1. Myth: A doula shows up for the labor and birth then leaves.
Truth: Doulas strive to provide "continuity of care".  This means the doula forms a relationship with the mother and her partner during pregnancy, cares for the couple during labor and birth, then provides follow up care to ensure that the mother, father and baby have adjusted to their new roles and their new environment.  

2. Myth: A doula won't allow a laboring woman to take any pain relief drugs.
Truth: A doula is there to help support a laboring woman and help ensure a safe and satisfying childbirth as the couple defines it.  A doula will not make medical decisions for the laboring couple.  A doula will not judge a couple's decision to have pain relief.  Instead, a doula will help the couple explore and understand both the benefits and drawbacks of using pain relieving drugs.

3. Myth: If you've met one doula, you've met them all.
Truth: While every certified doula abides my the certifying body's 'scope of practice', each doula is unique.  Interview several doulas to find someone whose philosophy, personality and areas of specialty most closely meet your needs. 

4. Myth: A doula will interfere with medical advice.
Truth: A doula will not interfere with medical advice. She facilitates communication between all involved and encourages the couple to ask relevant questions so they can make informed choices. Doulas do not make decisions for their clients and doulas DO NOT offer medical advice.

5. Myth: A doula will "take over" the role of the partner.
Truth: A doula is there to enhance the relationships between the hospital staff, the laboring couple and others present. Often times the partner will become more involved with a doula present.  As Penny Simkin, P.T. states "While the doula probably knows more than the partner about birth, hospitals and maternity care, the partner knows more about the woman's personality, likes and dislikes, and needs. Moreover, he or she loves the woman more than anyone else there."  A good doula will reinforce the fact that this is your birth, not hers.  She will strengthen the pair bond by instilling confidence in the partner and facilitating open communication between the couple and others present.

6. Myth: A doula will take away "the best part of a nurse's job."
Truth: A laboring woman can never have too much support. Nurses and doulas realize this.  While a doula is not a nurse, she is still a birth professional who is skilled in the art of labor support.  A doula strives to work as a team with the nursing staff and welcomes any suggestions and physical support that the nurse may provide.  Nurses are often responsible for several laboring women at the same time and their shifts may end before you deliver.  The doula is there just for you.  Her obligation, unlike a nurse, is completely and sovereignly to you.

7. Myth: A doula has a negative opinion about a hospital setting.
Truth: A doula has the utmost respect for the lifesaving technology available for unexpected circumstances in a hospital.  While doulas have a strong belief in a woman's ability to birth her baby and always strive to ensure that the birthing process remains normal, doulas appreciate the judicious use of life saving technology when the situation becomes abnormal. 

8. Myth: Doulas are not necessary because the nurse (partner, family member, friend, fill in the blank) is there.
Truth: A doula does not perform clinical skills, is not encumbered by hospital procedures, and is not overwhelmed by caring for several women at the same time. She is the only member of the maternity care team who is focused completely on the mother's well being and will remain with the woman constantly from the beginning of labor to the end. A doula is not emotionally involved with the laboring woman, as are other family members and close friends. The doula knows what to expect and remains calm and objective when she sees the laboring woman in pain.  Often, a doula has seen significantly more unmedicated births than the hospital staff.

9. Myth: A doula will leave if the mother gets an epidural.
Truth: There seems to be an urban legend of sorts about the doula who left as soon as the mom got an epidural. This is not usual. A doula is there to support the laboring woman with any decisions she makes. She still needs continuous support even with an epidural. The doula can give dad/partner a break to go get something to eat or to take a nap if it's been a particularly long labor. She can take pictures, get ice-chips, do hand massage or just sit quietly while the woman rests.

10. Myth: Doulas secretly want to catch the baby.
Truth: A doula does not have the clinical skills or the knowledge to want to receive the baby on her own. Trying to deliver the baby on her own would be a dangerous decision that would not ensure the safe passage of mother and baby through the birth process.

11. Myth: Doulas only attend home births.
Truth: Doulas attend births at home, at the hospital and at birth centers. She will remain at home with the laboring woman until it is time to go to the hospital/birth center (where applicable).  The fact is that the vast majority of women living in the United States birth in a hospital setting and therefore most of the births a doula attends are in the hospital.

12. Myth: All doulas are "patchouli-wearing, tree-hugging, earthy vegetarians"
Truth: The majority of doulas are professional, well-educated women. The key is to find a doula who suits your individual needs and personality.

