What is a Doula? Why a Doula?
The Doula is a unique part of the birthing team. Because her loyalties are solely to the birthing woman and her partner, the mother can rest assured that her physical and emotional needs will be met throughout her labor and birth. A professional Doula also promotes positive communication among all members of the birthing team, including midwife, doctor, nurses and the couple.
As Birth Doulas, We...
Statistics and studies have shown the emotional and physical difference a well-trained Doula can make. She can...
Your Doula will...
Daddies & Doulas
What the Doula does not do...
As Birth Doulas, We...
- Provide continuous emotional, physical, informational, and spiritual support to a woman during labor and birth
- Recognize that birth is a profound life experience that the mother will remember for the rest of her life
- Provide prenatal information on subjects of interest or concern to our clients
- Assist the woman and her partner clarify and carry out their plans for the birth
- Help birth partners confidently and comfortably participate in the birth process
- Facilitate communication between the laboring woman, her partner, and the medical care providers
Statistics and studies have shown the emotional and physical difference a well-trained Doula can make. She can...
- Shorten labor by many hours
- Help reduce the need for pain medication
- Lower the chances of cesarean surgery
- Decrease the chance of pitocin to induce labor
- Decrease the need for forceps
- Reduce anxiety and tension
- Enhance the maternal/infant bond
- Increase feelings of control
- Enhance self-confidence and self-esteem
Your Doula will...
- Offer unlimited phone support during pregnancy and after birth
- Have 24 hour on-call availability before the birth
- Offer continuous labor support once our presence is requested at the birth
- Give immediate postpartum support at the place of birth
- Visit after the birth to offer breastfeeding information, community resources, and to review the birth experience.
Daddies & Doulas
- A Doula will not replace the role of the father
- A Doula is there to support the birthing mother and father
- The father can expect to receive support, education, rest and reassurance from the Doula
- A Doula will offer the chance to eat, rest, stretch, go to the restroom, etc....
- With a Doula, a father can share in the birth at the level he feels most comfortable with
- The Doulas skill and knowledge can help him feel more relaxed when in such unfamiliar situations
- If the father wants to provide physical support, the Doula can help with direction of massage and make other suggestions for what may work best
What the Doula does not do...
- A Doula is not a Midwife/Doctor
- She does not preform any medical tasks or clinical evaluations