Is a doula necessary? Anyone have any experience giving birth in a birth center for the first time with NO doula?

Update: My Birth Center has two midwives assigned to each patient (one will be with us constantly and the other comes and goes as necessary additional support). They also hire doulas at no extra cost to me in the event that I will need to deliver at the hospital.

FTM [28 y/o], low risk pregnancy and planning on giving birth at a freestanding birth center. I’m 25 weeks along and wondering if I need a doula.

My birth center offers post natal, in-home visits as part of the birth package. Insurance doesn’t cover a doula (or my birth center fees for that matter) as far as I know.

My partner is very interested in taking on a lot of the roles I understand that a doula typically might take but obviously he has never done this before and we will have to do a ton of research. Also, I’m a little worried about the pain aspect as I’m not planning to have any pain medication.

Is a doula necessary? I’ve been suggested to hire one by almost everyone I know but I don’t know if we can afford it.

TL;DR : Wondering if a doula is absolutely necessary for a ftm with plans to give birth without pain meds, in a free-standing birth center.