Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Doula?
A doula is a trained non-medical professional who provides continuous, one-on-one, physical, emotional, and informational support to their client before, during, and after childbirth to help them achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible.
What is the difference between a Midwife & a Doula?
In Germany, midwives are readily available in hospital or birth center settings. They rotate shifts and focus primarily on medical tasks, providing limited emotional support. Unlike Midwives, Doulas offers comprehensive non-medical emotional, educational, spiritual, and physical support during the transition to parenthood.
What are the benefits of having a Doula?
Numerous research studies have extensively highlighted the advantages of having a doula present during labor. People supported by doulas were less likely to require pain-relief medications and had a reduced likelihood of undergoing a cesarean birth. Additionally, these women and birthing people reported having more positive childbirth experiences.
Further studies have demonstrated that having a doula as part of the birthing team significantly reduces the overall cesarean rate by 50%, shortens the duration of labor by 25%, lowers the use of oxytocin by 40%, and decreases requests for epidurals by 60%. Nonetheless, doulas can assist mothers & parents in experiencing the natural benefits of oxytocin without the need for medication.
Are there any cons to having a Doula?
In my experience, I've never had a client complain about receiving too much support from both a midwife and a doula after labor.
Are your services covered by health insurance?
Yes, postpartum care is! You can learn more about how to get insurance-covered postpartum care here. Birth support is not covered by insurance however, you can still benefit from this service through private pay. If you have private insurance, you might be eligible for birth & postpartum doula care. Please contact your provider to ask about your benefits.
When should I contact you?
You can get in touch with me any time before your due date or any time after your birth (1-16 weeks). Ideally, you would get in touch with me before your birth & we would create a postpartum plan together.
Where are your services available?
I am located in Neukölln and work in almost all areas of Berlin. If you are located outside of Berlin, please feel free to contact me. I also offer you virtual doula care for people with a preference for virtual care or for folks living overseas.
Why have a Doula in your birth or postpartum team?
Physical Support Doulas offer a range of physical support techniques, including comfort-oriented positions and hands-on measures such as soothing touches, counter pressure, and specialized breathing techniques. A doula's expertise and the use of positioning tools can assist a baby in finding its way through the pelvis and into the birthing parent's arms, especially in cases of malposition.
Emotional Support Doulas provide continuous emotional support, creating a nurturing environment where families feel deeply supported throughout the birthing & postpartum process. Regardless of whether the birth is unmedicated or medically complex, doulas help ease the emotional journey, allowing the natural labor hormones to function optimally. This compassionate connection is crucial during this intimate process and extraordinary time.
Partner Support Partners play a crucial role during the pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period. whether it's a romantic partner, a friend, or a family member like the baby's grandmother. Doulas are dedicated to empowering and supporting every birth partner, enabling them to be as involved as they desire. Both physical and emotional support play a pivotal role, in ensuring a positive experience for everyone involved.
Evidence-Based Information and Advocacy Doulas are equipped to assist families in accessing evidence-based resources, enabling them to ask informed questions, advocate for their needs, make educated decisions about their birth, and ultimately allow them to feel empowered throughout the whole process. Doulas serve as a communication bridge between clients and healthcare providers, so in the end, the birthing person can receive the highest quality care.