Advocacy

This might be my favorite area of support as a doula. Doulas act as advocates for you and your wishes. We get to know you and your partner, if applicable, and learn what matters most to you as you navigate this journey. We cannot control any aspect of birth, any more than you or your provider can, but we can serve as a middle person to both remind you of your most important wishes and to help communicate these desires to your providers when necessary.

Advocacy starts well before labor. Doulas educate and prepare you for the birth experience, encouraging you to feel empowered in your body and in your autonomy. Even if your doula has given birth before, this does not make them an expert on YOUR birth, and the choices they made may not be good or appropriate choices for you. Our intention is to inform, not persuade. The choice for any procedure or action is always yours and yours alone. We work to build your confidence in yourself, to trust that you will have all you need to take the right path for you when faced with a decision.

It is very important to note that being an advocate does not mean we instigate conflict or enter the birth space with a combative attitude, assuming that everyone is out to get you. Yes, there are times when we will push back or ask for more time in non-emergent situations, and this can often be done with gentle firmness. We strive to promote unity and respect within your entire birth team, and we are also willing to take a stand for your wishes when necessary.

At the end of every birth, it is my hope that, regardless of how you welcomed your child to the world, you feel that you had a voice in every decision that was made, whether that was by your doula or partner upholding your wishes or you speaking directly for yourself. Birth is unpredictable, and this is why I prefer to focus on empowerment over outcomes.