What is a Doula?
Doula is a form of the greek word "doulos" which means bondservant or slave (literal or figurative, invountary or voluntary; frequently therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subversion). WOW, that is a mouthful... What does all of that mean?
As a doula, I am there to serve you in anyway that I can. I accompany women in labor to help them have a satisfying birth experience. I draw on my knowledge and experience as a doula and mother to provide emotional support as well as physical comfort. I am there to help you make informed decisions as they arise during labor (I do not make decisions for you). I provide reassurance and perspective to you and your partner (if present), make suggestions for labor progress, and help with relaxation, massage, positioning. I use techniques, and my handy dandy bag of tricks (which includes some great massage tools, TENS unit, rebozo, essential oils and much more) to help ease any discomfort you are experiencing. I'm independent and self-employed. As your doula, I am working for you, not your caregiver or hospital.
As a doula, I am there to serve you in anyway that I can. I accompany women in labor to help them have a satisfying birth experience. I draw on my knowledge and experience as a doula and mother to provide emotional support as well as physical comfort. I am there to help you make informed decisions as they arise during labor (I do not make decisions for you). I provide reassurance and perspective to you and your partner (if present), make suggestions for labor progress, and help with relaxation, massage, positioning. I use techniques, and my handy dandy bag of tricks (which includes some great massage tools, TENS unit, rebozo, essential oils and much more) to help ease any discomfort you are experiencing. I'm independent and self-employed. As your doula, I am working for you, not your caregiver or hospital.
Are you experienced?... Really?
Yes! I received my initial Doula training from Seattle Midwifery (now called Bastyr University) in 2002.. Since then, I have taken 4 more doula certification courses and hold my certification with Birth Arts International (BAI). I have been the primary doula for over 460 births!
I have experienced many different birth situations including, but not limited to: home births, hospital births, birth center births, cesarean births, water births, un-medicated, medicated, teen moms, surrogacy, high risk and births where the birth mother relinquished her baby to adoptive parents. My specialty is vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) and about 1/3 of the births that have attended have been VBAC births.
I believe that staying calm and always keeping sight of the moms feelings and needs makes the difference between a good birth and an amazing birth. Each birth is unique and I am honored to be at each and every one of them.
I have experienced many different birth situations including, but not limited to: home births, hospital births, birth center births, cesarean births, water births, un-medicated, medicated, teen moms, surrogacy, high risk and births where the birth mother relinquished her baby to adoptive parents. My specialty is vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) and about 1/3 of the births that have attended have been VBAC births.
I believe that staying calm and always keeping sight of the moms feelings and needs makes the difference between a good birth and an amazing birth. Each birth is unique and I am honored to be at each and every one of them.
Do I have to give birth at home to have a doula?
NO! You may be wondering "Why do I need a doula if I'm going to be at the hospital?" Great question!
As your doula I will labor with you wherever you would like. Most women prefer to labor in the comforts of their own homes for awhile before going into the hospital. I arrive at your house and then when you are ready, we go to the hospital together. At the hospital, I am by your side going through each contraction with you. My goal is to get you as comfortable as I can and to make sure that your needs are being met, no matter what the setting is.
As your doula I will labor with you wherever you would like. Most women prefer to labor in the comforts of their own homes for awhile before going into the hospital. I arrive at your house and then when you are ready, we go to the hospital together. At the hospital, I am by your side going through each contraction with you. My goal is to get you as comfortable as I can and to make sure that your needs are being met, no matter what the setting is.
Do I have to give birth in a hospital to have a doula?
NO! Many women think that because they are under the care of a midwife that they won't need a doula, this is just not the case! Doulas are not midwives and you don't want them to be. As a doula, I am taking care of you and your families' emotional and physical needs, which frees up your midwife and her assistant to care for you and your child's medical needs. I usually arrive well before your midwife, during your early stages of labor, and help you through each contraction and stay with you through your delivery and postpartum care.
Do you take the place of my husband/partner
ABSOLUTELY NOT!
I have been asked this SO many times by both moms who are worried that I will push their partners out of the way and by dads who are concerned that if I am at the birth there is no need for them to be present.
My job is to help you and your husband/partner, not to take the place of them. Because of my experience I am able to be objective where dads sometimes have difficulty. Also because of experience, I am able to help partners who may be nervous or unsure of what to do gain confidence and and engage in the process. I am there to help them to help you. (please see the testimonial of Andrew, Tony and Max under the testimonials tab at the left of the page)
