Doula or Childbirth Educator? Do You Need Both in Colorado Springs?

If you’re preparing for birth in Colorado Springs, you might be asking yourself:

“If I hire a doula, do I still need a childbirth class?”

“If my provider told me to take a class, does that mean I don’t need a doula?"

These questions usually come from a real place—limited time, full schedules, and wanting to avoid information overload. The truth is: childbirth education and doula support do different things. A childbirth educator teaches the roadmap. A doula helps you walk that road when labor actually begins.

My goal here is to help you understand how the two roles work together so you can choose the blend of support that actually fits your life.

Why This Question Comes Up for Colorado Springs Parents

Most families I work with in Colorado Springs are already balancing work, appointments, family, and everything else that comes with pregnancy. Adding “take a class” and “hire a doula” to the list can feel like a lot.

It’s completely understandable to wonder if one can replace the other. The short answer: they do different things. A childbirth educator teaches you the big-picture roadmap. As your doula, I walk that road with you when labor actually begins.

Both can be valuable—but how you combine them depends on your needs, your learning style, and your season of life.

What a Childbirth Educator Does (and Why Classes Matter)

A childbirth educator gives you the big-picture understanding of how birth works. Think of this as the structured, classroom-style foundation most families benefit from—especially first‑timers.

A quality childbirth class usually covers the essentials: how labor starts and unfolds, what contractions are and how to time them, what interventions might be offered, how partners can help, and what to expect in the immediate postpartum period.

Whether you take a hospital class in Colorado Springs or a specialized series like Hypnobirthing or Evidence Based Birth, the purpose is the same: to make sure you aren’t walking into birth with zero context or vocabulary.

A childbirth class gives you knowledge and a clear roadmap.

What a Doula Does That a Class Can’t

A class can teach you what a contraction is. Your doula helps you cope with one.

A class can explain labor positions. Your doula helps you find the ones that actually work in your body.

A class can outline common interventions. Your doula helps you navigate decisions calmly and clearly in real time.

As your doula, I focus on:

• Integrating what you learned into your actual labor experience
• Emotional grounding when things feel intense or unfamiliar
• Hands-on comfort measures (like counterpressure, massage, position changes)
• Helping your partner feel confident and involved
• Translating medical language into plain language
• Staying with you continuously—through pregnancy, birth, and early postpartum

Childbirth classes give you the information. A doula helps you apply that information.

If you’d like to see how that looks in real life, you can explore my birth doula services in Colorado Springs to see how I weave personalized education into your care.

Do You Need a Doula, a Class, or Both?

Some parents feel best when they take a childbirth class first—getting that solid foundation—and then hire a doula who can help them use what they learned. Others prefer to learn in conversation or hands‑on practice rather than in a classroom, so they lean more heavily on doula care.

And if you're not sure which type of class fits your values, learning style, or budget, your doula can help you choose—whether that’s a hospital‑based series, an independent method, or a low‑ or no‑cost option that still gives you a solid foundation.

You may find a class especially helpful if you’re a first‑time parent, love structured learning, or your provider recommends it. You may find doula support essential if you’re feeling anxious, navigating trauma, or want someone who can help you stay grounded and informed in the moment.

Many families tell me the combination feels like their sweet spot: the class gave them the roadmap; the doula helped them walk it with confidence.

If you’re still sorting out your birth team, you might also find other guides in the Doula or...? series helpful as you think through medical vs. non-medical roles.

How I Blend Education Into Doula Care in Colorado Springs

You don’t need me to teach a full curriculum for education to be woven deeply into your support.

During prenatal visits, I take what you’ve learned—whether from a formal childbirth class, online modules, books, or conversations with your provider—and help you translate it into your actual birth preferences and real‑life context.

We talk through your provider’s recommendations, explore your options using tools like Motherboard Birth or Evidence Based Birth–style frameworks, and make sense of common scenarios such as inductions, epidurals, VBAC preparation, or unplanned changes in labor.

Because budgets and learning styles vary, I also help families choose the right childbirth class for their needs. For some, that’s a comprehensive multi‑week course; for others, it might be a shorter series, a specialty method, or a low‑ or no‑cost on‑demand option. My goal is never to steer you toward one specific program but to help you find the format that aligns with your values and feels accessible and supportive.

My approach is holistic, body‑based, and trauma‑informed. We’re not just talking about birth as an abstract concept—we’re practicing comfort measures, breathwork, and positions that fit your body and your goals.

This doesn’t replace childbirth education; it personalizes and integrates it.

FAQs: Doula vs. Childbirth Educator for Colorado Springs Families

If I take a childbirth class, is a doula still worth it?

Yes. Classes give you the background knowledge; your doula helps you actually use that knowledge when labor is happening in real time.

Can my doula help me decide which class to take?

Definitely. I can help you sort through hospital classes, independent educators, specialty methods, and budget‑friendly options—so you choose something that aligns with your goals, values, and financial comfort.

What if my partner can only do one—class or doula?

This usually comes down to scheduling or availability more than preference—and that’s okay. If your partner can only attend one (either the class or our prenatal visits), we’ll make sure they’re still included and supported.

If your partner can attend the childbirth class but not our visits, you can both ask me questions afterward so I can help you apply what you learned. And if they can’t attend the class but can make a prenatal visit or two, I’ll make sure they’re up to speed, confident, and part of the preparation.

There’s no wrong combination—we’ll work with your reality, not against it. If you’re unsure what makes the most sense for your family’s schedule, you’re always welcome to book a free Connection Call and we can talk it through.

Ready to Build a Birth Prep Plan That Fits You?

If you’re exploring how doulas fit alongside other members of your birth team, you might enjoy the next guide in this series: (Birth) Doula or Postpartum Doula?

And if you’d like to talk through your unique birth vision, you’re always welcome to book a free Connection Call with me. We can explore what kind of support would feel most nourishing for you and your family.

Thanks for reading part 4 of the Doula or…? series - A Translation Guide for Figuring Out Which Professional You Really Need.