What is a doula?

A doula has professional training and extensive knowledge of the birth process in order to support a woman both emotionally and physically during her pregnancy, labor, and the period of time after her birth. This training differs among doulas – some are trained in massage or other bodywork therapies, some are childbirth educators, some have given birth themselves.

A doula uses her skills to be a resource for the woman throughout her pregnancy, answering questions and building confidence in the birth process. She attends her client in labor, providing a constant presence of calm reassurance as well as more tangible support including massage, hydration, and nourishment.

Doulas do not replace a woman’s partner; rather, they are present to support the entire family so that a woman can relax and allow herself to surrender to the birth process. Most doulas differ from nurses, midwives and physicians in that they rarely have medical training.

Since I am trained as a midwife, I am therefore qualified to perform internal exams during labor and able to evaluate the pregnancy and labor for normalcy. This often helps my clients have more confidence, especially in early labor when they are still in their own homes.

Why would I want a doula?

Unless you are having a home birth, your midwife or physician will not be coming to your home for prenatal visits or to attend your labor in the early stages. I am available for you at any time by phone or e-mail, and I will meet with you several times before the birth, assisting you with preparation for labor, birth, and breastfeeding. I prepare my clients and their partners for birth in the location of their choice, with the midwife or physician of their choice, and assist them in learning about the options available so they can make educated decisions at the time of labor. Being a midwife myself, I can help explain the sometimes confusing options and choices which have to be made.

I work in your home, recognizing that many women find laboring in their home to be more advantageous as well as more comfortable than going too early to the hospital or birth center. It is also important to be aware that once you are in the hospital or birth center, your midwife, doctor, and hospital nurse may have other patients for whom they are responsible, as well as charting and medical tasks to perform, but your doula is there to attend you only, with no other obligations.

If your midwife or doctor is in a large practice, or shares call with providers with whom you are not familiar, having a doula means that you will have one person that not only knows birth, but knows you, and whose goal it is to help you to have the most safe and satisfying birth experience possible. Whether you give birth in your own home, a birth center or in a hospital, you will benefit from the presence of a knowledgeable and attentive support person.

How are outcomes different when a doula is present?

Doula Services

I offer a free initial consultation to introduce myself, explain the doula’s role, and to discuss your history and your desires for the upcoming birth. If you hire me, I welcome unlimited phone and e-mail contact throughout your pregnancy. I like to speak with you after each prenatal appointment to talk about the progress of your pregnancy and to answer any questions you may have. We will arrange at least one home visit before the labor to discuss how we will work together during the labor, often reviewing childbirth class material with special emphasis on non-pharmaceutical pain management techniques.

I will be on call for you for three weeks before your due date to two weeks after, assuming a full term pregnancy. If you go into labor prematurely, I will try to make every effort to attend your labor and birth. If at any time I have an emergency and cannot attend your labor, I will arrange to have an experienced back-up doula available for you. To date, this has never occurred in my practice. During your labor, I will come to your home when you need me, and will remain with you for the labor, birth, and initial postpartum period to assist with early breastfeeding, if desired.

I will be available for you in the first week after the birth to answer any questions or give you referrals as necessary and will visit you and your baby at home approximately one week after the birth to talk about the birth experience.

Fees are available upon request.