What Is a Doula Anyway?
Hi, I’m Ash, and I want you to feel confident, educated, and supported throughout your perinatal journey!!
If you’ve ever heard the word doula and thought, “Okay, but what does that really mean?”, you’re not alone. A doula is a trained, non-medical support person who shows up for you during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. We’re there with emotional support, physical comfort measures, and evidence-based information, but also as a steady presence when everything else can feel overwhelming.
Some folks like to joke that doulas are just glorified hand-holders. And sure, we’ll hold your hand when you need it, but it’s about so much more than that.
What a Doula Actually Does
Physical support: Massage, counterpressure, hip squeezes, and helping you find positions that make labor more manageable.
Emotional support: A calm, reassuring presence when things feel intense.
Informational support: Explaining what’s happening, reminding you of your options, and helping you feel confident in making decisions.
Partner support: Giving your partner tools and reassurance so they feel empowered, too.
Why Advocacy Matters
One of the biggest parts of my role is helping you remember that your voice matters. Birth is full of decisions—some expected, some unexpected. A doula doesn’t speak for you, but we help you slow down, ask questions, and make choices that feel right for you and your family.
So many of my clients who had a previous birth without a doula tell me the same thing afterward:
“I didn’t know that was an option.”
Options for positions, monitoring, delayed cord clamping, even how providers communicate with you—it’s easy to miss what’s available when you’re in the middle of labor. Having someone by your side who knows the landscape can change everything.
Why Families Hire Doulas
Confidence: Knowing you have someone experienced in your corner.
Comfort: From counterpressure during contractions to a hand to squeeze when you need it most.
Continuity: A familiar face who stays with you, even when staff changes shift to shift.
Perspective: Evidence-based information so you can weigh your options without feeling lost.
Real-Life Examples of Doula Support
Empowerment Through Education
Birth isn’t something you can map out perfectly, but learning about what your body is capable of can give you so much confidence going in. Childbirth education is one way to build that foundation. When you understand how your body works in labor, it’s easier to recognize what’s happening and lean into tools that can help.
Birth isn’t a neat, predictable process. Sometimes your baby settles into a less-than-ideal position, which can cause what’s known as back labor, when most of your contraction pain is in your lower back. That’s when a doula may suggest things like hip squeezes, rebozo work, or position changes to encourage your baby to shift and move more freely through the pelvis.
Encouraging Partner Support
We also meet with your partner before labor begins to talk through what to expect. I’ll show them how to use counterpressure, massage techniques, and other comfort measures. During labor, when things get loud, messy, and intense, I can also reassure your partner that what’s happening is normal and that you’re doing a good job. Let’s be real: labor can look overwhelming from the outside, and partners sometimes need that steady voice saying, “She’s okay. You’re okay. This is what progress looks like.”
Helping Navigate Hospital Routines
Sometimes it’s not the contractions that are overwhelming, it’s all the hospital routines that come with them. I’ve had clients feel flustered when staff came in with paperwork, questions, and quick suggestions while they were mid-contraction. In those moments, a doula can slow things down. I might remind the family that they can ask for a minute before signing something, or re-explain what the nurse just said so it feels less rushed. That pause can make a huge difference in feeling like you still have a voice in the room.
Supporting the Emotional Side
Labor isn’t just physical, it’s a huge emotional event too. There are times when a parent suddenly feels like they can’t keep going, or when memories from a past birth experience come up. As a doula, I can sit right there with you, normalize what you’re feeling, and remind you of your own strength. Sometimes it’s offering words of encouragement, sometimes it’s creating a quiet moment where you can cry, laugh, or just breathe. Those emotional check-ins can ground the whole room and help you keep moving forward.
The Research
Evidence backs it up, too: studies have shown that doula support is linked to shorter labors, fewer interventions, higher satisfaction with the birth experience, and even better breastfeeding outcomes. It’s not magic, it’s simply having continuous support that’s focused entirely on you.
Final Thoughts
Hiring a doula is not about replacing your partner, your provider, or your instincts. It’s about adding a teammate who helps you feel prepared, supported, and respected every step of the way.
Do your research. Ask questions. Think about how you want to feel during your birth, and know that support is available to help you get there.
