Welcome!
Thank you for considering me to provide doula services. Here is some general information.
A birth doula accompanies a woman in labour and mothers the mother, taking care of her emotional and physical needs throughout childbirth. A doula also provides support and suggestions for partners that can enhance their experiences of birth.
Numerous studies have found that a doula’s presence at birth can: result in fewer complications, reduce negative feelings about one’s experience, and reduce the need for interventions during labour.
A post partum doula comes along side the family unit, as it exists, and together with that family decides on what type of support is needed in the early days after baby is born. This may include: educational support in the areas of breastfeeding, newborn care, and post partum care for the new mother. Practical needs may also be addressed: feeding the new family, running errands, taking care of light household duties such as meal prep/clean up and laundry. To summarize, as a post partum doula the goal is to work oneself out of a job by helping families make a smooth and successful transition in to new parenthood.
Some research has shown that families who hire a doula: feel more secure and cared for, have greater success with breastfeeding, have greater self-confidence, and have less post partum depression.
I look forward to the opportunity of working with you during this very exciting time!