🌿 What “Holding Space” Really Means

(And How It Shapes Your Birth and Postpartum Experience)

If you’ve spent any time in birth spaces, around doulas or even into Wicked lately, you’ve probably heard the phrase “holding space.”

It’s one of those beautiful expressions that sounds simple, yet carries deep meaning. As a doula, it’s at the heart of what I do , and as a parent, understanding it can completely change how you experience birth, healing, and the early days of parenthood.

So, What Does “Holding Space” Mean?

To hold space means to create an environment of safety, emotionally, mentally, and physically, where you feel fully supported to be exactly who you are in each moment.

It’s not about fixing, managing, or rushing you through your experience. It’s about being fully present, steady, and grounded while you navigate your own emotions, choices, and power.

As your doula, I’m not there to take over or tell you what to do. I’m there to hold space so you can move through your birth or postpartum journey feeling heard, respected, and in control.

What It Looks Like During Birth

Holding space during birth can look like:
🌿 A doula quietly breathing beside you through a contraction.
💬 Whispering words of encouragement when your confidence wavers.
🫶 Protecting your birth environment from unnecessary interruptions.
💛 Offering comfort, stillness, and advocacy so you can focus inward.

It’s emotional, spiritual, and practical support all at once , a steady presence that reminds you: you’re safe, you’re capable, and you’re not alone.

What It Looks Like After Birth

In postpartum, holding space often means:
🫧 Listening to your story without judgment.
🌙 Reminding you that it’s okay to cry, rest, or feel uncertain.
🍼 Helping with the baby while you take a breath or a shower.
🌼 Creating calm in the middle of the beautiful chaos.

You don’t need to have it all figured out, you just need space to feel, heal, and adjust. That’s what a doula provides.

Why It Matters

When someone holds space for you, it changes the entire tone of your experience.
Instead of feeling rushed or overlooked, you feel seen. Instead of feeling pressured to “bounce back,” you feel permission to move at your own pace.

Holding space is a reminder that care doesn’t always mean doing, sometimes, it simply means being with you.

And when you feel emotionally supported, your body and mind are able to relax, recover, and reconnect, all essential to a healthy postpartum journey.