Is Hiring A Doula the Right Choice for You?
And the Raleigh-Durham doulas I love working with and always recommend!
When it comes to birth having the right support can make all the difference! Whether you're planning to give birth at home or in a hospital, one of the most valuable forms of support you can invest in is hiring a doula. Doulas are trained professionals who provide continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to a family before, during, and shortly after birth. Their role is to ensure that you have a safe, memorable, and empowering birth experience. And who wouldn’t want that?
I would say that there are 4 key benefits to inviting a Doula into your birth experience.
Continuity of Care:
Doulas provide continuous support from pregnancy through labor and birth and into those raw first days postpartum. While you may have a beloved OBGYN, when labor starts, they might not be available, meaning you'll work with someone else in their practice or the on-call doctor. Even if your doctor is present, they'll likely only be there when your baby is ready to be born; otherwise, nurses and staff will be shifting in and out of your labor experience. Doulas offer that constant source of trust and comfort before birth, throughout the labor process, and as you begin to heal afterward. This continuity is especially helpful for those planning to birth in hospital but their support during labor is so amazing no matter where you plan to deliver. Research has shown that continuous support from a doula can lead to shorter labor, fewer complications, and a more positive birth experience.
Reduced Interventions:
Studies have shown that the presence of a doula can lead to a lower likelihood of interventions such as epidurals, forceps, or cesarean sections. This is largely due to the continuous, personalized support that helps manage pain and stress naturally.
Emotional and Informational Guidance:
The emotional support provided by a doula can be transformative. Birth is not only a physical process but also an emotional and psychological journey. A doula's calming presence and empathetic understanding can help you navigate the intense emotions that often accompany labor. They provide encouragement, reassurance, and a sense of calm that can reduce anxiety and increase your confidence.
Doulas are also a valuable source of information. They can help you understand and prepare for what to expect during the whole process. This informational support empowers you to make informed decisions about your care.
Enhanced Birth Experience:
A doula helps to create a positive and memorable birth experience. Their presence can make you feel more secure, informed, and empowered, leading to greater satisfaction with your birth, regardless of the setting.
Finding the right doula for you can often be a challenge. The support, comfort, and guidance a doula provides are invaluable, but it's crucial to choose someone you trust and connect with. You want to feel seen and safe with your doula and know they are experienced enough to support you through birth, no matter how unpredictably things might unfold.
This is why I’m excited to share my list of Raleigh-Durham doulas. These professionals have worked with me several times, and I wholeheartedly recommend them for their expertise, compassion, and unwavering support. I love joining a birth team knowing that my families are being supported by one of these amazing doulas because I know in my heart we will be an incredible team together!
Raleigh-Durham Doula Reccomendations
Gabe Lazarus
Contact - sacredsongdoula.com
Gabe Lazarus has been supporting families as a Holistic birth doula in Central NC for over 10 years, sharing birth stories with over 150+ clients. Gabe is passionate about creating a safe space for the birthing person so that birth can unfold in its own time, with as little interruption as possible. She specializes in homebirth support and has a deep respect for the physiological birth process.
"the knowledge of how to give birth without outside interventions lies deep within each woman. successful childbirth depends on the acceptance of the process."
-Suzanne Arms
Currently serving the Triangle of NC, Gabe accepts a limited number of clients each month and encourages folks to reach out early if interested in working together. Spots for hospital delivery book quickly and are limited to UNC-Chapel Hill(OR trained) and Durham Regional
In addition to birth support Gabe also offers Private Childbirth Education
Postpartum Preparation
Homebirth Preparation Classes
Bengkung Belly Binding
Doula Coaching
Reiki Services
Homemade comfort items and digital courses for birthing families and doulas
Anna Cole
Contact: Joyful Noise Doula
I’m a DONA certified birth doula, serving the Triangle area of NC. I was inspired to become a doula after the birth of my first daughter. Birth is a beautiful thing and something I am extremely passionate about. I believe every woman has the right to have her ideal birth, and I am here to help her achieve that, no matter the place or method of birth.
I have a special interest in working with those who have suffered from PTSD from past sexual abuse or a previous traumatic birth experience. While I do not believe birth can “cure” PTSD. I do believe when a woman has a positive birth experience it allows her to view her body in a much different light. She feels empowered and in control of her body, rather than betrayed by her body.
LaToshia Rouse
Contact: Birth Sisters Doula
I care for pregnant women and their families by providing guidance, education and physical support to help them have an empowering birth and postpartum experience. This initial birthing experience is the beginning of a family that thrives.
Make contact early. People book as early as the first trimester. I can help you find a birth team that fits your preferences the early you schedule a consultation. I support all types of births.
I am a Certified Spinning Babies Parent Educator. I have parent classes for Spinning Babies, Childbirth, breastfeeding and baby care. I also personally have triplets.
Joanne Dahill
Contact - Journeyofmotherhood.com or 919.698.9110
I witnessed my first birth as a teenager when the doctor attending my friend’s homebirth suggested, “Another pair of hands might be helpful”. A seed was planted and nurtured with each birth I attended in the following years. My journey led to an application to midwifery school in Florida, unfortunately, politics intervened and the program was halted. In the meantime, I had my own family to tend to and a budding career as a licensed massage and bodywork therapist. The seed continued to gestate.
Once I resettled in North Carolina, I trained as a DONA® Certified Doula (1999) and became a homebirth midwifery assistant (2005). All of my doula clients receive massage and bodywork therapy as a part of their doula package. Obstetricians, midwives, and fellow doulas refer their clients to me as well. I have advanced training with Rosita Arvigo’s Abdominal Therapy Collective. I have also trained with Gail Tulley as a Spinning Babies Advanced Practitioner which includes specific training focused on body balancing and tissue release to encourage optimal positioning of babies, including babies in breech and transverse presentations. My study of CranioSacral Therapy and the Feldenkrais® Method broadens the tools I have available to bring greater comfort and alignment during the perinatal period and also in my care for newborns and infants. I am also certified as Hypnobabies® Childbirth educator and a Calm Birth® instructor.
My background and training uniquely qualify me to offer support and guidance to families who choose community birth, i.e. home and birth centers. I also attend births at hospitals throughout the Triangle and most often find myself at UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke Regional. I hope that the families I serve have a positive, joyful birth experience in the setting and with the providers that bring them a sense of safety and calm.
Johanna Wright
Contact: Loving Hands Doula
I am a Certified Birth Doula and have been supporting families through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum since 2009 but I have been drawn to birth my entire life. My mom was always passionate about birth. She told me and my siblings our birth stories throughout our childhood, teaching us that birth is simultaneously normal and extraordinary. It is something to be embraced, not feared.
It's an honor to be able to serve families as they experience the miracle of childbirth and the joys or difficulties of parenting. By providing physical, emotional, and informational support, my hope is to contribute to a comfortable and positive birth experience for everyone involved. I strive to understand and equip the mother and her family during the course of her pregnancy, be a resource and support leading up to labor, a source of comfort and constant support during the birth, and also a helper in the hours, days, weeks or months following delivery.
I have extensive knowledge and experience in breastfeeding, as well as training in early lactation support. It is a joy for me to be able to assist with initial breastfeeding and to help families achieve their breastfeeding goals through support and problem solving.
Hey I’m Amanda
Birth photographer and mama of 3 amazing kiddos! I am passionate about birth and documenting the powerful stories of new life and growing families. I would love to connect with you!.
