Your goals, your values

The birth of a child, and subsequently the birth of a family is an incredible, sacred and special time. As your birth doula, I work to prepare you and your family ahead of time with prenatal appointments and a wealth of resources tailored to your needs, goals and values. During labor and delivery, I offer continuous care by providing nurturing emotional, informational and physical support, and work toward co-creating the best birthing environment and experience possible. Once baby arrives, I stay to preserve the ‘golden hour’ and help to guide initial breastfeeding if desired. I also follow up within the first several days after delivery to check in on mother, baby and family.

Examples of my role may include:

• Prenatal visits, talk, text and email support leading up to labor

• Aiding in optimum fetal positioning

• Guidance for labor progress

• Preparations for taking baby home

• Guidance for partner supporting Mom through the stages of labor

• Emotional support and encouragement to mom and family

• Reassurance and perspective

• Continuous support throughout labor, delivery and immediately postpartum

• Help to initiate breastfeeding

• Integrating and managing family and visitors during labor and immediate postpartum period

• Take photos when requested and as time allows

• Provide comfort measures through the various stages of labor. Examples include: Aromatherapy, counter pressure, rebozo techniques, gentle massage, positioning and movement, breathing and visualization techniques, hot and cold therapy and other support as needed.  

Support prenatally, and the immediate postpartum is paramount to a positive birthing experience and comes as standard of care for my birth doula services.

Improved outcomes

For more on the role of a birth doula, and the evidence behind improved maternal and child outcomes, please visit the DONA International website here: https://www.dona.org/what-is-a-doula/benefits-of-a-doula/