
  
• Food: (based on an average of one meal while at your birth: $10.00)
  
• Hospital Parking: (average of $5.00)
  
• Materials for client (average of $20.00)
  
• PayPal fees: 2-3% ($12.00) 
  

Total Time/Money Spent:

When we add all of the time and money spent during my contract, we get these grand totals for the average birth:

Time: 46 hours
Money Spent: $197.00

So now based on my fee of $600.00, lets see how much I make per hour before taxes:

Current total fee for Birth Support Client: 600.00
Expenses: $197.00
Remainder: $403.00
Pay rate: $8.76 per hour before any self employment or income taxes are deducted.

So when you see a doula charging a fee you feel is too high, remember this breakdown. You are really paying for a priceless service! And I doubt anyone would ask a midwife or doctor to discount or waive their fee!

As a doula, I love what I do. I love my clients. I love being invited to participate in such an amazing moment in their lives. However, I also work very long hours, put forth a lot energy, and spend my families money in order to meet my clients needs. Doulas definitely deserve to be paid, at the very least, minimum wage for what they're doing for your family.

On Suze Ormon's show, a caller asked Suze if she could afford a doula. She ends with the conclusion that a doula is NEED and not a WANT! You can view the clip here.


Next week, join me in discussing the various ways to afford a doula if finances are tight!

Birth Doulas are becoming more and more prevalent in our country, so I think it's a good time to discuss what a birth doula actually does. When I talk with people about my job, there seem to be a lot of misconceptions about what a doula does and who should hire one! I think it's only fitting that my first blog post talk about a few of these misconceptions and set the record straight.

1. Doulas will advocate for me.
It seems to be a common belief that a doula will stand up for you during your birth should a doctor or nurse suggest/perform something that is not on your birth plan. Doulas do not do this. It is actually outside of the scope of practice for most of the organizations who train and certify doulas. As doulas, we are not supposed to communicate on your behalf to your care providers.

So what does a doula do then? 

When you are pregnant, a doula encourages you to research all of your options and give you information to read and study. They discuss this information with you and answer any questions. They encourage you to speak to your care provider about your research and preferences so that you and your birth team are on the same page. A doula also help you craft a birth plan tailored to your families' needs. You will be encouraged to also discuss this with your care provider. By the time you are in labor, everyone should know what your preferences are. Copies of birth plans should be handed to every new nurse and doctor so they know what you want and what you do not want. Most important, by the time you are in labor you should be educated enough to make informed decisions about your birth and voice concerns to your provider.

During your birth, if a doctor or nurse begins to suggest things not on your birth plan for whatever reason, a doula will often ask if you would like a moment alone to discuss this with your partner. They encourage you to do this so you can discuss the risks-versus-benefits and options available. During that time a doula will provide information and support for whatever option you and your partner choose.

In short, A doula is there for you to support you in whatever decisions your family makes during your birth. They will do their best to ensure you are prepared to make informed decisions for yourself and your baby. I always tell clients my most empowering birth was the one where I had to make difficult decisions for myself and my baby. I was able to make conscious and informed decisions knowing that every choice I made was the right one. I strive to make sure all of clients are in the same position.

2. Doulas help women achieve a natural birth.

This particular misconception happens on both the client and doula side, and it's this misconception that bothers me the most. It is generally agreed that if you want to have a natural birth, you should hire a doula to help you achieve this goal. We are not able to ensure a natural birth, and even if we could not every woman will have one. What about those women?

When I had an emergency c-section at 35 weeks pregnant, I needed a lot of support. I needed help figuring out how to pump exclusively. I needed help processing what had happened to me and my daughter. I needed help bonding with my daughter because I had barely seen or touched her. I needed help with my recovery. I say all this to illustrate that it does not matter how a woman is planning to give birth (natural, medicated, hospital, home birth, vaginal, c-section), these women are giving birth too. You still have to work very hard and make many decisions at the drop of a hat when you're unable to think clearly. A doula is there to help you cope with the difficult stages of labor and to provide any information you need in order to make informed decisions. You still have to recover from and process your birth. A doula is there to listen to you and help you process all the feelings you have about your birth and recovery, whether they be positive or negative. You still have to feed your baby. A doula is there to help you feed your baby and answer any questions regardless of whether you're breastfeeding or bottle feeding. A doula is a support system dedicated solely to you. Women need that in birth regardless of what setting they are in.

3. Doulas deliver babies.
I've been shocked to learn that even my mother thought some doulas deliver babies. No doula is licensed or qualified to deliver a baby. If your doula is training as or is a trained midwife or nurse, they may have necessary training, but as a doula they would be operating outside of their scope of practice if they delivered your baby. In the event of an emergency (not making it to the hospital in time) your doula should always call 911 while your husband follows instructions of the dispatch.