In Greek, “doula” means “the woman’s servant”.

A doula is someone who helps women and their families through labor and birth. By focusing on the physical, emotional and spiritual support of the mother and partner, a doula works alongside medical professionals, such as an OB or midwife, to meet non-medical needs during pregnancy, labor and postpartum.

A doula provides physical support through comforting touch, massage, counter pressure, position changes, and more. Emotionally, doulas hold space for emotions, help ease anxiety and fears, encourage mothers and their partners, and provide constant support. A doula will encourage advocacy, helping clients make informed decisions for themselves by providing evidence-based information and resources.

Studies show women who have doula support report less pain and better emotional states postpartum. Here are just some of the statistical improvements that a doula’s presence can make in your birth:

• 50% reduction in the cesarean rate

• 25% shorter labor

• 60% reduction in epidurals

• 40% reduction in pitocin augmentation/induction

• 30% reduction in pain medication

• 40% reduction in forceps/vacuum delivery

• 36% higher satisfaction with partner after birth

Mothering the Mother: How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter Easier & Healthier Birth, Klaus, Kennell, Klaus (1993).

Absolutely! Your job is to choose a place to give birth that feels safe to you. My job is to support you wherever that place is.

Absolutely! Your job is to choose a place to give birth that feels safe to you. My job is to support you wherever that place is. As long as you have a trained medical professional providing you with maternity care, I will be happy to support you at home.

Yes! A VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) should be a reasonable option for almost every woman who has had a previous cesarean and desires a vaginal birth. As a doula, I have experience supporting many clients through a TOLAC (trial of labor after cesarean) resulting in a successful VBAC after one or more cesareans (VBA2C and VBA3C), within the hospital system and also at home. I am also trained and certified through The VBAC Link to support VBAC clients.

While nothing beats a supportive partner, a doula can still be a benefit to you. A doula is there for the wellbeing of the mother and often supports the partner as well. A doula can provide encouragement, breaks and emotional support for a partner. Your partner knows your likes, dislikes and needs best, and a doula (usually) knows more about all things birth. This means your partner and doula will make a wonderful team supporting you while you labor and give birth.

Actually, doulas are able to support labor in every environment and with any intervention. Most women don’t get an epidural until labor is well established, and a doula can help you cope until then. Doulas can be especially helpful with epidurals by guiding you through position changes that encourage baby to descend, helping to maintain a calm and peaceful environment, and providing comfort measures for the pain that is not relieved by the epidural.

My goal is to do whatever I can to be with you when you need me. But, when you hire me, I will have a backup doula on call for you in the unlikely event that I am unable to meet you for your birth. I am responsible for hiring and paying the backup doula.

I would love to talk with you and find a way that we can get you doula support. Please send me an email to discuss potential support options.