What does a doula do?

If you're looking for a doula in Montreal to support you through pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period, you're in the right place. As doulas who love what we do, my team and I are here to offer you caring support at every stage of your journey into parenthood.

When you find out you're pregnant, the first instinct is often to look for information so you can understand and prepare for this new stage (even if it isn't your first baby).

That's where this blog comes in. Explore our articles for answers to your questions and advice on preparing for the birth, and take a look too at our Instagram page yse_naissance, with birth stories as well as advice for your pregnancy, your birth and your postpartum.

1. What is a doula's role?

The presence of a doula during pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period goes well beyond simple physical support. A doula is a bit of a Swiss Army knife: the role is many-sided, aimed at offering holistic support so that your experience of motherhood is as positive and fulfilling as it can be.

Here are the different aspects of a doula's role:

• Emotional support : Her main role is to offer you continuous emotional support. Whether that means talking through your worries, offering a listening ear, or helping you handle the emotional ups and downs that can come with pregnancy, she's there to create a space where you feel understood and supported, without judgment.

• Education and information : As a doula, she is committed to giving you detailed information on every aspect of pregnancy, of childbirth and the postnatal period. Its aim is to help you make informed decisions by giving you accurate, current information about the options open to you. The information provided is based on the latest clinical guidelines from the SOGC and the SCP and on the literature review (Cochrane, PubMed).

• Physical support : During labour, she helps you with comfort techniques such as positioning, massage and breathing to relieve pain and encourage a smoother birth.

• Advocacy and communication : She's there to advocate for you with the medical staff, making sure your preferences and choices are respected. Her presence helps keep communication open between you, your partner and the medical team.

• Childbirth preparation : Working with you and your partner, she helps you draw up a birth plan, talk through your expectations and prepare physically and mentally for the birth.

• Postnatal support : After the birth, she carries on supporting you by providing advice on breastfeeding and infant sleep and by being there to talk through your experience and answer your questions.

As a doula, her commitment is to surround you with continuous, personalized and caring support throughout your journey. Her aim is to create a space where you feel supported, heard and confident at every stage of this adventure.

2. What does a doula earn?

The word "salary" is often replaced by "fee" when it comes to doulas, because most of them work as self-employed workers.

• A doula's fee can vary depending on several factors such as location, experience and the full range of services offered.

• Find all our service rates here .

• It's important to note that a doula's fee reflects not only the time spent at the birth and being on call for it (from 38 weeks on), but also the pre- and postnatal meetings, as well as ongoing follow-up.

• Some packages can also be offered to cover the full range of services.

  Flexible pricing lets doulas tailor their fees to each client's specific needs, ensuring support that's made to measure throughout the parents' journey.

3. What's the difference between a doula and a midwife?

Unlike midwives, who have medical training and can deliver babies, doulas focus on emotional, physical and informational support. I work hand in hand with health professionals to make sure you get the best possible care.

• Medical care: Midwives can carry out medical examinations and diagnoses and prescribe medication. Doulas don't provide medical care and can't perform medical tasks, but they do offer emotional, physical and informational support.

• Emotional and physical support: Doulas specialize in emotional and physical support throughout pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. They provide advice, relaxation techniques and comfort. Midwives also build these aspects into their care, but with a stronger focus on the medical side.

• Place of birth: Midwives can attend a birth at home, in a birthing centre or in hospital. Doulas attend the birth in a support role, working hand in hand with the medical staff, and can provide continuous support whatever setting you choose.

• Nature of the support: Midwives provide full medical support, while doulas focus more on emotional, physical and informational support, complementing the medical care.

  In short, the main difference lies in the nature and the scope of the services provided, with midwives offering full medical care and doulas focusing on non-medical support.

4. What qualification do you need to be a doula?

In Quebec, several certification programs are recognized for those who want to become a doula. It's important to choose a program that meets your needs and is accredited by professional bodies (such as the ANPQ, for example).

Here's the path:

1. Basic birth companion (doula) training, about 250 hours of training

2. Perinatal naturopath training (certified doula, able to issue insurance receipts), 1,200 hours of training

3. Continuing education. Several advanced training courses exist to help you develop your practice (Spinning Babies, De Gasquet, thalasso baths, rebozo and many more…).

These programs also include supervised field placements in order to be validated.

5. Why bring in a doula?

Bringing in a doula in Montreal can transform your experience of motherhood. As well as offering physical and emotional support, she's there to guide you through your choices, help you create a birth plan and give you the information you need so you can make informed decisions. Their aim is to help you have a positive, fulfilling pregnancy and birth.

By choosing a doula in Montreal, you're opting for personalized support that puts the focus on your physical and emotional wellbeing. Feel free to get in touch to talk about how I can support your journey into motherhood in a meaningful, caring way.

Remember that every pregnancy is unique

Choosing a birth doula for your birth in Montreal can make all the difference to your experience.

Find all of the childbirth preparation services I offer as well as the reviewsof the families I've supported. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️