What is a doula?

Doula?! Maybe you're like many others and have never heard of this profession before. To change that, we introduce you to Natalia and Sarah from from Munich, who accompany and support pregnant women during this special time. In the interview, they explain the benefits of a doula, how they came to this profession, and what the support costs.

The work as a doula

Dear Natalia, dear Sarah, could you please explain to us in advance what a doula actually is and how it differs from a midwife and a maternity nurse?

A doula is like a experienced girlfriend for a limited time , that you during the Pregnancy , to the Birth as well as in the initial period then emotionally accompanied and is there for you. Unlike midwives, we do not have medical training, do not perform examinations, and do not give medical advice. Often, women contact us who do not Find a midwife . We are however no substitute for a midwife , but work hand in hand with them and complement their work by focusing entirely on the woman and her partner/partner. The doula is therefore part of this famous "village" that is needed to raise a child.

Maternity nurses, on the other hand, support women/partners during the postpartum period with household chores and also take care of the baby or the siblings.

What does the training to become a doula look like?

Doula is no protected designation . Therefore, there are now many different training programs, and the doula services also vary greatly: from purely online support to postpartum specialists, everything is included.

When we started our training, there were very few offerings. In some cases, it was a requirement to be at least 30 years old and to already have a child – which is no longer the case everywhere today. For us, it was about learning to be as unbiased as possible in supporting women/families and to maintain the competencies of other professional groups. We were shown tools on how to support women well during this time and to encourage them individually. Additionally, we were allowed to study a variety of different literature and exchange ideas about the content.

The doula profession is purely emotional and the training cannot be compared to a technical profession, but rather to coaching.

What motivated you to become a doula?

Like most doulas, our own, unfortunately rather negative experiences during childbirth were also a catalyst for us. This motivated us to better support families during this special time in their lives. Every pregnancy and every birth is so meaningful and a very formative experience for the woman, but also for the partner. You will remember this time for the rest of your life. We want women to start this new chapter in life empowered by positive memories.

What do you love about your work?

It is simply our passion. We find everything related to pregnancy, childbirth, and becoming parents incredibly exciting. We can never get enough of these topics and continuously educate ourselves.

Additionally, it is very emotional. We love that it is such a personal work is. A birth touches us every time, and it is a wonderful feeling to shape this unique experience in the best possible way. We are very pleased when, for example, a year after the birth, we still receive a card to first birthday to have children. Sometimes we wonder if this feeling ever stops. But every birth and every couple are so different that it probably always remains exciting.

Advantages of Doula Support

What makes your support so valuable and what benefits does care from a doula bring?

Basically, it is existence. Especially during birth, our care offers the advantage that we do not have shift changes. We are there around the clock during childbirth – no matter how long it takes. We focus on the woman and provide her with exactly the support she needs. This way we also relieve the partner , who are not solely responsible for the support and can always turn to us if they are unsure or need a break. There are studies that confirm that continuous support from a person who is neither part of your personal environment nor a member of the hospital birth team, but whom you know and trust, has a positive effect on the birth. For example, fewer pain medications are used, and the overall birth is retrospectively rated more positively.

We must mention that unfortunately, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become more difficult in many because women are often only allowed to bring one companion. In other words, they have to choose between the doula and their partner. This is a difficult situation for the woman and has led to us accompanying fewer births since then. It is different in birth centers or home births. Here, the woman can still decide for herself what her team looks like.

Another advantage we have over a "real" girlfriend is that we have already seen more births and from a different perspective. This gives us, in addition many valuable experiences also an important Objectivity . You can find information on pregnancy, childbirth, and Postpartum completely drilled. You will either receive answers or the contacts of the right professionals. With a friend or family, there are often inhibitions, and in conversations with the doctor or midwife, time is often lacking. But we have time and you can never annoy us with questions. Especially couples who are becoming parents for the first time find it helpful to .... Orientation to receive. We prepare our couples individually for their birth. That means we address their personal wishes and needs or support them in discovering them in the first place.

And even after the birth, we are there for new parents. Because it is especially important for many women to have someone to help them with questions and uncertainties during this time. It’s okay not to know what to do sometimes and to feel overwhelmed. Because often, people prepare thoroughly for the birth, but they forget about the . That’s why we talk about the time after birth even before the baby arrives and want to alleviate possible worries.

Are there mothers you would especially recommend the support of a doula to?

And the doula can be sent away at any time if it becomes too much for you or if you want to be alone – after all, childbirth is an exceptional situation and you never know for sure beforehand what you want. However, most women generally desire emotional support. So, it doesn't hurt to prepare well before the birth, because it's naturally more difficult to conjure up someone from nothing who knows you and is there for you.

We have noticed that Mothers who have already had a negative birth experience have behind them, especially grateful. They may have Fear before the second attempt or now know better which support they missed during childbirth. Similarly, a doula can also be helpful for a woman having her first child, so that she does not even start collecting negative experiences . Another group that is often especially grateful are women who would be alone during childbirth without a doula , for example because the partner the little sibling has to be supervised or because no one is around.

What should women consider when choosing a doula?

The most important thing is that you feel good with the doula and that it feels familiar. You should be able to imagine embarking on this special journey with her and talking about intimate things. Feel free to get to know several doulas. . Try to sense which one suits you best. During the introductory conversation, you have the opportunity to find out whether you share similar ideas about the birth and what the support would look like. If you have a good gut feeling right from your first conversation, you should listen to it. It is less meaningful to focus solely on certificates, as they do not indicate how many births the doula has supported and certainly do not show whether you feel comfortable with her.

Cost of a doula

What is the cost of doula support?

Each doula sets her prices based on her scope of services. The doula's experience can also influence the price. For example, a doula often charges a lower fee immediately after training than someone who has already attended many births and, for example, offers postpartum massages in addition. Most birth support services cost between €700 and €1,000 . In large cities, it is often a bit more expensive. The reason for the price is our multi-week on-call duty. We must be ready around the clock to come to the birth and stay until the end.

Unfortunately, health insurance companies generally do not cover these services. , so a companion can also be a great group gift to be there for the pregnant woman.

Wishes for the future

What are your wishes for your professional future?

First and foremost, we would like to wish that the activity of the doula becomes more well-known and women to know all their options for childbirth. We also hope that in the future, the costs will be covered by health insurance. Because the financial aspect probably currently prevents many women and couples from hiring a doula. Especially for their first birth, most cannot yet imagine what they are paying so much money for.

Due to the current situation, there is also the desire for fewer restrictions in the clinics additionally. It would be great if birthing persons could decide who they want to have with them during the birth.

Do you have any final advice for expectant or new mothers?

Becoming a mother is wonderful and at the same time exhausting. Have compassion for yourself and also be a good mother to yourself. . Freshly baked mothers tend to forget themselves and the baby initially takes center stage. Unfortunately, they are often invisible regarding what they do and need, and only come back into focus when something is no longer going well.

Be honest too Share your experiences as they truly were, not just the positive aspects. This helps all of us to move forward when we know we're not alone in what we're currently going through.

Thank you dear Natalia and dear Sarah for telling us more about your wonderful profession. Maybe now you also feel like learning about doulas in your area and getting emotional support during this special time. Find out more about Natalia and Sarah on their Website and on Instagram . If you want to experience what it's like to work as a male midwife in the delivery room, check out our Interview with Tobias Richter gone.