Birth Doula Services
What is a Doula?
A Doula is experienced in childbirth and provides physical comfort and emotional support to a woman and her partner.
A Birth Doula works with you and your family during pregnancy and childbirth. I meet with you during your pregnancy to answer questions and help you prepare a birth plan. I offer continuous support during your labour and birth, including comfort techniques and the provision of information to support you in informed decision making.
A Postpartum Doula works with you for the first few weeks after your baby is born. I help to ensure that breastfeeding is off to a good start, and help you and your family settle into your new life together.
Why have a Doula?
A Doula can help a woman have a more satisfying experience of childbirth and early parenthood. Women who birth with a doula have a lowered perception of pain, resulting in fewer medications and a reduced likelihood of forceps delivery and caesarean section. Women feel more control over their birth experience. Research over the last 25 years has shown that the constant presence of a supportive birth companion is one of the most effective forms of care that women can receive during childbirth.
Why wouldn't the nurses/midwives at the hospital or my doctor offer me support?
Hospital midwives usually have to divide care between different women, cope with administration and work along others in the multidisciplinary team. As a result, they may be unable to give constant emotional, informational or physical support. Your doctor will only come to your birth when your baby is about to be delivered.
Why does a woman need support in labour?
Women in labour have a profound need for companionship, empathy and physical comfort. Support in labour has been described as having four dimensions:
Emotional support: encouragement, praise, reassurance, listening, continuous physical presence; Informational support: explanations and information; Physical support: comfort measures such as massage, cool/heat packs, relaxation exercises; Advocacy: representing the woman's wishes to others and acting on her behalf, when requested.
What Douls'a do not do!
Doula's do not perform clinical tasks, such as vaginal exams or fetal heart rate monitoring. Doula's do not diagnose medical conditions, offer second opinions or give medical advice. Most importantly, doula's do not make decisions for their clients and they do not project their own values and goals onto the labouring woman.
Proven Benefits of doula at your birth
- Decreased medical intervention in labor
- Reduces need for cesarean by 26%
- Reduces the need for forceps or vacuum extractor by 41%
- Reduces use of pain medication by 28%
- Reduces dissatisfaction with birth by 33%
- Reduces length of labor
6 weeks after birth, mothers who had doulas were:
- Less anxious and depressed
- Had more confidence with baby
- More satisfied w/ partner
- More likely to be breastfeeding
your needs, your choices, your way
- Typically I meet with you twice or more if need be in your home or somewhere convenient.
- I am available by phone, email, text for any questions that come up during your pregnancy.
- I am on-call for you from two weeks prior to your due date and I stay with you throughout the labour and birth, as well as up to the first 1 hour after the birth to assist getting breastfeeding established and ensure you, your partner and your baby are settled in together.
- We meet again at least once after the baby is born, usually in hospital and then again when you are home to see how you're settling in and provide any tips or assistance you may need.
What I Offer
Click here for Birth Doula Cost
If you have any concerns about the relationship between doulas and the doctors and hospital because of something you have heard. Please do telephone the maternity ward and mention it at your doctor's visit to find out how they feel about your having me as your doula.
