The word “doula” comes from the ancient Greek meaning “a woman who serves” and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous, compassionate, uninterrupted support to a woman before, during and immediately after childbirth. Studies have shown that women who have continual doula support during labor have better birth outcomes and a more positive birth experience.

I am a strong advocate for continued education and further learning, even if you’re an expert in your field. In saying that, I continually take classes, courses, programs and trainings to enrich my services and provide better care to my clients. Here is a list of some of those certifications and trainings that I have personal chosen to take…

• DONA Certified Birth Doula
• Spinning Babies Certified (Basic and Advanced Courses)
• Body Ready Method Certified Pro
• Evidence Base Birth Education Classes
• MEGI High-Risk Doula Certified
• Lactation Basic Training
• TENS Unit Certified
• Perinatal & Infant Loss Training

A midwife is primarily responsible for the medical aspects of your labor and birth for both you and baby – such as baby’s heart tones, blood pressure, etc. If in a hospital, nurses’ primary responsibility is administering medications, charting, and they have multiple patients at one time. A doula provides continuous support from the beginning of your labor through birth and our role is taking care of the mother’s needs…being present throughout it all for comfort both physically and emotionally, gently guiding mother and partner as needed.

The benefits of having a doula are many. The following study shows that the presence of a doula positively impacts your birth experience.

• 50% reduction in cesarean rate
• 25% shorter labor
• 60% reduction in epidural requests
• 40% reduction in Pitocin use
• 30% reduction in analgesia use
• 40% reduction in forceps delivery
• Improved breastfeeding
• Satisfaction with the birth experience
• Decreased postpartum depresssion

*These statistics appear in Mothering the Mother: How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter, Easier, and Healthier Birth by Klaus, Kennell, and Klaus (1993)

The answer is no! Your partner or loved one brings a level of intimacy that can never be replaced by me as the doula. What I can offer as a doula, is my experience and knowledge in the birthing environment. Birth is often a journey into the unknown, and as a trained doula I can be a knowledgeable and caring guide on the journey for both mother and partner. Some of the ways I can help is by offering suggestions and techniques to you and your partner for comfort measures and optimal positions, and make sure you have all the information to make educated decisions. Studies have been done showing that the partner’s experience is a more positive one when a doula is present.

Once you’re in active labor, I come when you are ready for support. I am on call for you 24/7 for when your labor starts and stay with you until after the birth. I provide continuous support to you: my sole focus is you the mother, and there are no shift changes for a doula as there are for other care providers.