What is informational support in childbirth?
Birth doulas provide emotional support, physical support, informational support, and advocacy before, during, and immediately following childbirth. But what does that all mean? This week, we’re going to dive into physical support. What is informational support for childbirth, what does it look like, and why is it beneficial for the entire family?
When you're preparing to give birth, it’s easy to be quickly overwhelmed with all the information available! That’s where birth doulas come in. Your doula can help you make sense of all the conflicting information you may find on social media and direct you to trusted sources that will help you make your best decisions. Informational support includes education, helping you to sort through your options, and supporting your decision-making process.
Informational support is all about access to clear, unbiased information. Doulas help families understand what to expect, what choices they have, and how different options might impact their experience. Whether it’s navigating birth plans or understanding interventions, doulas help cut through the noise. Here’s how informational support shows up at different stages of the journey:
Educating clients about the stages of labor and what to expect
Helping you to set realistic expectations
Helping families explore and clarify their birth preferences
Offering evidence-based information on interventions like epidurals, inductions, or cesareans
Referring to helpful resources, classes, or specialists
Helping partners understand how to prepare and participate
Clarifying medical language or procedures in real time
Facilitating conversations between client and their medical team
Offering reminders of your birth preferences and possible options
Explaining common labor variations and what’s happening in the body
Supporting decision-making during unexpected changes
Offering guidance on newborn care basics and what’s normal in the early days
Providing tips on lactation or connecting families to specialists
Explaining postpartum recovery timelines and warning signs to watch for
Sharing strategies for rest, nourishment, and emotional well-being in the first weeks
Helping families understand how to access additional community or clinical support
When people have access to quality, unbiased information, they’re more likely to feel in control, respected, and prepared, no matter how their birth unfolds. Doulas help filter out fear-based or conflicting advice and guide families toward trustworthy sources and grounded decision-making. Informed choices are empowering. A doula’s support helps you feel confident navigating the unknowns of labor, birth, and beyond.
You don’t have to figure it all out alone. A birth doula is a knowledgeable companion who helps you learn, process, and decide your way. With a doula’s informational support, you gain not only knowledge but also clarity and confidence.