The B.R.A.I.N Tool Podcast
Decisions are going to have to be made for your birth, let them be by you. I am so passionate about informed decision making when it comes to women making choices about their births. However, there isn't always enough time to gather all the information or enough information given. This podcast aims to bridge that gap, it aims to take a deep dive into all the things that may come up for you in your pregnancy and gives you the information to decide for yourself, what you want to do with your own body in your own birth......exactly the way it should be.
The B.R.A.I.N Tool Podcast
Ep 20 Should you hire a Doula
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Episode 20 Focuses on whether or not you should hire a Doula
IAs always we’re breaking down that decision using the B.R.A.I.N. tool so you can rest assured that You've made a fully informed decision.
You’ll learn
- What a doula actually does (and doesn’t do)
- The evidence
- Alternatives to hiring a doula
If you’re considering whether hiring a doula is worth it, this episode will help you think through the decision.
What Is a Doula?
A doula is a trained professional who provides emotional, physical, and informational support before, during, and sometimes after birth.
Unlike your medical provider, a doula does not perform clinical tasks. Their role is to offer continuous support and help you navigate your birth experience.
B.R.A.I.N. stands for:
- B – Benefits
- R – Risks
- A – Alternatives
- I – Intuition
- N – Nothing
This tool is commonly used during pregnancy and birth and today, we apply it to hiring a doula.
Benefits of Hiring a Doula
Evidence like this Cochrane review shows that continuous labor support is associated with:
- Shorter labor
- Lower cesarean rates
- Reduced use of pain medication
- Fewer assisted deliveries
- Higher satisfaction with the birth experience
Risks
While there are no medical risks to hiring a doula, the cost can be off putting so we discuss this in detail with lots of nuance.
Alternatives to Hiring a Doula
- Utilising your birth partner for a similar role
- Doing a good birth education course
- Working with a private midwife
- Having a friend or family member do a similar role
Questions to Reflect On
- Would I feel more confident with an experienced birth bestie?
- Is this a priority financially?
- How do I feel when I imagine having a doula present?
- How would I feel if I didn’t hire one?
Key Takeaway
There’s no one “right” answer. The best decision is the one that aligns with you values and plans for birth.
Did you like this episode?
If this conversation helped you feel more informed and empowered:
- Share it with a pregnant friend
- Share it to your socials
- Leave a review to help other women find the podcast
I'll be back again next week, until then take care of you
Stevie
For more birth related education check out
www.thismumhypnobirthing.com
@thismumhypnobirthing