'Doula' is a Greek word for 'a woman who serves.'  A doula is professional labor support, also called a labor assistant or childbirth companion.  As your doula I accompany you during labor, taking care of your needs throughout birth. How this applies to each woman can vary widely: some women want a gentle, reassuring presence at their birth to help them with breathing and comfort measures... others want a full-blown labor coach to enforce their birth plan... still others just want an extra person on hand to take pictures and coordinate relatives.  I also provide support and suggestions for your partner that can enhance his or her experience of birth.  I don't go to births with any personal preconceived ideas of how it should play out. 

*In research studies doulas have been proven to...

• Reduce the need for cesarean by 50%
• Reduce the length of labor by 25%
• Reduce the use of synthetic oxytocin by 40%
• Reduce pain medication use by 30%
• Reduce the need for forceps by 40%
• Reduce epidural requests by 60%

**6 weeks after birth, mothers who had doulas were:

• Less anxious and depressed
• More confident with their baby
• More satisfied with their partner (71% vs 30%)
• More likely to be breastfeeding (52% vs. 29%)

*These statistics appear in “A Doula Makes the Difference” by Nugent in Mothering Magazine, March-April 1998. **Study cited in “The Doula” by Klaus in Childbirth Instructor Magazine, Spring 1995.

What about the dad, will he feel replaced?

Many people are confused as to how doulas interact with the laboring woman's partner. Rest assured that my job is bring the soon-to-be mom and her partner closer together during labor. I do not replace the partner or usurp his or her role. Having me present enables the partner to relax because there is someone there to guide both of them through the process. Most partners have had very little exposure to birth and laboring women. I am there to reassure the dad and show him labor support skills so that he can be involved in the birth right from the start.  Even though seeing his laboring partner in pain can be scary, I work to encourage him and reassure that what he is seeing is normal and that there are ways that he can soothe her discomfort.

For more, please visit the 'Partners and Doulas' page...

Why would I want a stranger at my birth?

Trust me, by the time you give birth, I will not be a stranger! From the time you first contact me, I will begin to build a relationship with both you and your partner. As a matter of fact, for most typical hospital births, it is likely I will be the only person you know caring for you. Most OBs and nurse midwives work in a group and whoever happens to be on call during your birth is who you get. You will also be randomly assigned a nurse and will likely go through one or more nurse shift changes. As your doula, I will be a constant reassuring presence for you and your partner, regardless of who the other support staff may be.

How is a doula different from a midwife or nurse?

I provide only non-medical support for the laboring woman. Doulas do not perform any medical procedures such as: checking baby's heart rate, vaginal exams, blood pressure checks or catching the baby.

What if I want pain medication?

I am trained to support women in ALL birth scenarios. Even if you are planning to use pain medication or are just "open" to using it, I will be an invaluable part of your birth team. Doulas can help you gather all the information you need to make an informed choice about pain medication and give you a realistic picture of how you can expect your labor to change. Just because a woman has pain relief, it does not mean she has stopped laboring or needs less support. Many times the emotional needs of laboring women are even greater with medication. I can also help with positioning and other comfort measures to reduce the negative effects of the medication and will be a key support during pushing which can require more coaching with an epidural. For the 5 to 15 percent of women who do not receive complete relief from an epidural, my role becomes even more important in helping the woman to cope with the discomfort of contractions.