photograph source: Nicole Leone Photography
What is a Doula
The word ‘doula’ — pronounced ‘doo-la’ — is a Greek word meaning ‘woman servant or caregiver’. More recently, it refers to someone who offers emotional and physical support to a laboring person and their partner before, during and after childbirth. A doula believes in ‘mothering the mother’. She enables a laboring person and their partner to have the most satisfying birth experience possible from pregnancy and into early parenthood. (Source: https://www.bellybelly.com.au/pregnancy/doulas-what-is-a-doula/)
Research shows that birthing people who have sustained support during labor are more likely to have positive birth experiences and less likely to have unwanted interventions (Hodnett and colleagues, 2011).
What is does a Doula do?
Provides emotional support to the laboring person and partner (if present)
Uses comfort measures: breathing, relaxation, movement, positioning, etc
Continuously reassures, encourages, empowers, and supports, without judgement (a doula never leaves your side, unless requested)
Helps laboring person get the information necessary to make an informed decision
Helps facilitate communication between laboring person, the partner (if applicable) & care provider
Views their role as nurturing and protecting the laboring person’s experience and memory of the birth
Looks after the needs of the laboring person’s partner (if present) and creates space for them to participate at their comfort level
Anna will tailor each visit to the needs of the family she is caring for. She will provide on-site support throughout labor, delivery and early postpartum in a hospital, birthing center or homebirth setting and will offer one postpartum follow up visit if desired.
What Won’t a Doula do?
Doulas are NOT medical professionals
We do not perform clinical tasks such as vaginal exams or fetal heart monitoring
We do not give medical advice or diagnose conditions
We do not judge you for decisions that you make
We do not let our personal values or biases get in the way of caring for you
We do not take over the role of your partner
We do not deliver the baby
We do not change shifts
What are the fees?
To review what is included in the birth doula fee, please visit HERE.