Written by Shay Gabriel

If you've ever anticipated giving birth, you might relate to the myriad of unanswerable questions that can swirl through your mind:

"When will I lose my mucus plug, and what does that say about my progress?"

"How long will these mild contractions stick around before I'm finally in active labor?"

The truth is, birth isn't linear, and there are some things we just can't predict. (Insert my sarcastic "I knowwww, but can't you tell me anyway?" laugh and eyeroll back when I was 41 weeks pregnant!)

While much of what we anticipate about birth is in fact unpredictable, and while no two birth stories look exactly alike, there is much to gain from learning from others' experiences. When we become better informed, we can set our minds at ease. And, when we hire a doula, we can trust in their wealth of knowledge and depend on them to support us through whatever comes our way.

On that note, here are some labor scenarios based on actual experiences, alongside insight into how doula support makes a difference. May these stories from Annica's experience encourage you to trust in the process and empower you to embrace the wild and spontaneous nature of birth!

You can do this.

Scenario #1:

The birthing person's water breaks, & after a long wait, contractions haven't quite set in.

Doula's Approach:

The doula offers to diffuse clary sage or lavender, which helps the birthing person relax and can stimulate contractions. Annica guides the birthing person through related Spinning Babies moves while breast pump nipple stimulation boosts oxytocin.

Scenario #2:

The birthing person is experiencing back labor that makes it difficult to relax during contractions.

Doula's Approach:

The doula applies counter-pressure to the sacrum, providing relief during contractions, & shows the partner how to do it, too. The ability to more comfortably cope can help the birthing person relax and go with the flow, facilitating the physiology of birth.

Scenario #3:

Baby's position isn't ideal and this seems to be interfering with the progress of labor.

Doula's Approach:

The doula guides the birthing person through gentle exercises, such as "shaking the apples" & the Miles Circuit, giving baby an opportunity to reposition. Annica knows a variety of positions to try in various circumstances.

Scenario #4:

The birthing person hasn't been to the toilet for awhile and isn't consciously aware of this nor paying attention to hydration.

Doula's Approach:

The doula encourages consistent hydration and keeps the birthing person's water bottle filled and within reach. She offers regular sips. Annica also encourages regular trips to the bathroom to empty the bladder, which helps make room for baby. Bonus: Toilet contractions can work wonders. (This mother gave birth shortly after going pee and laboring on the toilet for a few contractions!)

Scenario #5:

The birthing person feels nauseous and vomits, and hydration levels seem a-okay.

Doula's Approach:

The doula offers to drop peppermint oil on a cloth and sets it nearby the birthing person. This often brings a sense of relief, but if the birthing person doesn't prefer the smell at the moment (you never know in labor!), the cloth allows for easy removal of the scent (versus, say, a diffused oil lingering in the room). Annica likes to remind clients that vomiting in labor can even be productive...it can do the work of multiple contractions!

Scenario #6:

The birthing person feels like their trip to labor land (a meditative state conducive to physiologic labor) has been interrupted as they're faced with the bright lights, conversations, poking, and prodding in hospital triage.

Doula's Approach:

The doula helps the birthing person get out of "thinking brain" and back into their body by setting a birthy mood. Annica strings twinkly lights in the dark & encourages privacy between just the birthing person & partner to get that oxytocin going again.

Scenario #7:

The birthing person has been 9 cm dilated for quite some time, baby's head is likely not presenting ideally, and labor has stalled. After several attempts to reposition baby, the mother decides to transfer to the hospital.

Doula's Approach:

The doula sticks with the birthing person, guiding the parents-to-be through a comfortable transfer process & supported hospital birth. A medicated hospital birth differs from a physiologic homebirth in many ways, so an unexpected transfer can be quite jarring. The familiar presence of an experienced doula helps the birthing person feel empowered despite facing the unexpected. In this example, the mom advocated for her wishes, and baby was eventually born with the help of vacuum extraction.

doulas make a difference

In every one of these scenarios, Annica employs a wealth of first-hand experience as she intuitively supports the needs of each birthing person. She encourages each and every birthing person through any and all circumstances that arise. Her presence throughout labor is a reminder that you can do this—this unpredictable, wild, spontaneous thing called birth—however it may look.

The impact of doula support doesn't stop there. Annica's presence as a birth doula to Grand Rapids families is also invaluable to the postpartum journey. Because she provides postpartum follow-up, each birth client is able to process back through the experience alongside a first-hand witness... alongside someone who sees them as a whole person who is impacted by the transformational process of birth—physically, emotionally, mentally, and beyond. Annica's doula services in the Grand Rapids area include options for birth timelines and birth photography and videography— priceless ways to document and process through that life-changing transformation. Learn more about Sprout and Blossom postpartum services here.

I'll shout it from the rooftops: Doulas make a difference. I see it in the data. And, with such gratitude, I've experienced it first-hand. I am that birthing person from scenario #7. The one who anticipated giving birth in her living room and unexpectedly gave birth in the hospital by vacuum extraction instead. Every step of the way, I felt seen, heard, and supported by my doula, Annica. And if my faith in the process ever wavered, there was Annica, a physical reminder of all the womxn before me who have done this unpredictable, wild, spontaneous thing called birth. When I met my doula, I was afraid of birth. And now, I freaking LOVE IT. Yes, even when things took a turn for the unexpected. To be informed and supported is to be empowered, and I believe it makes all the difference.

Considering hiring a Grand Rapids doula? Meet Annica for tea!

Shay Gabriel is a content creator for Sprout and Blossom whose love of parenthood and psychology has merged into a super-obsession of all things birthy and baby. She believes an informed experience lends to an empowered experience, no matter where you are along the journey.