What is a Doula?

     A doula is a professional labor assistant who provides emotional, physical and informational support to the expectant mother and her birth partner.  A doula attends the birthing family before, during and just after the birth of a baby. The primary focus of the doula is to provide continuous support to the mother throughout the entire labor. She does not perform any medical tasks but actually complements the medical birth team. Whether the mother wants to give birth un-medicated, medicated or is planning a c-section a doula can provide tremendous support. The doula helps her to relax, provides massage as well as other techniques to help cope with labor pains and assists with laboring and pushing options. She also helps the father participate in the birth to the extent that he feels comfortable.
 

Benefits of a Doula

During labor

• 50% reduction in c-section rate

• 25% shorter labor

• 60% reduction in epidural use

• 40% reduction in Pitocin use

• 30% reduction in analgesia use

• 40% reduction in forceps delivery

After birth

• Improved breastfeeding

• Increased time spent with baby

• Increased maternal satisfaction with birth experience

• Decreased postpartum depression

During pregnancy

      The doula's role is to assist families in preparing a birth plan, to provide information about birth options and resources, and to provide emotional support. Her primary goal is to eliminate the fear of labor and delivery and to help instill a mothers confidence in her ability to birth her baby.
 

During labor and birth

     The doula facilitates communication between the family and the caregiver, and supports the mother and her partner with the use of physical, emotional, and informational support.
 

Postpartum

     The doula assists the mother in talking through her birth experience, answering questions about newborn care and breastfeeding within our scope of practice, and referring the family to appropriate resources as needed along with assisting in household management while mom rests.
 

The Labor Doula's Scope of Practice

     It is not within the labor doula's scope to offer medical advice or perform any medical or clinical procedure.

     Studies have shown that continuous labor support is extremely beneficial to the laboring woman. Labors are shorter, cesarean section rates are lower, and there is less of a need of pain medication when a trained labor assistant is present. Also, recovery is easier and smoother with assistance in the days and weeks after the birth.

     I believe that pregnancy is a journey in which the pregnant woman needs support and empowerment. Women helping other women give birth was once a widespread practice which is disappearing in today's world. As a mother, I want to support women on their journey to becoming mothers themselves.

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Under Construction.
 

What is a Doula?

A doula is a professional labor assistant who provides emotional, physical and informational support to the expectant mother and her birth partner.  A doula attends the birthing family before, during and just after the birth of a baby. The primary focus of the doula is to provide continuous support to the mother throughout the entire labor. She does not perform any medical tasks but actually complements the medical birth team. Whether the mother wants to give birth un-medicated, medicated or is planning a c-section a doula can provide tremendous support. The doula helps her to relax, provides massage as well as other techniques to help cope with labor pains and assists with laboring and pushing options. She also helps the father participate in the birth to the extent that he feels comfortable.

Benefits of a Doula

During labor

• 50% reduction in c-section rate
• 25% shorter labor
• 60% reduction in epidural use
• 40% reduction in Pitocin use
• 30% reduction in analgesia use
• 40% reduction in forceps delivery

After birth

• Improved breastfeeding
• Increased time spent with baby
• Increased maternal satisfaction with birth experience
• Decreased postpartum depression

During pregnancy

The doula's role is to assist families in preparing a birth plan, to provide information about birth options and resources, and to provide emotional support. Her primary goal is to eliminate the fear of labor and delivery and to help instill a mothers confidence in her ability to birth her baby.

During labor and birth

The doula facilitates communication between the family and the caregiver, and supports the mother and her partner with the use of physical, emotional, and informational support.

Postpartum

The doula assists the mother in talking through her birth experience, answering questions about newborn care and breastfeeding within our scope of practice, and referring the family to appropriate resources as needed along with assisting in household management while mom rests.

The Labor Doula's Scope of Practice

It is not within the labor doula's scope to offer medical advice or perform any medical or clinical procedure.

Studies have shown that continuous labor support is extremely beneficial to the laboring woman. Labors are shorter, cesarean section rates are lower, and there is less of a need of pain medication when a trained labor assistant is present. Also, recovery is easier and smoother with assistance in the days and weeks after the birth.

I believe that pregnancy is a journey in which the pregnant woman needs support and empowerment. Women helping other women give birth was once a widespread practice which is disappearing in today's world. As a mother, I want to support women on their journey to becoming mothers themselves.