Sunshine, rain and flowers make the perfect June days! I hope you have been taking time to breathe, rest and get outside. Sometimes we feel defeated if we don’t meet our self-care goals every day, but being imperfect only makes us human! So, we move forward and try again – and hopefully we have some help and encouragement along the way.
Encouragement and help are two keys for labour, too. Facing the unknown, adjusting to the unexpected, feeling overwhelmed… these are common parts of the birth journey but they can often make us feel like we aren’t succeeding. Doulas make a difference by supporting continuously and one-on-one. And that personalized support leads to some wonderful benefits. The one I would like to highlight today is that doula supported births are much less likely to end in a caesarean section!
While c-section rates in Ontario, in Canada and in North America as a whole are very high, doula support increases your chances of a vaginal delivery. Not only do you gain information and confidence in the progression of birth and how to make your way through its different stages and phases, you also learn to trust your body and yourself. This leads to a better hormone balance, an ability to relax through the process and overall a labour that you feel more in control of. Through connection, relationship and informed support, doulas make a difference!
If you’re hoping to discover that difference for yourself, reach out anytime to discuss how I can become part of your birth team!
Coming up next: how the doula difference leads to better apgar scores