Doula Support
Doula is a woman who is both experienced and trained in assisting women during childbirth. "Doula" comes from a Greek word that means "to mother the mother."
She provides the needed emotional, physical, and informational support to a pregnant woman or couple before, during, and after the birth of their baby. She is there at the invitation of the woman or couple and works only for you. She is there to complement and assist the partner, not to replace.
As your Doula, we offer continuous care and contact during your pregnancy and birth. We are confident in your ability to birth this baby. We will help you and your partner understand the physiology of birth, as well as the emotional needs you may experience during your birth. We will do this in the prenatal meetings we have prior to your labor and birth. We will assist with any needs you may have in writing your birth plan.
Because birth plans are very personal, we will practice comfort measures that will complement your birth plan. When your labor begins, you will feel assured that your birth team knows your wishes. This will add to your confidence in having your birth experience honored.
When in a hospital or birthing center, we can act as a liaison between you and the medical staff. When there is a departure from your birth choices, your Doula will provide an objective viewpoint and information that you may use to help in making your decision, without giving medical advice. She will work to bring a positive atmosphere to your birth. Research shows that Doulas CAN make a difference! With a doula present, indications show a decrease need for labor interventions, request for pain relief (drugs or epidural), or cesarean sections. But most importantly, the new mom and baby both seem to do better with the added support of a Doula.
There are many reasons you may need a Doula:
- You want a continuity of care and continuous support
- You want someone whose only job is to care for your needs during labor and birth
- To coach the partner while he/she coaches the laboring woman
- Someone who knows which factors will decrease pain perception and comfort measures to help labor
- You are planning to breastfeed and would like assistance
- You are single
- You don't have family in the area
- Your mother can't attend the birth but would like you to have the added support she wanted to provide
- Your partner may travel a lot and it's questionable if he or she will be in town when the labor begins
- You may have a fear of hospitals and/or doctors in general
- Because of cultural reasons the husband may not be permitted to attend his wife during labor
- You want to have an un-medicated birth and have learned that having a Doula will increase your chance of success
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