So much has been said about the benefits of having a doula. All the diminishing of interventions, increasing of mother's satisfaction with her childbirth experience, baby's adjustment made easier... But none of these statements completely describes what a doula really adds at birth.
What is the " thing" that makes having a doula a hard-to-explain experience? Most women cannot really put into words why having a doula makes such a huge impact on how they experienced motherhood. But the difference is very real.
On a sloped, bumpy road, with no precise directions or weather forecast, it is hard to describe what your co-pilot will exactly be able to help you with. But it is safe to say that, at some point down the road, you will need someone who believes you can make it to the finish line. Someone who can feel your strength when you feel out of gas, guide you to keep going when you desperately want a short cut, help you focus on your final destination when your trip takes unexpected turns -- and, most important, give you a hand and tell you to hold on tight, because you are almost there!
Yes, your doula will massage you, bring you nourishing food, and wipe your brow. But she is also your good luck charm, a crystal for focusing your power where and when you need it most, a mentor who believes in you absolutely and introduces you to your own power. She will hold your hand literally and metaphorically. She is highly practical but also deeply connected to your source of strength.
Hold on tight, feel your power ...
Hold on tight, you are doing it ...
Hold on tight, your doula is with you!
