Labor Doula Services

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 information support to the family before, during and just after birth.

A Birth Doula:

· recognizes birth as a key experience the mother will remember all her life

· understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor

· assists the woman in preparing, and carrying out, her plans for birth

· stays with the woman throughout labor

· provides emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint

· helps the woman obtain information needed to make informed decisions

· facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and her clinical care providers

· perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the woman’s memory of the birth experience

· encourages and supports the woman’s partner to participate at his/her comfort level

Benefits of having a trained doula at your birth:

· 40% reduction in induction measures

· 60% reduction in epidural rate

· decreased medical interventions during labor

· reduces length of labor

· 40% reductions in forceps/vacuum delivery

· 50% reduction in cesarean section rate

· reduces dissatisfaction with birth by 33%

The Doula / Dad partnership:

Do Doulas replace Dads? Absolutely not! Fathers are often able to participate more fully with a doula present. The top two fears that a father has surrounding pregnancy and birth are the worry about the safety of his unborn child and his partner. Much of that fear is gone when a doula is present because she can provide informational support about the labor as it progresses, and her calming influence allows the father to give the love and support that his partner needs to feel. The presence of a doula complements a father’s role and strengthens it. A doula often can give suggestions and encourage the father to touch, to talk, and to help in ways that feel truly comfortable to him and comforting to the mother. Fathers, with the support of the doula, are able to participate at any level that feels right and natural for them. In this way, fathers can experience fully the joy and wonder of watching their babies come into the world.

“We form such a rapport that a woman can ask anything of me.” ~ A Doula