What is a doula?
The word doula comes from the ancient Greek, meaning “women’s servant”. For millennia women have been supporting other women during childbirth and beyond, and in our modern times, formalizing that support can entail obtaining the services of a doula, an experienced professional who joins a family as they welcome their new baby.
Birth Doula FAQs
What is a birth doula?
A birth doula is a professional who is trained and experienced with childbirth, offering continuous emotional, physical, and informational support to expectant parents during the labor and delivery of their baby. Ideally a birth doula meets with the family prenatally, to discuss their birthing preferences, build a rapport, and help them prepare for the birth from an informed and empowered place.
What are the benefits to having a birth doula?
This is your journey as new parents, and your doula is there to guide your way and provide a comforting, normalizing presence as well as relief. Doulas recognize that childbirth is a potentially transformative, important experience, and their presence at births is linked to better outcomes overall:
- 31% decrease in the use of synthetic hormones used to augment or start labor
- 28% decrease in the risk of a cesarean section
- 12% increase of the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth
- 9% decrease in the use of pain medications
- 14% decrease in the risk of a newborn being admitted to a special care nursery
- 34% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience
(Source: Cochrane Review and evidencebasedbirth.org)
A more recent study (Source: American Journal of Managed Care) also linked doula-attended births to close to a 60% reduction in cesarean sections and an 80% reduction in non-medically indicated cesarean sections.
Do I need your services as a birth doula if my partner will be at my birth?
A doula does not replace a partner at a birth, but rather supports him or her in their unique role. The partner knows the mother on an intimate level that could never be attained by the doula, while the doula as a trained professional with an expertise and an understanding of childbirth, offering that knowledge as they work together to support the laboring mother. My support to the partner, such as suggesting breaks to use the bathroom, sleep, eat, drink, can be a great relief and provide latitude to enjoy the experience.
Do I need your services as birth doula if I’m planning on having an epidural?
Plans for an epidural do not diminish the need for emotional, physical, and informational support throughout childbirth. I have experience supporting that preference by offering support prior to the administration of the epidural, as well as continuing on as a comforting presence afterward. I am trained and experienced with physically supporting labors with epidurals, by keeping my clients comfortable and moving in the bed, as well as encouraging rest when needed.
Do I need your services as a birth doula if I’m having a planned c-section?
There remain emotional and physical needs present at cesarean births, and your doula can help prepare you for your surgery and accompany you to the hospital on the big day you’ll be meeting your baby. I meet my clients upon arriving to the hospital, and I re-join them in recovery to help facilitate skin-to-skin contact, initiate breastfeeding, and demonstrate soothing techniques.
Do I need your services as a birth doula if I have a midwife? Or what about the nurses in the hospital?
The primary role of care providers such as midwives and nurses is to focus on the clinical needs of the mother and baby, plus they change shifts as well as have other patients. The doula is present continuously for the family throughout the labor and delivery. As a doula I focus on emotional and physical support, as well as providing evidence-based information for decisions about your care, and work independently for the family.
What kind of birth settings do you support?
I have experience in birth centers, hospitals, and home births. I am an objective, non-biased source of support wherever you feel most comfortable birthing your baby.
What does a birth doula not do?
Birth doulas do not perform clinical tasks such as cervical checks, fetal heart rate monitoring. Doulas do not speak to your provider on your behalf, nor do we make decisions about your care. Your doula can accompany you to the hospital but does not provide transportation nor drive your car.
Postpartum Doula FAQs
What is a postpartum doula?
A postpartum doula is a trained and experienced professional who cares for the family in their home over the first several weeks after their baby is born, offering support, resources, and reassurance to meet their changing needs. I only offer postpartum care to my existing birth doula clients, and for those details please see my Services.
What is the difference between a postpartum doula and a baby nurse?
Unlike a baby nurse, who tends to focus solely on the baby, the postpartum doula is available to the entire family. Therefore rather than take over care of your baby, a postpartum doula cares for and fosters independence within a family according to their unique and changing needs, teaching parents to read their baby’s unique cues, and building their confidence.
Why have postpartum doula care?
The weeks following the arrival of your baby is a special time in your lives, one that can be filled with joys as well as many challenges. According to DONA International, “There is a great deal of evidence suggesting that quality support can ease the transition that comes with the addition of a baby to the family. By educating; attending to the needs of the parents, infant and children; and by offering quality referral information, the postpartum doula can ease and enhance the postpartum experience. Every family can benefit from the support and encouragement offered by a doula during the fourth trimester.”
What kind of care can I expect from a postpartum doula?
Your postpartum doula is equipped to address the needs of the family with a new baby by providing education on newborn care, breastfeeding or bottle feeding support, light food preparation, as well as tidying up around your home. The emotional support provided by a postpartum doula can be vital to a new family’s confidence in helping them get off to the best start possible.
Do I need a postpartum doula if I have help from family and/or friends?
It can be beneficial to have the assistance of a postpartum doula, even in the presence of helpful family and friends. A doula is there to support your parenting choices, and provide you with evidence-based information on sleeping, breastfeeding and newborn care. Having a doula can help you enjoy your time with family and friends and keep the care of your baby in-line with your individual preferences.
What does a postpartum doula not do?
Postpartum doulas do not provide clinical or medically-based postpartum care. Your doula can accompany you to your medical appointments but does not provide transportation. Additionally, your doula is there to help you around your home with light tasks, which does not include heavy cleaning or yard work.
Placenta Encapsulation FAQs
What is placenta encapsulation?
This is the process of dehydrating the placenta, grinding it up, and placing it into capsules for consumption (placentophagy) in the days immediately following the birth of your baby. I offer both Traditional Chinese Method (TCM) and raw methods of encapsulation, as well as placenta tinctures. I only provide these services to my existing birth doula clients.
What are the benefits of placentophagy?
Placentophagy is believed to:
- Increase breastmilk production
- Lower risk of postpartum depression
- Shorter postpartum bleeding
- More energy
- Promote hormonal balance
- Provide a rich source of postpartum iron and other nutrients
Research on placentophagy is in its beginning stages, but here are some study results.
What is the TCM method of placenta encapsulation?
During this method, the placenta is gently steamed along with lemon, ginger, jalapeño and/or cayenne. It is thought that this method is tonifying, adding yang energy via heat to the yin space opened up by birth.
What is the raw method of placenta encapsulation?
The placenta with this method is not steamed prior to dehydration. It is thought that with this method, more nutrients are retained and it provides a quicker source of energy.
What is a placenta tincture?
This is the process of preserving a piece of your placenta in high-grade alcohol, to be strained and used for years to come. Most often tinctures used past the postpartum period are for hormonal balancing, including during menopause.
Please note these statements have not been reviewed by the FDA.