What is a Doula?

A doula is a person, usually a woman, who is trained in childbirth to provide continuous labor support to expectant families.  A doula helps the laboring mother and her partner by giving physical, emotional and informational support just before, during and immediately after the birth of their baby.  

The doula will meet with parents before the birth to go over their birth preferences and to get to know the mom and dad.  During labor a doula will make non-medical suggestions to the mother for comfort measures such as breathing techniques, relaxation techniques, movement, or positioning.  For example, a doula might encourage a mother to go for a walk, sit on a birth ball, or take a shower.  She will also offer physical comfort measures by providing massage and techniques such as the double hip squeeze.  Just following the birth, a doula will help the new mother with breastfeeding.

*Numerous clinical studies have found that a doula’s presence at birth

• tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications                                              

• reduces negative feelings about one’s childbirth experience

• reduces the need for pitocin (a labor-inducing drug), forceps or vacuum extraction and cesareans

• reduces the mother’s request for pain medication and/or epidurals

Research shows parents who receive support

• Feel more secure and cared for

• Are more successful in adapting to new family dynamics

• Have greater success with breastfeeding

• Have greater self-confidence

• Have less postpartum depression

 *Information is taken with permission from DONA International.

• Two to three prenatal visits to get acquainted and discuss goals of birth

• Assistance writing a birth plan

• Unlimited telephone consultations during pregnancy, early birthing time and postpartum

• Referrals to other professionals as needed

• Continuous support during birthing time
  

• Immediate assistance with breastfeeding

• One postpartum visit (includes breastfeeding and babywearing consultation)

Hypno-Doula Services are available for those using Birth Hypnosis.