How exciting it is to prepare for your new baby! And how wonderful it is to have a doula by your side to guide and support you through one of the most exciting times in your life; pregnancy, birth, and postpartum! Doulas are ‘mothers helpers,’ their role is to mother the mother before, during, and after childbirth.

"When a laboring woman's emotional needs are met, clinical outcomes are improved for both mother and baby."
Dr. Marshall Klaus

Your doula can assist you in gaining the information that you need to make informed decisions about your care during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. She can refer you to other resources within your community that can be of added value to you and your family. Private in-home childbirth education classes are an added benefit for those who can’t attend traditional group classes.

A doula is a nurturer, there to help new mothers feel cared for and supported in a time of great change. Her job is to help ease the transition from pregnancy into parenthood for both mother & father. She provides positive support during your labor & birth experience striving to meet your needs during one of the most special times in your life. Make the best of your pregnancy, birth, and first days as parents by choosing the support of a Doula!

A doula is a woman educated in the art of labor support who accompanies women and families during childbirth to provide emotional support, information, and physical comfort throughout labor & birth.

Doulas provide support to women who birth in the hospital, at birthing centers, or at home. Both mothers and fathers appreciate the love & support a doula provides.

One of our doulas will meet with you at least once prior to your labor so you can get to know each other and decide how your doula can help you the most and to discuss birth planning. If you'd like, your doula can also accompany you to a prenatal appointment with your care provider. Your doula will be on-call for you 24 hours a day until after the birth until after the birth of your baby. When you go into labor your doula will join you as soon as you are ready for support and will stay with you until a few hours after your birth. Another visit will be made within a few weeks of your birth and your doula is always just a phone call away for any questions you may have.

The choice to use medication in labor is a personal one that only the mother can make. You doula will gladly provide you with information on your medication options as well as alternatives to medication. Knowing your options ahead of time can make pain management choices easier during labor. Whatever you decide, we are there to support you and to help make your experience more
satisfying. Ultimately, the decision to use medication is between you and your care provider.

“A Doula is a caregiver of non-medical support. Healthcare professionals such as doctors, midwives, nurses, and others are responsible for the health and well-being of mother & baby. The non-medical support of the doula meets the physical, emotional, and social needs of the family.” (DONA)

A prenatal and postpartum doula is a quiet presence in your home who is there to provide you with assistance during your pregnancy or just after childbirth. She can provide you with information about newborn care and gently guide you in meeting the needs of your baby. The doula supports the whole family; fathers, siblings, partners, and other family members. Information on normal changes in pregnancy, signs of labor, physical comfort, breastfeeding, pumping, bottle feeding, baby wearing, and attachment parenting can be provided by your doula. A doula is well equipped with referrals to resources within your community that may be of benefit to you or your family.

For pregnant women who are on bed rest, a prenatal doula can help the mother to maintain her bed rest restrictions and provide emotional support during a stressful time. The support provided by a doula eases the stress of bed rest for both the mother and her family.

The first few weeks with a new baby are intense, to say the least. A postpartum doula has been where you are. She's an experienced mother who is there to help with the details of keeping a household running smoothly while mom, dad and baby are bonding and getting to know each other. She's there to carefully listen to you, respond to your questions and assist you in a non-judgmental way. As no two babies are alike, there are many answers and many ways to work with your baby.

Will you be unsure about how well breastfeeding is going or about how you can deal with problems? A postpartum doula's job is to watch and help you with positioning baby onto the breast, achieving a good latch and avoiding soreness. She is trained to screen for problems of a more difficult nature and to make appropriate referrals for finding solutions to those problems. What about bottle-feeding? Cloth diapers versus disposables? What will work better for you and your baby? There are so many questions and a doula can help you work out your concerns through gentle guidance, demonstration and appropriate referrals.

The decision you make to have a doula will make a huge difference in your recovery from childbirth. Research has proven that doula support can reduce the incidence of postpartum depression, increase breastfeeding success, and enhance bonding. Being well rested and feeling nurtured is an important component to gaining confidence as a parent and a mother!