What is a Labour and Birth Doula?
Doula is a Greek word meaning: a woman who serves. She is someone who offers emotional and physical support for the mother and partner, from before birth until breastfeeding is established. Birth/labour doulas are advocates, labour coaches and support partners for moms and their partners throughout the pregnancy and birth process.
Why Use a Labour & birth Doula?
Studies indicate that when a Doula is present, labours tend to be shorter with less need for technical aid, and there is greater maternal satisfaction. Doulas help foster a more relaxed postpartum environment as well, and enhance early mother-infant relationships, breastfeeding and family adjustments.
In addition to the added confidence and peace of mind your doula will provide, studies show that doulas positively impact the birth process by decreasing:
overall caesarean rate by 50%
length of labour by 25%
oxytocin use by 40%
pain medication use by 30%
the need for forceps for 40%
requests for epidurals by 60%
What do Labour and Birth Doulas do?
- *They understand the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labour and assist the woman and her partner in preparing for and carrying out her plans for birth
- *They provide continuity of care, emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint
- *They help the woman and her partner obtain information they need to make good decisions
The quality of emotional care received by the mother during labour, birth and immediately afterwards is a vital factor that can strengthen the emotional ties between the mother and child. The importance of this relationship cannot be over emphasized, since these early relationships largely determine the future of each family, and also society as a whole.
It is important to note that a birth doula does not replace the woman’s partner or care providers, nor make decisions for (or speak instead of) her client. In addition, at no time will a birth doula perform clinical or medical tasks, such as taking blood pressure or temperature, fetal heart tones, vaginal exams or postpartum clinical care.
Our Labour and Birth Doula support package includes:
· Phone/email support
· One to two prenatal visits, in your home, to discuss your hopes and expectations of your birthing experience
· On-call labour and birth support
· Comfort and relaxation labour techniques
· Continuous informational, emotional, and physical support from the time your labour begins until your baby is born
· Ongoing support for the first one - two hours after your baby is born to assist with the initial transition and breastfeeding
· A post-partum visit during which the doula will come to your home to offer referrals and guidance
· Our team approach: When meeting doulas please keep in mind that we offer a team approach and ask that you select a PRIMARY doula and a BACKUP doula. Although we pride ourselves on having our primary doulas attend your birth we are also aware that, at times, there are situations that arise in everyone's life and in these cases we have a backup doula to attend your birth.
For all packages booked, you will now
receive a discount for the following services:
*Lactation Support from RN & Board Certified Consultant
*Massage Therapy from a Registered Massage Therapist
*Prenatal and Postnatal Nutrition
*Reiki
(Some of these services can be reimbursed by your health care insurance)
receive a discount for the following services:
*Lactation Support from RN & Board Certified Consultant
*Massage Therapy from a Registered Massage Therapist
*Prenatal and Postnatal Nutrition
*Reiki
(Some of these services can be reimbursed by your health care insurance)
