Birth Doula

A birth doula is a trained professional who supports and guides an expecting mother and their partner through pregnancy, birth and immediate postpartum. A doula is not a medical professional, and does not take the place of a OBGYN, midwife or significant other. A doula is an important part of an expecting families support team, by grounding expecting parents ensuring they are making informed educated decisions for themselves and feel completely supported in their journey. The main goal of a doula is to make a mother feel safe, honoured, grounded, educated and comfortable- allowing the medical team to perform necessary tasks and also support the growing family . A doula makes sure you are aware of all of your options when it comes to your labour and birth, and support your every decision.

DOES A DOULA TAKE AWAY FROM MY PARTNER'S EXPERIENCE?
A doula does not take place of your significant other, family members or any other part of your support team. Instead, a doula is proven to give a sense of ease to all members of your support team. Sometimes a partner will not know how to support you in the depths of labour, as much as they want to. A doula will give your partner different ways to help you, from different cpmomfort measures and encourage intimacy and bonding throughout the experience. A doula will also help you to build your relationship with your primary care provider through preparing questions and education for your appointments together. 

I ALREADY HAVE A MIDWIFE/OBGYN, WILL I STILL BENEFIT FROM A DOULA?
Unlike a primary care provider, a doula only has a couple of clients at one time, but only ONE client (you!) during your birth. For this reason, 100% of her focus will be on you and helping you through the process entire as comfortably as possible. A primary care providers top concern is  your medical well-being, a doula is free from these responsibilities allowing them to support you in ways your care provider may not be able to in the depths of labour.

WHAT CHANGES WHEN A DOULA ATTENDS YOUR BIRTH?
25% shorter births
60% reduction in requests for Epidural
50% reduction in Cesarean rate
40% reduction in Pitocin use

34% less likely to rate their birth experience negative

QUICK HISTORY!
- 'Doula' is derived from greek meaning 'a woman who serves' or 'woman slave'.

~During birth in the 1600’s neighbourhood women would come by to assist the birthing woman, and in the process they would chatter/gossip and share information during the labour process; because of this they would begin to be called ‘God-sibs’ or sisters-in-God. This later led to the modern word gossip.

~Dolphins support one another throughout labour and help to bring the calf to the surface to breathe. Dolphins are also one of the only other mammals other than humans that have intercourse for pleasure.