Doula Services
The word “doula” comes from ancient Greek meaning “a woman who serves” and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional labor companion who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and after birth; OR who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period.
Currently, I offer professional labor support as a birth doula. Studies have shown that when doulas attend births, labors are shorter with fewer complications, there is less need for medical intervention, they are less likely to need labor augmentation with Pitocin, and less likely to have a cesarean birth. Mothers are less fearful, more likely to have a satisfying and positive birth experience, more likely to step into motherhood confident and trusting of the birth process, less likely to experience postpartum depression. Babies are healthier, have better outcomes, are more calm and curious about their surroundings, and breastfeed more easily.
What Is A Doula ?
As a birth doula, I assist women in labor to help ensure a safe and satisfying birth experience. I was certified through a DONA (Doulas of North America) International approved program, and have supported women and families in childbirth since 1985 as an RN; childbirth educator since 1994; HypnoBirthing® Practitioner since 2007; mother of five boys, two adopted and biological mother of three.
I draw upon my knowledge, experience, and expertise to provide emotional support, physical comfort, communication with the birthing team to make sure you have the information you and your partner need to make informed decisions as they arise.
I will provide ongoing education, reassurance and perspective for you and your birth companion, make suggestions to facilitate labor progression, support you in breathing techniques, help facilitate relaxation, therapeutic touch and massage, positioning, visualization, self-hypnosis, labor acupressure, and other techniques for comfort.
I am independent and self-employed. As your doula, my role is to help you prepare for, plan for, visualize, and experience your ideal birth. I am working for you, not your caregiver or birthing facility.
Choosing A Doula
I encourage you to schedule a face to face meeting at my home or over Zoom to become acquainted and ask any
questions you may have regarding my services before choosing to hire me as your doula, to explore and discuss your
desires, priorities and any fears or concerns, and to explore how we might best work together.
I would recommend that you interview at least 3-4 different doulas to get a feel for our services, our personalities, and choose the best fit for you. As you choose to hire me, I will want to become familiar with your birthing philosophy, your birth preferences, your desires, including your preference of labor management options.
I also want to know your usual ways of coping with discomfort or fatigue and how you and your partner foresee working together. If questions come up, you may also call, text, or email any questions or concerns and I will respond as quickly as I am able.
I will also inform you of times when I am unavailable for labor support. To cover those times, I will arrange for a back up doula whom you may also meet.
When You Are In Labor
I prefer that you call me when you think you are in labor, even if you do not yet need me, so I can make
arrangements for my family. I can answer questions, offer suggestions, provide labor support over the phone until you feel like you are ready for my in person support.
We will decide together if I should come right away or I usually need at least 30-60 min. to get to you from the time you ask me to come.
Together we will also decide if I will come directly to your home to provide labor support or meet you at the birthing facility of your choice.
I or my doula partner will remain with you throughout active labor and birth, unless there are extenuating circumstances.
After birth
I usually remain with you for 1-2 hrs. after birth, until you are comfortable, breastfeeding has been established, and your family is ready for quiet time together.
I am available for phone contact to answer questions about the birth of your baby and would like to get together with you within 1-2 wks. after your birth to see how you are doing, do a birth review, admire your baby, and get feedback from you about my role in birth support.
A Birth Doula ...
Recognizes birth as a key experience the mother will remember all her life
Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor
Assists the woman in preparing for and carrying out her plans for the birth
Stays with the woman throughout the labor
Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint, as well as helping the woman get the information she needs to make informed decisions
Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and her clinical care providers
Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the woman’s memory of the birth experience
Allows a woman’s partner to participate at his/her comfort level
Some Things To Keep In Mind
What Doulas Do Not Do
As a doula, I do not perform clinical tasks such as blood pressure, fetal heart checks, vaginal exams, and others, even though I may be trained and experienced in those assessments. I am there to provide only physical comfort, emotional support and advocacy.
I do not make decisions for you. I will help you get the information necessary to make an informed decision and will also remind you if there is a departure from your birth preferences.
I do not speak to the staff regarding matters of decisions that need to be made. I will discuss your concerns with you and suggest possible options or questions to consider, but you and your birth companion will speak on your behalf to the clinical staff.
Failure Of A Doula To Provide Service
I will make every effort to provide the services described here. Sometimes this is impossible (for example, with a rapid, precipitous birth).
If my failure to attend your birth is due to my error but we have met for the prenatal visit(s) OR if it is due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control or your failure to call me, I will keep the non-refundable deposit, and the first installment payment, but will refund the second installment payment.
If your labor progresses rapidly and I am enroot when baby is born, I will keep all of the base fee.
How Women Give Birth Matters!
It literally changes who we are and the confidence with which we
parent and care for the needs of our little ones.
A confident mother knows the wants and needs of her children and
is able to listen to her intuitive voice and divine inspiration in providing the care and nurturing needed.
My desire as a doula and professional labor support person is to help facilitate and advocate a couple’s ideal birthing experience as well as guide them in working together to bring forth the babies they
created in love.
Marital relationships are strengthened and children are welcomed and guided in a loving manner as they grow to maturity.
DONA International Doulas
DONA (Doulas of North America) International doulas are trained to work within evidence-based standards of practice.
During labor, these skills are medically proven to make a true difference in the experience of birth, decreasing interventions, including cesareans, and increasing maternal satisfaction.
Effects on babies include shorter hospital stays with fewer admissions to special care nurseries when a birth doula is present; and higher occurrences of successful breastfeeding and better bonding experiences. For partners a doula can help them share in the birth at a more comfortable level, including offering guidance and making suggestions for physical comfort measures.
