New Baby, New Birth

He grew to love her . . . eventually.

You're pregnant again! Congratulations!

The first trimester sickness and sleepiness might be worse this time around, with another kid to look after, but you know that it's temporary. You might feel your baby kick earlier, now that you know what to look out for. You might start showing earlier, too. You know what to expect-- birth is not the great unknown that it was the first time around. But whether or not you had the support of a doula with your first baby, you may be wondering, "Do I really need a doula for this birth?"

For many clients, even if it's their second, third, fourth pregnancy or beyond, the answer is a resounding, YES. And here are some reasons why:

1. You didn't like the way your last birth went down. Maybe you didn't feel as informed as you could have been. Maybe you accepted interventions that you wouldn't choose again. You didn't know what you didn't know. And this time, you want the knowledge, guidance, and continuous support of a doula on your birth team.
2. You are doing birth differently this time. You are going for an unmedicated birth. A home birth. A VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean). A planned Cesarean. An induction. Or, the hospital or place of birth is different. Your care provider is different. You want to be as prepared possible, with the support of someone who is knowledgeable about birth in its many forms, and who knows how to best support you in your choices.
3. Your partner needs help helping you. Maybe this is your partner's first time attending a birth. Or at your last birth, your partner felt unprepared and unsure of how to best support you. You both realize that a doula can fill in the gaps, so that you both feel positively about the experience.
4. Your previous support is helping watch your other kid(s). The last time, your partner and your sister/mother/father/grandmother/best friend were there for you during labor and birth. But now you are relying on them to take care of your older kid(s), so that you can focus on birthing this baby. 
5. You realize that each birth is unique. No two births are the same. Each labor, delivery, and postpartum period is filled with its own challenges and triumphs. Knowing that your doula will be there to guide you through the unknown circumstances of this particular birth, provides you and your partner with reassurance that you will be informed and supported no matter what happens.
6. You've seen the value of a doula firsthand, and want that again for this birth. Dr. John Kennell, a pediatrician and researcher of maternal-infant bonding and attachment, is famously quoted as saying, "If a doula were a drug, it would be unethical not to use it." In. a 2008 study by Dr. Kennell and his associate, S.K. McGrath, 100% of women and their partners who utilized a doula during their births rated the experience as positive, with 93% rating them as "very positive." When you know what a good thing is, you don't want to give it up!

For more information on the Kennell and McGrath study and other studies evaluating the benefits of doulas, see the following article from one of my favorite birth resources, Evidence Based Birth: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/the-evidence-for-doulas/ 

I am a certified labor doula and professional postpartum doula serving clients in Boise, Eagle, Meridian, Nampa, and the Greater Treasure Valley.
Are you pregnant again and interested in a doula for this birth?

Let's Talk!

elevated birth
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