The Role of a Childbirth Doula is...

• Recognizes childbirth as a key life experience that the mother will remember all her life.
• Understands and trusts the process of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor.
• Is experienced and trained in providing labor support
• Meets with expectant couples during pregnancy to get acquainted, explore and discuss their priorities, fears and concerns, go over labor positions, comfort measures,  pain management, process your birth wishes to create a birth plan if so desired.
• Provides emotional support and physical comfort measures to birthing women and families from early labor until after childbirth.
• Provides suggestion in labor for: comfort, pain management, and enhancing the progress of labor.
• Act as a liaison between the laboring couple and the medical staff to facilitate communication and help the woman get the information she needs to make informed decisions.
• Supports the informed choices of her clients.
• Inspires confidence in a woman's ability to give birth in her own best way.
• Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the woman's memory of her birth experience.
• Offers resources and information

What Birth Doulas do NOT do…

• Perform clinical tasks, such as fetal heart tone checks or vaginal exams. They are not there for medical reasons, other than to provide support.
• Make decisions for you. They will help get the information necessary for parents to make an informed decision and the one that is right for them.
• Speak to the medical staff instead of you regarding matters where decisions are being made. I will discuss your concerns with you and the staff and suggest options, but you or your partner will speak on your behalf to the medical staff.
• Replace the father during labor.  A doula supports and encourages the father and enhances his support style rather than replace it.

Again we look at history. In the early 1900's men had no role in labor except to sit outside the room and wait. Then we made a dramatic change in the 1960's when the father was expected to become the labor expert and birthing coach.

The work of a doula is intended to compliment, never replace, support you will be receiving from your partner during birth. The emotional bond and sense of connection between mother and father is so important. A doula assisted births can be even more intimate, as your partner brings his love and support in a way that a doula can not. If you have a partner that is motivated to actively support you during labor, as your doula I model their coping strategies, and share my years of knowledge and experience by offering your partner suggestions on techniques to emotionally comfort you and promote the progress of your labor. A doula can help create atmosphere by dimming lights, putting on soothing music, creating familiar smells from home to create that circle of love between mother and father.

The doula knows when to stay in the background when the couple is doing well, and when to jump in and offer guidance. Having a doula present allows the partner to assist in a loving, supportive manner and have a positive transition to parenthood as well. Plus, your doula can hold the space for your partner when they need to tend to their own personal needs such as meals, bathroom breaks, or even naps to be recharge and ready for the birth.

If your companion is not comfortable in an active labor support role, I am delighted and trained to serve as your primary source of emotional and physical support. Because birth can often be the most intense physical, emotional and spiritual experience of a lifetime, your companions will find the continuous support of a professional doula reassuring, and comforting to them as well.