The Doula and the C-Section Walk Into a Bar...
- Praise Konsavage
- Mar 6
- 2 min read
Sounds like a joke, right? You're thinking: Wait. WHAT? What do doulas have to do with c-sections? Aren't doulas only for crunchy, natural births outside under the stars? A doula is for every birth, and we have a lot more to do with c-sections than you'd think.
ACOG published an article a few years ago, releasing some wild evidence. They wrote, "Increasing women’s access to nonmedical interventions during labor, such as continuous labor and delivery
support, also has been shown to reduce cesarean birth rates." Guys, that's a huge discovery...but doulas have kinda known it all along. Labor support is a big deal: women with a doula feel more empowered, like they have the strength to push through to the end. This lowers the amount of moms thinking, "I just can't do this anymore. I think I need a c-section." No, sister: I'll be there reassuring you and reminding you of God's strength the entire time. Not only that, but because we're trained in birth positions for the most productive labor, births are an average of 41 minutes shorter when there's a doula involved (according to Evidence Based Birth). A good doula will also be encouraging you with healthful birth preparation during pregnancy, making you more ready for your baby's birthday. Doulas play a massive role in preventing c-sections, because we want you to have the best experience possible (and major surgery definitely isn't if we can avoid it!).
By now, it's obvious that doulas help prevent c-sections to a crazy degree. If you hire one, you're drastically raising the chances of a vaginal delivery. Yay! But did you know that doulas can also help you and your partner navigate a C-section if one does need to happen? Doulas aren't just for vaginal deliveries: we can help you with a planned or unexpected C-section. We've studied the ins and outs of what happens, and some of us have witnessed a C-section before. So instead of you being wheeled in to an unknown fate in the OR, you'll know exactly what to expect once your doula has prepared you. We can also give you tips on how to have the best C-section for you, including asking for as much skin-to-skin as possible, being with you in the OR if the hospital allows, and so much more. You can leave your c-section feeling empowered and content with your birth instead of feeling alone and traumatized, and your partner can too. I don't want either of you to feel afraid, and you don't have to.
And another plus? Doulas can advocate for you. If your birth is going slower than expected and the doctors are impatient, your doula can be the one making sure a C-section isn't pushed onto you unwillingly. We can protect your wishes and make it clear that you don't want a C-section unless absolutely medically necessary.
Now you see that a doula has everything to do with a C-section. I'd love to support you in your birth, whatever your plans may be. Sometimes C-sections are a real necessity and save lives, but there's a lot you can do to avoid one.
-Welcome Life Doula
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