6 Mistakes to Avoid at Your Doula Prenatal Visits
As a birth doula, prenatal visits are your opportunity to build trust, get to know your clients, and lay the groundwork for the support you’ll provide during labor. While these meetings are essential for creating a strong bond, they can also present some challenges if not approached thoughtfully. Here are some common mistakes to avoid at your doula prenatal visits.
1. Overloading Doula Clients with Information
It’s easy to get carried away when discussing birth plans, pain relief options, and what to expect during labor. However, overwhelming clients with too much information can lead to confusion and anxiety. Instead, focus on key topics that are most relevant to their situation and encourage questions. Break down complex concepts into digestible pieces over multiple visits and take breaks during those visits to process the information and allow your clients space to download everything you’re discussing.
2. Neglecting Emotional Support
While it's important to cover practical topics, don’t forget that emotional support is a critical component of your role as a birth doula. Some doulas get so caught up in the logistics of birth that they forget to check in on their clients’ emotional well-being. Make it a point to ask about any fears or concerns they have and validate their feelings.
3. Failing to Personalize the Experience
Every family is unique, and a one-size-fits-all approach won’t work in your prenatal visits. Avoid making assumptions about what your clients want based on previous experiences with other families. Instead, take the time to understand their individual preferences and needs. Our Doula's Guide to Prenatal Visits includes techniques for personalizing your approach, so you can tailor your support to each family.
4. Ignoring Partner Involvement
Partners play a crucial role during pregnancy and birth. Failing to involve them in prenatal discussions can leave them feeling sidelined or unprepared. Make a conscious effort to include partners in the conversation, encouraging their participation, giving them hands-on, tangible tasks to support, and addressing their questions and concerns. Our guide offers strategies for engaging partners effectively, helping them feel more connected and supportive during the process.
5. Being Unprepared for Questions
Your doula clients will likely have a bunch of questions especially if this is their first child or their first time working with a birth doula. Being unprepared can undermine your credibility and make your clients lack confidence in your ability to support them. Take the time to anticipate common queries and have evidence-based answers ready. If you don’t know an answer, it’s definitely okay to admit it, but commit to finding the information for them or referring them to helpful sources.
6. Not Following Up After Prenatal Visits
After a prenatal visit, it’s essential to follow up with your clients to reinforce what was discussed and check in on any lingering questions. Not doing so can make clients feel unsupported and disconnected. Send a quick email or text to summarize key points and remind them that you’re there for them. Our Free Prenatal Checklist offers some tips for this and emphasizes the importance of follow-ups as a way to strengthen your relationship and ensure your clients feel valued.
Avoiding these common mistakes during your doula prenatal visits can make a significant difference in your clients' experience and your effectiveness and professionalism as a doula. By using insights from our Doula's Guide to Prenatal Visits, you can create meaningful connections with your clients, empower them through their pregnancy, and set the stage for a positive birthing experience.
Looking to enhance your doula prenatal visits? Check out our guide for more tips and tools — made by doulas, for doulas!
