Do I Really Need a Doula? Birth Support, Informed Consent & Advocacy with HeHe Stewart

Assumptive language robs women of autonomy. True informed consent gives it back. This conversation with HeHe Stewart, doula and childbirth educator, dives into how to recognize coercion in both prenatal appointments and the birth room, why doulas are critical for first-time moms (and their partners), and the exact scripts you can use to pause, decline, or request. If you’ve ever wondered whether you “need” a doula, this episode will show you why support, advocacy, and choice aren’t luxuries—they’re essential.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to spot assumptive language and shift the conversation
  
  
• Why true informed consent is more than just saying “yes”
  
  
• The real role of a doula (and why your partner benefits, too)
  
  
• Key questions to ask OBs, midwives, and doulas before birth
  
  
• Simple scripts to pause, decline, or request care without confrontation
  
  

Resources & Links

• Find a doula near you: DoulaMatch
  
• Follow HeHe on Instagram: @tranquilitybyhehe
  
  
• HeHe’s website: TranquilityByHehe
  
  
• Free resource—Instinctual Birth Plan Blueprint