The word doula is a Greek word meaning women’s servant. Women have been serving others in childbirth for many centuries and have proven that support from a doula has a positive impact on the labor process.
A doula is a professional trained in childbirth who provides emotional, physical, and educational support to a parent who is expecting, is experiencing labor, or has recently given birth. The doula’s purpose is to help parents have a safe, memorable, and empowering birthing experience.
I am a trained and certified Birth Doula through Madriella Doula Network. I have, further, been trained by DONA International® approved trainers for both Birth and Postpartum Doula. I am a DONA International® Member. I am trained in bellydance for babies and have advanced my education through additional training with Spinning Babies®.
As your birth doula, I will provide you with:
Massage
Breathing techniques and vocalization
Suggest various positions to ease labor and delivery
Counterpressure
Visualization
Relaxation
Education and advocacy
When you choose my support I will meet with you prenatally, offer phone support, provide early labor support in your home, and work with you throughout active labor and birth in your chosen setting. I will make at least one follow-up visit during your early postpartum period to make sure you and the baby are doing well and help answer any questions you may have.
As your postpartum doula, I will provide you with:
Help with the emotional and physical recovery after birth
Light housekeeping so that you do not feel so overwhelmed
Running errands
Assistance with newborn care such as diapering, bathing, feeding and comforting
Light meal preparation
Baby soothing techniques
Sibling care
Referrals to local resources
I am happy to support you day or night. A birth doula supports you and your partner by providing the knowledge, comfort, and education necessary for a fulfilling birth experience.
This doula support allows the laboring woman's partner a greater sense of relaxation, and therefore an increased ability to care for the mother-to-be, or mother, on an emotional level.
You will be more confident than if you were doing it alone. When you have someone there to affirm that your choices are actually right on track, you start to believe in and trust yourself and your observations about your baby. Most new parents question themselves. The key is whether you have someone to believe that your instincts are good—or not. I can do that.
Co-parents who have doulas learn skills earlier and are more able to take on care of their infant alone earlier. I am there to help the entire family acclimate to having a newborn in the home. This includes co-parents. During my visit, I will give your co-parent insider tips, helping them learn how to soothe, care for, and bond with your child. What we know about co-parents is that those who spend more time with their infant alone in the early days spend significantly more time caring for their baby in the first year.
Babies who have doulas have parents who understand their needs better, and can better communicate with their parents to get their needs met. I will be there to help you interpret newborn cries—and the reflexes, body language, and other sounds that accompany newborn life. This is hugely empowering to parents who desperately want to know what is going on in that new little person.