13. Myth: A doula has her own 'birth plan' and strives to make the couple follow it.
Truth: A good doula will help you formulate your own birth plan and then bend over backwards to follow it.  

14. Myth: A doula leaves as soon as the baby is born and that's the end of the relationship.Truth: Part of a birth doula's responsibility is to facilitate uninterrupted bonding time between baby and parents and to     ensure that if a mother intends to breastfeed that she is able to do so.  Additionally, most doulas offer at least one postpartum visit and most have a comprehensive list of community resources to help you deal with any postpartum problems. 

Taken in part from http://www.mother-care.ca/doula_myths.htm

Why doulas cost "so much"?
This is a breakdown of professional labor support fees that will give you a better understanding of what your money it paying for.

HOURS
There is a wide variation in the length of labor and birth. Labor for first time moms can last on average 16 hours. Some labors can last 5 hours and go as long as 30 hours or more. We will meet about 5 hours before baby’s arrival, and about another 2 hours after birth depending on your package chosen. I addition, we will spend time on the phone, I’ll provide individual research, and will be responding to your e-mails. This will add approximately another two to three hours.I will also spend a considerable amount of time traveling depending on where you live and where you choose to give birth.
CLIENTS
When I make a commitment to be available to attend you in labor, I limit the number of clients I put on my calendar to avoid birth conflicts and to ensure that I am reasonably rested when you go into labor. I try to schedule three clients per month maximum. When I put your due date on my calendar, I commit to being available two weeks before and two weeks after that date. Some months I am fully booked, while other months I have one or no clients.

CHILDCARE, SELF-EMPLOYMENT, AND OTHER DEDUCTIONS
Being a mother of a young child, I need a very reliable and flexible childcare provider whom I can trust and who doesn’t mind being awakened middle of the night, jump into car, and come to watch my little one when my husband is out of town. A large part of my income goes towards childcare.
After deductions for self-employment taxes, permits and registrations, vacation and sick time, business, professional, and communication expenses, childcare, my income is less than half of what I earn. There are many supplies (birth bag for example) I bring with me to birth and give you at appointments. 
TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE
It’s important to me to keep up with all of the most current information and research. In order to attend conferences and training opportunities, I often have to limit the number of clients I accept around the time I will be unavailable, thereby reducing the number of clients I can work with each year. There are also traveling, and lodging expenses that need to be considered.

INTANGIBLES
Although I am dedicated to my work, being on-call all the time requires a very high level of personal sacrifice, including a willingness to be awakened after half an hour of sleep to go attend a labor for possibly the next 30 hours. Personal and family events like birthdays, anniversaries, special moments, etc. are frequently missed or interrupted for births. When I go to a movie with a friend or to a dinner with my husband, we have to take two cars, in case I have to leave suddenly for a birth. I have to stay close by in case I get a call to attend a birth. 

BOTTOM LINE
Doulas are not getting rich doing labor support work. Most doulas do this work for the passion of ensuring a laboring woman has access to a knowledgeable advocate during her pregnancy, labor and postpartum. Many doulas would do this work for free if they could, but realistically it would require us to make even greater financial sacrifices than we already do. Doulas offering services at significantly reduced prices are either still in training or are basically offering charity.

Do insurance companies cover the cost of having a doula?         
Some insurance companies are starting to reimburse the cost of doula services. If you find out that your insurance doesn't cover the cost, it's still a good idea to file a claim. Many doula clients received reimbursements this way. Doula fees may be reimbursed by employers’ cafeteria plans. 

The following is a partial list of insurance companies that have reimbursed in whole or in part for doula services:

Aetna Healthcare, AltPro, Baylor Health Care System/WEB TPA, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Blue Cross/ Blue Shield PPO, Cigna, Degussa, German Chemical Company, Elmcare, LLC, C/O North American Medical Management, Foundation for Medical Care, Fortis Insurance, Glencare Managed Health Inc., Great-West Life & Annuity Ins. Co., HNTB (Peoria, IL), Houston New England Financial, Employee, Benefits (Fort Scott, KS), Humana Employers Health, Lutheran General Physician's Organization, Maritime Life, Medical Mutual, Oschner HMO, Louisiana, Professional Benefits Administrators, Prudential Healthcare, Qualchoice, Summit Management Services, Inc Travelers, United HealthCare of Georgia (San Antonio, TX), United Health POS, Wausau, Benefits, Inc (List by April Kline.)


More coming soon!