7 Ways Your Birth Doula Can Support Your High-Risk Pregnancy

“A pregnancy is high risk when you or the fetus (or both) have a higher-than-average chance of experiencing a pregnancy complication” (Cleveland clinic, 2021).

As someone who has experienced two high-risk pregnancies myself, I gained a unique perspective on the benefits of having a birth doula support this type of pregnancy.

In this blog post, I will share seven ways your birth doula can provide support during a high-risk pregnancy. By combining evidence-based research with personal experience, I hope to offer insights that you can personalize for your pregnancy and birth, with the help of a birth doula tailored to high-risk pregnancies.

The care provided by your doula is consistent with the whole-person support offered to individuals with non-high-risk pregnancies. However, high-risk pregnancies may present unique challenges—both physiological and emotional—that require extra attention and care.

Doula support can serve as a valuable preventative measure, helping to implement healthy coping strategies and providing emotional support throughout a high-risk pregnancy (Williamson et al., 2023).

1.     Early Start to Support

For those who learn that their pregnancy is considered high-risk, starting care with a doula early on can be incredibly beneficial. Not only does this provide continuous support throughout the pregnancy, but it also offers peace of mind, knowing you've built a relationship with a key member of your support team. Research suggests that “family, spouses, peers, neighbors, colleagues, and healthcare providers can all play vital roles in providing social and emotional support during pregnancy, which can positively impact overall health” (‌Jagadeeswari et al., 2024).

2.     Comfort Measures in Pregnancy and Birth

Finding ways to keep you comfortable in your body and environment during pregnancy will be an important topic to discuss with your birth doula. Discomfort is a common experience during pregnancy, but its intensity can vary greatly, especially in high-risk pregnancies. This discomfort can be both physical and emotional, with feelings of anxiety or stress. Fortunately, your birth doula can provide guidance on strategies to help alleviate some of this discomfort. While only a medical professional can offer advice on diagnosis or treatment, your doula can share comfort measures that you may choose to try. These may include breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, and ways for your support person to assist you in implementing them.

3.     Navigating Information

In general, there is a lot of information to absorb during pregnancy. You’ll likely be presented with choices related to your preferences, medical interventions, and your birth plan. Your birth doula can help navigate this flow of information by promoting your autonomy in decision-making, without influencing your choices. They can serve as a valuable resource for addressing your questions and concerns, helping you find the best sources for your answers.

4. Preterm to Full-Term Care

Your doula can support you in addressing any concerns you have about the timing of your baby’s birth. While many factors influence when your baby arrives, there are key topics your doula can help you explore. You might be worried about the possibility of giving birth earlier than expected and whether your doula will be able to attend. With open and ongoing communication, your doula will do their best to be there for your birth. Conversations about timing can also include discussing the role of a backup doula, planning for sibling care, and addressing any other questions or concerns you may have.

5. Support Through Medical Needs

This aspect of doula care is especially valuable for pregnancies that involve frequent monitoring, multiple appointments, or hospitalization. Your birth doula can help you navigate the rapid changes that may occur throughout your pregnancy. Many individuals find comfort in maintaining and updating their birth plan with their doula. Additionally, your doula will be familiar with your preferences and can help you articulate your wishes when it’s time for labor, ensuring you actively participate in your care. This support may include assisting with informed decision-making by "creating space for the client in the decision-making process, prompting them to engage in conversations with their healthcare team” (Amram et al., 2014).

 6. Anticipating Resources Needed

Your birth doula plays a crucial role in identifying when additional support may be needed throughout your pregnancy and birth. Your doula will have a trusted list of recommended providers who can offer valuable perinatal support. The Very Best Doulas team has strong relationships with local trusted providers, including mental health therapists, physical therapists, support groups, and more.

7. Uplifting Support for the Family and Home

High-risk pregnancies can significantly increase feelings of stress and anxiety, and these emotions aren't limited to the birthing parent. The entire family or support network can be affected, whether it's a partner taking on a caregiving role, a child feeling the impact of changes during pregnancy, or the birthing parent being more limited than before. In these situations, a birth doula’s toolkit plays a vital role in fostering communication and creating space to address the impact of a high-risk pregnancy. This is where having both birth doulas and postpartum doulas on the same team can be particularly beneficial. A postpartum planning session can offer an opportunity to discuss the birthing parent’s recovery, ensuring that both the pregnancy and the transition into recovery are handled with support and understanding. By acknowledging the emotional and psychological efforts and changes experienced by the whole family, birth and postpartum doulas can help ensure that everyone’s needs are heard and supported during this transitional time.

References

Amram, N. L., Klein, M. C., Mok, H., Simkin, P., Lindstrom, K., & Grant, J. (2014). How birth doulas help clients adapt to changes in circumstances, clinical care, and client preferences during labor. The Journal of perinatal education, 23(2), 96–103. https://doi.org/10.1891/1058-1243.23.2.96

Cleveland Clinic. (2021, December 14). High-Risk Pregnancy: Risk Factors, Complications & Treatment. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22190-high-risk-pregnancy

‌Jagadeeswari, J., Ronald, R., Priyadarsini, A., Dayana, B. A. A., & Cecyli, C. (2024). Controlling High-Risk Pregnancy Anxiety with Effective Coping Tactics. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences, 16(Suppl 3), S3017. https://doi.org/10.4103/jpbs.jpbs_532_24

Williamson, S. P., Moffitt, R. L., Broadbent, J., Neumann, D. L., & Hamblin, P. S. (2023). Coping, wellbeing, and psychopathology during high-risk pregnancy: A systematic review. Midwifery, 116, 103556. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2022.103556

- Deanna Medina, MHI

Deanna is a Postpartum Doula on The Very Best Doulas Team, and is a recent graduate of a Master’s Degree program in Health Innovation. She is passionate about improving perinatal outcomes and addressing gaps in care -  specifically during the postpartum period. She has been in healthcare for 8 years and outside of her scope of work as a Doula she holds a CNA license and is a CMA. Having a gentle and empathetic nature, she strives to have a collaborative relationship with the families she works with. 

As a 2nd generation Mexican-American with a multi-cultural upbringing, Deanna strives to provide culturally inclusive care tailored to each client and their family: honoring practices, languages, and traditions into the components of her Postpartum Doula support.