Doula
Natalie Clauss

A doula is literally a “servant of the woman.” Doula work is about non-medical support during birth. I do not replace a midwife, but I can complement her work.

As a doula, I can support you physically and emotionally. I can massage you, hold you, encourage you, and hold your hand.

Through my continuous presence, I want to be your tailwind during birth - your steady rock in the surf. I also support your partner so that you can work together as a team.

As a doula, I do not make decisions for you, but I do give you knowledge and practical tools - already during pregnancy. I accept your decisions without judgment and stay by your side with empathy.

I can accompany you from the time of trying to conceive onward. I stay in touch with you throughout pregnancy, and together we can write down your wishes for the birth. We can also prepare mentally for the birth so that fears can soften and your wishes become even clearer. I can accompany you throughout the entire birth - at home, in a birth centre, or in a hospital. During a vaginal birth or a caesarean birth. I can suggest positions and breathe with you. I make offers for relaxation and involve your partner. I can also stand by your side during a stillbirth. After the birth, we can talk through the experience together, I can massage you, and, if needed, I can also support you through breastfeeding counselling or similar guidance.

In principle, all women can benefit from having a doula during birth. This can be especially valuable if you want to give birth in a hospital. In that setting, one-to-one support from a midwife is unfortunately not possible in most cases, but I can offer you my full and continuous presence.

If you think a lot about birth, feel anxious, or feel unsure, I can help you find security and trust. We get to know each other during pregnancy, so I understand you and your wishes for the birth. That means I can accompany you and your partner on your very personal birth journey.

Doula support can be especially meaningful after a difficult or traumatic previous birth. If you are expecting a disabled child or already know that your baby will be stillborn, I can also offer support through my presence and care.

A doula offers a range of benefits, some of which have also been demonstrated in studies. Continuous support was associated with:

There are of course many other benefits, some of which are highly individual. I describe the role of a doula in much more detail - and also explain the differences compared with a midwife - in my blog article The benefits of a doula .

My goal is never to replace your partner during birth. We can support you in very different ways. I do not support only you as the birthing woman - I support both of you so that you can be a strong team together.

Studies have shown positive effects on caesarean and epidural rates when a doula was also present during the birth.

As a doula, I do not make medical decisions, recommend interventions, or assess CTG readings, heart tones, or ultrasound images. I accompany you continuously as the birthing woman, encourage you, massage you, and create a calm birth atmosphere. Midwives would often also like to offer this kind of support, but alongside caring for multiple birthing women, documentation duties, and many other responsibilities, there is often not enough time for them to do so throughout the entire birth.

During pregnancy and after birth, I can also be an emotional source of support. We can talk about fears and I can massage you - something that is not always possible within regular midwife appointments because many other aspects also need to be covered there.

Doula support is generally a private service. Some health insurance providers cover part of the costs or the on-call fee. It is best to ask your own insurance provider directly about this.

If you would like doula support but are unsure whether or how you can afford it, simply get in touch with me. I am sure we can find a solution together.

No, freebirths are an exclusion criterion for me. A midwife must always be present during the birth, whether it takes place at home, in a birth centre, or in a hospital.