The word “doula” comes from ancient Greek and is now used to refer to “a woman experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the mother and her partner before, during, and just after childbirth.”
In other words, a doula "mothers the mother". Research studies have found that when doulas attend births, labors are shorter, there are fewer complic
ations, and there is less need for oxytocin to speed labor, for forceps or vacuum extractor deliveries, or for pain medication, epidurals, or cesarean deliveries. Babies are also healthier and they breastfeed more easily. A Birth Doula…
-Recognizes childbirth as a key life experience that the mother will remember all her life
-Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor
-Assists the woman and her partner in preparing for and carrying out their plans for the birth
-Stays by the side of the laboring woman throughout the entire labor
-Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures, and an objective viewpoint, as well as helping the woman get the information she needs to make good decisions
-Facilitates communication between laboring woman, her partner, and clinical care providers
-Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the woman’s memory of her birth experience. The acceptance of doulas in maternity care is growing rapidly with the recognition of their important contribution to the improved physical outcomes and emotional well-being of mothers and infants. They are found in many birth settings, from the home to the hospital, and work in cooperation with physicians, nurses, midwives, and the partners and families of laboring women. As both a doula and a massage therapist, I can provide support for the entire spectrum of your pregnancy and birth, by offering pregnancy massage, doula care, breastfeeding information and assistance, and I'll also teach infant massage to parents who would like to further deepen their bond with their new baby. Our doula-client relationship will begin at approximately 36 weeks with our first prenatal visit. I will meet with you and your partner to discuss various topics such as:
Birth setting options
Diet & exercise
Prenatal testing and options
Birth planning
The role the hormones play in natural labour
Active Birth
Natural comfort measures
Options of pain relief during labour
Newborn care
Breastfeeding
Local support services
I will also keep in contact with you on a regular basis with email and phone support, in addition to our home visits. I will be with you throughout your entire birth, from whenever you call to a few hours after your little one arrives (usually once the first breastfeed is established). Together, we will be able to:
-Ensure your birthing space is set up according to your birth plan
-Use massage, pressure, heat packs, water, movement, and other techniques to ensure your comfort
-Encourage your fluid and food intake
-Suggest position changes, including use of a birth ball
-Provide support to your partner & birthing team – including reassurance, contact, and a continuous presence
-Offer guidance with vocalization, visualization, rhythm, and rocking
-Provide non-judgmental support and unconditional care throughout the birth
-and while I won't speak to care providers on your behalf, I will encourage and support you to use your voice and make choices that best serve you, your baby, and your birth vision. During the early weeks after the birth, in addition to email and phone support, I will meet with you at your home and provide breastfeeding support, information on sleep issues, baby wearing, accessing local services and more. We will also have the opportunity to revisit and retell your birth story; what it was like, what you loved, and what you wish had been different. This will help provide an opportunity for a feeling of wholeness and closure around your birth experience. We all deserve the right to have a loving, supported, nurturing, and blissful birth experience. This can happen under almost any circumstance, and it would be my honor to help you get there
