Part 1: What are your priorities?
A common interview question for doulas is “What is your philosophy on birth?” I have 2 answers. The first and maybe most important is that while I have thoughts when I am your doula, the only thing that matters is what YOUR philosophy is, what your priorities and dreams are for the best birth for you and your baby.
It’s about the journey to get to meet your baby, and I want to help you have the best journey possible.
I am here to support YOU, and I am a firm believer in my opinions don’t matter when it comes to your birth. I am here to provide you support, I will provide you with evidence-based information, I might ask questions about how you feel when a provider suggests something. But my opinions really aren’t what is important. You have doctors who are experts in their field, you might have advice from other people in your life who are experts in their areas, but no one will EVER be an expert on you and your baby beside you. I am here to encourage that inner knowing, to help you determine the best choice for your family based on evidence and your knowledge of you and your body. Each pregnancy and birth is unique, even if you have multiple ones they each have their own nuances.
I believe that evidence can help educate us, which is why I am a big supporter of Evidence Based Birth. But I also recognize that evidence is limited, not perfect and that mothers, especially Black mothers, are at risk at high rates. I always strive to give you as much information to help you make an educated decision for what is best for YOU. If you decided you want a fully medicated hospital birth, phenomenal! Let’s make that happen! If you want an unmedicated, home or birth center birth, sweet, let’s do it! Somewhere in the middle? Or open to seeing what will unfold for your birth? What a way to live in the moment! I am honored and happy to support you in whatever way you decide to give birth!
I believe that birth is a moment for you to have agency over your body and to sink into your inner knowing. I believe that birth can be an incredibly empowering moment for you and the family you are expanding. That is the core of my philosophy on birth. It’s about the journey to get to meet your baby, and I want to help you have the best journey possible!
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