What are you really paying for when you hire a birth doula?
A personal, professional tour guide. Someone to walk you through the many options you’re faced with prenatally. Doulas can help you navigate the benefits and risks of interventions, guide you in finding local resources, and serve as a sounding board as you and your partner make tough choices.
An extensive knowledge of pregnancy, labor, and postpartum.This may include access to books, articles, and other professionals to help you feel prepared for the wild ride you’re on. If your doula is unsure of the best way to support your personal situation, they have a host of resources available to find the answers to best serve your family.
On-call care. You have access to a skilled professional in the palm of your hands. Doulas drop everything to be by your side in labor. Doulas are on call 24/7 - holidays, family events, dance recitals - you name it and a doula has left it to attend a birth. In the off chance that your doula is unable to walk away from another commitment, they will provide a back-up doula
Continuing education and special training. Each doula you encounter has an individualized skill set and knowledge base. Our member doulas are actively enrolled in or have completed a professional doula training program so you can rest assured that your doula is prepared to serve your family. The best thing about hiring a doula from within the Doula Network of Fort Wayne is that your doula has access to the knowledge of a collective network and a wonderful group of care providers who believe deeply in what we do.
Continued support through the postpartum period. A doula’s care doesn’t end at the hospital after you’ve given birth. Doulas continue to check in, provide support, and care for your family during those early postpartum days. There are even doulas who pick up at the start of the postpartum period, who provide amazing support to survive those early days while helping you adjust and find your new normal.
If you ask families who have utilized the services of a doula, they will likely tell you that the service offered was invaluable. You only get to experience each birth once; investing in professional birth support is a great way to make the most of it.
