Unless this is your subsequent c-section, the experience of an OR and surgical birth is often new to both mother and father. Having an experienced and calming presence there from the moment you arrive at the hospital can help the nerves and anxieties melt away, making space for the excitement of this special and sacred day to truly sink in.

When birthing via c-section, there are multiple moments where the birthing person and their partner will be separated. It’s in these moments that having the support of a doula can be essential. Keeping Dad company while Mom is established in the OR prior to surgery, explaining what may seem scary or unknown in a calm and informative way at the head of the bed while in the midst of the procedure, and staying with Mom after delivery when Dad follows that sweet baby to get checked out are just a few of the clear ways a doula can benefit you.

Doulas are often allowed into spaces that other non-birth professionals are not. If you have a desire to document your baby’s arrival via photography, doulas can be your super hack in the Operating Room. With an eye for capturing cesarean births in a way that focuses on the beauty of the baby, the strength of the Mama, and the loving support of your partner, birth photography for your cesarean can be an incredibly meaningful part of your baby’s birthday.

Birth is birth, regardless if it is vaginal or cesarean. And those post-birth contractions do not discriminate based on how a baby was born. Simply put, Mama still needs hands-on support in those fresh hours post-birth. This is where the presence of a doula can change the satisfaction of your overall experience immensely. You may not be “pushing a baby out,” but your body is still taking on an incredible physical feat. Don’t discount your needs for physical support, Mama.

In an operating room there are often many hands, but almost none of them are free. Having the support of a doula in a cesarean birth can mean immediate skin-to-skin for mother and baby, as long as baby is doing well post-delivery. Your doula can act as the second set of hands to help Mama hold baby to her chest while the remainder of the surgery is completed and sometimes even help with baby’s first feed, right there in the OR.

While your partner is focused on Mom and baby, your doula can help transfer all your belongings from your pre-OP room to your postpartum room. This Is one less thing the birth partner has to worry about after baby arrives, allowing them to be present in the moment. Your doula will make the room as warm and welcoming as possible for the family as they recover, rest, and bond.