As your doula, my sole purpose is to be supportive to you during your pregnancy, birth and postpartum experience. My greatest goal in attending your birth is to create a safe space, so that you may feel comfortable and supported while you labor. It is my belief that giving birth has the potential to be an empowering experience when surrounded by the environment that feels best to you. It is my job to help facilitate that environment with you.
As your doula I bring with me relaxation techniques, knowledge of labor positions, an understanding of the medical community, and an extra set of hands to provide relief for partners and/or other birth attendants. It is through conversation that we can together understand how I may best serve you for your individual wants/needs and birth experience.
As time allows, my goal is to meet with you 3 times prior to your birth. The purpose of visiting with you is to gain a better understanding of who you are, how to best support you during this phase of your care, and how you will best be supported through your labor.
I will be with you through your birth, and will stay with you to help facilitate breastfeeding (if chosen),
I will then meet with you one time postpartum to check in with you.
Who I am not:
I am not your midwife or care practitioner, thus I cannot give you any medical advice, nor can I prescribe medications, or diagnose any ailments. I am here as your support person. Thus I can answer questions to the best of my ability, and help direct you in research of areas of concern. If you have any questions – please always ask them! If I do not know the answer – we can look into it more together. Because I am studying to be a midwife, I will definitely not have all the answers, but have many resources at my disposal to help provide you with more information on topics that you are seeking.
The word "doula" comes from the ancient Greek meaning "a woman who serves" and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period.
Studies have shown that when doulas attend birth, labors are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they breastfeed more easily.
Dona International