Life as a birth doula is full of surprises! Highs and lows come with this challenging yet incredibly rewarding career. We get asked about what it is like living on call from clients, friends, and family. We asked our doulas some of the FAQs about doula life. Their answers are insightful and a great glimpse into doula life.
Why did you become a doula?
Susie: “I love birth and babies, but it felt like a calling to be able to walk women through such an important and intimate time in their lives. I felt like my love of birth, intuitive nature with babies, and calm demeanor would serve me well in this field.”
Krystle: “Felt pulled towards it through different aspects of my life and for no particular reason. The more I looked into what it was and reasons people chose to work with doulas, the more I felt it was exactly what I should be doing.”
What is on-call life like? What’s the hardest part of being on call?
Tiffany: “It can get stressful but having my doula sisters always willing to jump in if needed helps. The hardest part for me is every noise makes me want to jump up grab my doula bag and head to the hospital!”
Allyson: “It can be crazy for sure. The hardest part is the not knowing aspect of when someone will go into labor, but that’s labor in a nutshell.”
How do you maintain a work/life balance?
Susie: “Joining an agency, instead of being a solo doula was the biggest thing I did to bring in that balance. Secondly, really being careful in choosing how many clients to take at any one time was vital.”
Skylar: “As someone who is very enthusiastic about what I do, this was one of the hardest parts of adjusting to doula work and life on call. Things like working for an agency/group, having supportive doula sisters and a supportive partner have all made things smoother! There is an adjustment period for sure but you find your flow after some time.”
What do you love most about doula work?
Huddah: “I enjoy my role as a Birth doula because it allows me to provide comfort and suggestions to help make mothers labor experience a safe and memorable event. I love when I receive such positive feedback from the mothers and their partners that I was able to empower them with confidence and believe that they can do what they did. I always remind them we are a team.”
Lisa: “I love educating, and helping couples feel confident in their decisions with how their labor and birth pans out. And just connecting with moms and this beautiful journey.”
Any tips to those looking to become a doula?
Izaida: “Just remember that is not what we want is what mom wants, every person is different and will have different experiences as well”
Krystle: “Make sure you have a strong foundation in self care!”
Favorite comfort measure/tool to utilize at a birth?
Huddah: “My favorite comfort measures are rubbing the bottom of the foot with essential oils, and the double hip squeeze, maybe a warm pack on the lower back.”
Allyson: “Words of affirmation are something I really like to use”
Favorite memory from a birth?
Lisa: “So nice to have dad’s involved with labor and the tears from both always gets you. Some births are more emotional than others.”
Krystle: “Walking into the hospital room and the partner was rubbing my clients back while she was leaning over a yoga ball but their backs were facing the door so I couldn’t see anyone’s face. When I walked in, the atmosphere felt so calm and relaxing besides my client being in obvious pain. I set my things down and walk fully into the room, I walk around both of them to get a good look at what I was walking into and when I finally got a look at the partners face I had never seen a more terrified look on anyone’s face 🤣 He was so worried and played it off so well by staying behind her and rubbing her back.”
Have you learned anything doing this work that you apply to your everyday life?
Skylar: “Patience and an appreciation for the small things in life. We go through so much just to get here. Life really is such a miracle.”
Lisa: “Be patient, offer advice, see pregnant woman as a blessing, be open minded for anyone.”
What is something you tell all your clients?
Susie: “Learn all that you can… knowledge is power. And trust yourself, your natural instinct is so important in motherhood and it starts in pregnancy.”
Tiffany: “They are more powerful than they know.”
Krystle: “Pregnancy, delivery and postpartum are all a season in their lives where patience and compassion are important practices.”