What is a doula?
A birth doula, derived from the Greek word meaning ‘a woman who serves,’ is a dedicated companion who provides holistic support to women and families throughout pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. Doula care encompasses mental, physical, spiritual and emotional assistance, encouraging parents to make informed choices about their birth journey. By offering education, guidance and unwavering support, doulas ensure that families are prepared and empowered as they welcome new life and embrace parenthood.
What are the benefits?
Research has demonstrated the benefits of hiring a doula include having better birth outcomes. Expectant mothers are two times less likely to experience a birth complication involving themselves or their baby. In addition, the information and encouragement communicated to a mother from a doula throughout pregnancy has been found to increase the mother’s self-efficacy and ability to impact her own pregnancy and birth outcomes. Source.
When continuous labor support was provided by a doula, women experienced:
31% decrease in the use of Pitocin.
28% decrease in the risk of C-section.
12% increase in the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth.
9% decrease in the use of any medications for pain relief.
14% decrease in the risk of newborns being admitted to a special care nursery.
34% decrease in dissatisfaction with the birth experience.
How can I serve you?
When I was preparing to have my first baby in 2014, the first thing I did was seek out a doula. I wanted to have that emotional, physical, spiritual and informational support as I prepared to become a mother. In my subsequent births, I had a whole birth team of women I had selected to be there for me in all of these ways. I trusted them when I was most vulnerable and they cared for me when I brought my babies earth side. It was beautiful and I knew deep down that I wanted to hold space for women in this way. However I wasn’t sure if I was meant to take the path of becoming a doula, being a mother of young children. In a heavy season of discerning, I trusted that if it was meant to be, God would make it clear. Divine timing and a few special connections made it abundantly clear and I was able to take the steps to move forward in this work.
This has become a focal part of my life’s journey and I am honored to serve families in this special and sacred way.
I would love to connect, hear your story and see how I can serve you best.
Let’s Doula This!
