Why Should I Hire a Doula?

It is now widely recognized that choosing to add a labor support person to one’s birth team can yield many positive benefits. A woman’s memories of her birth experiences last a lifetime and can have powerful effects on her self esteem and confidence. 
As a doula, I am committed to helping women and couples feel empowered and supported as they experience birth.

What is a doula?

A trained professional who provides non-judgmental support of a family's choices during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period.

The word "doula" comes from the ancient Greek, meaning "a woman who serves". It is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to before, during, and just after birth.
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Some of the proven benefits of birth support:

• 25% decrease in the risk of Cesarean
• 8% increase in the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth.
• 10% decrease in the use of any medication for pain relief
• Shorter labors by 41 minutes on average
• 38% decrease in the baby's risk of a low five minute Apgar score
• 31% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience.

What is their Role?

A doula supports women through all phases of childbirth. We recognize and understand the profound nature of pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period and it's ability to transform both the individual and the entire family. Each family has unique needs and there's a perfect doula for each family.
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Most doulas provide pre-birth education and informational meetings. During these prenatal sessions we talk through specific topics and develop an ideal birth plan (keeping in mind that our plan need to be flexible). I teach comfort measures and help families discover their birthing goals and dreams. 

During the birth I help create an intimate environment. I provide hands on support and comfort measures. Everything from help with position changes, heating pads, and cool wash clothes, ice chips and back massages. I help the partner know what to do next and how to best support their partner. Immediately after birth I assist with skin to skin and baby's first feeding.

No, a Doula is NOT "Just like a Midwife"!
A birth doula does not and is not qualified to perform any medical procedures including, but not limited to, blood pressure checks, newborn assessments, postpartum checkups, mental health assessments, etc.
​A doula is NOT and does NOT replace a Health Care Provider such as a Midwife or OB.

The 3 Pillars of Birth Doula Support

Avoid Google - Ask Your Doula!
A doula offers informational support by keeping you and your partner informed through each milestone of your pregnancy and postpartum journey. They can also help you find evidence based information about different options in pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. A doula is an unbiased resource. NEVER a source!

Your Emotions and Fears Are Valid!
A doula is a continuous comforting presence offering reassurance and encouragement, showing a caring and empathetic attitude and helping you and your partner work through fear and self doubt about pregnancy and birth. Debriefing after birth is another way a doula can provide Emotional support.

Facilitating the Birth of  Your Dreams!

• Massage/counter pressure
• Position changes and suggestions for optimal labor progression
• Create a calming environment
• Water therapy (bath, shower)
• Hydrating and feeding mother
• Hands on infant feeding support
• Doula provide Physical support by anticipating and tending to your needs during birth.

Doula Support For Partners

• Prenatal education about the birthing process
• Helping them work through their own fears or apprehensions
• Facilitating conversations with the two of you
• Teaching you newborn care techniques
• Ensuring they are fed and hydrated
• Education about how to support a parent's recovery in the postpartum period.

Doulas do NOT replace partners! A doulas job is to educate, emotionally, and physically support partners to empower them to support a birthing woman through the postpartum period.

Postpartum Support

The role of the postpartum doula is education, guidance, and non-judgmental support.

Nurturing parents into their new roles, the postpartum doula arrives when you need experienced help the most, in those difficult times, days, and weeks after birth.

Tasks of the Postpartum Doula

Including this role in your home can contribute to breastfeeding success and reduction of postpartum depression rates. The doula helps parents develop the concept of themselves as parents as they continue the transformation in this new stage of life.

• Hands-on newborn education
• Assuring a safe environment
• Establishing routine
• Organizing the nursery
• Umbilical cord care
• Sibling education and transition
• Light house work (laundry, dishes)
• Meal Preparation
• Encouragement and emotional support of individual parenting choices

Thinking about Hiring a Doula?

• Ask about their training
• Ask about their experience
• Are they available during your postpartum window?
• What services do they provide?

• Is conversation easy with them?
• What are their fees?
• What are your general instincts about this doula?

Local Doula Networks:

Community Doula Collective
Journey Birth and Wellness
The Doula Network of Fort Wayne
The Village Birth Workers Collective