What is a Doula?
A Doula is one who provides emotional,
physical, and imformational support to
a woman and family. Doulas accomplish this by
serving the family during prenatal visits, labor,
birth, and postpartum. Whether it be physical or
emotional support, the Doula is there to help
you every step of the way as you transition into
motherhood and parenthood!
What are the benefits to having a Doula?
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Having a Doula present during labor & birth has proven to greatly shorten women's labor by reducing stress, pain, and anxiety.
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Research has shown that Doula's have reduced the amount of Cesarean Sections performed.
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Doula's aren't just for natural birth! As your Doula, I will support you in any decision you make regarding the birth that you envision.
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As your Doula, I will provide all of the information needed to formulate your desired preferences for this birth.
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A Doula is always there to provide continuous physical and emotional support. Which can often be a relief for dad's as well!
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If you choose to have an unmedicated birth, it is proven that Doula's can help you to achieve that goal by providing numerous comfort measures and making sure you stay active. Thus, causing labor to progress swiftly.
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As your Doula, I will lovingly remind you of your birth preferences during labor, further helping to keep everything on the desired path.
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After birth, the Doula can help with mother/baby bonding and establishing a beautiful breastfeeding relationship.
What is a Midwife's Assistant?
A Midwife's Assistant provides practical and hands-on help to families that choose out-of-hospital birth. The Midwife's Assistant is trained in birth support and clinical skills that allow her to competently assist the midwife in providing physical, emotional and informational support to families during pregnancy, labor, birth, and the postpartum period. Her assistant to the midwife requires her to: set up/prepare the birth space, monitor maternal vital signs, monitor fetal heart tones, palpate fetal position, assist with charting, assist with medicinal & emergency management (if required), provide immediate postpartum care of the mother and newborn, help with post-birth clean-up and assist with both initial and postpartum newborn assessment.