Birth & Postpartum Doula
What's a Birth Doula?
A trained & experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to a family before, during and shortly after childbirth to help them achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible.
Benefits of having a Birth Doula:
- 50% reduction in caesarean rate
- 25% shorter labour and less complications
- 60% reduction in epidural requests
- 30% reduction in pain medication use
- 40% reduction in forceps delivery
- 40% reduction use of Pitocin
- Reduction in the use of forceps and vacuum
- Higher self-esteem, less anxiety and less depression at 6 weeks postpartum
- Babies are healthier and breastfeed more easily
"Doulas have a positive impact on the well-being of the entire family"
A Doula provides the evidence-based information you need to make informed decisions and create a safe and calm birthing environment.
What do Birth Doulas do?
- Accompany families in labour to facilitate a safe and satisfying birth experience.
- Offer emotional and informational support to clients throughout pregnancy, labour & birth, and the early postpartum period.
- Offer physical support to clients during labour & birth.
- Become a support team with other support persons (if present) and offer support to them as well.
- Help to ensure the client's voices and choices are being heard and respected.
- Provide reassurance and perspective to families.
- Aim to normalize pregnancy and birth.
- Offer continuous support (no shift changes) in all areas outlined above, as well as supporting client's choices and decisions 100% around pregnancy, labour & birth, and the early postpartum period.
- Doula's work for the family, not the family's health care provider or hospital.
What Birth Doulas DON'T do:
- Perform clinical tasks.
- Make decisions for families (clients).
- Speak to care providers and/or medical staff on behalf of families (clients) regarding matters where health care decisions are being made.
- Replace other support persons (partners, mothers, etc.) throughout pregnancy, labour & birth, and early postpartum period.
- Transport clients in Doula's vehicles, no matter the circumstances.
- Offer opinions or biased suggestions.
- Make judgements about families' decisions.
What is a Postpartum Doula?
A postpartum Doula nurtures the family in the first few weeks following birth by offering evidence-based education, companionship and non-judgemental support in order to build the confidence needed to make a smooth adjustment into parenthood.
* A 30% non-refundable deposit is required to hold your space.
* Extended payment plans available.