What is a Doula?

HOLISTIC EXPECTATIONS
Pregnancy, Birth and Early Parenthood

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What is a Doula?

In the beginning, we gathered as women. We were born, we attended births, we birthed

ourselves and we passed on our wisdom to the women who followed us. There was a sacred space for birthing, a ceremony to celebrate the new mother, and a commitment by each woman to guide others through this rite when her time came.

Today, there is no gathering, little exposure to birth, and virtually no wisdom being passed on. Women are alone and disconnected from the birth ceremony. The word "doula" is Greek meaning servant and in our current culture, a woman who serves as a source of comfort, support and encouragement both physical and emotional for other women and their partners during pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum. They "mother" the mother and guide the partner while preserving an atmosphere of quiet respect and peace.

In our Houston area Doula Services, this is exactly what we seek to offer the couples we work with - as much information, support and encouragement as possible from childbirth education to early labor, to birth and postpartum.

Benefits of Doula Support

Need for Forceps     40% decrease           Cesarean Rate        50% decrease

Epidural Requests   60% decrease          Pain Medication     30% decrease

Length of Labor        25% decrease          Source: The Thinking Woman's Guide To A Better Birth, Henci Goer

Additional Benefits:

* Fewer complications/interventions.
* Less use of episiotomies.
* Increased confidence in self and in partner.
* Higher success rate in breastfeeding.
* Increased satisfaction with birth experience.
* Mother views baby more positively.
* Continuity in care: prenatal, labor, birth, and immediate postpartum.
* Babies have shorter hospital stays with fewer admissions to special care nurseries.

Doula vs. Partner Support

Birth is a powerful experience for everyone involved. While in the past, birthing methodologies have taught women to use their partners as their coaches and advocates, we feel that partners are unprepared to be guides on this journey that they have never undertaken. They too are processing everything for the first time and already feeling worried about you, your baby and their own role. If male, they have never done what you are doing (giving birth) and cannot feel the calm within the storm of this feminine experience. This is true for women who have not birthed as well. Women who have birthed will be your greatest source of labor support, coupled with the strength, love and confidence of a supportive partner.

A doula provides encouragement and comfort to both you and your partner as you tune into the birth; including various laboring positions, visualization and counterpressure/massage suggestions and an awareness of what is going on in the mother's body at each stage of labor. She is present and confident for the laboring mother and supportive of the laboring father or partner, providing opportunities for both to feel nurtured as they work. She ensures that your birthing plan is understood and followed to the best of the hospital/birth center's abilities. In the quiet of this protective bubble, you and your partner may then focus on what you are each feeling and listen to what your body is saying you need. A doula provides a safe emotional space for a laboring couple to explore the birth experience with dignity and respect.

Our Doula Package:

- 24/7 phone availability during pregnancy

- make bi-monthly visits during your last two months to build confidence and intimacy
- train you in some birthing positions and massage techniques you can use for labor

- create a healthy diet and exercise plan for use during pregnancy and during breastfeeding,
- create a birth plan with you and your partner,
- provide encouragement, support and comfort during labor and birth,
- advocate for you during your hospital stay,
- make follow-up visits after your birth to check on you, your partner and the baby regarding
your care and recovery, breastfeeding and answer any worries or concerns.
- We will be a resource for you as you start out and do our best to help you create a community of
support with other mothers in the same phase of development.

If you would like to schedule an informational interview with me and or request my services as a doula for your birth, please call 713-705-7257 and/or fill out the following form and return: Doula Services Contract (pdf version) or Doula Services Contract (msword version)

Birth Stories... amazing women, supportive partners, incredible stories...

Jill Julia Holly Vanessa Maria Fiona Laura

Emily Tina Ashley Mari Jennifer H. Sarah Ashley T.

Renee Brooke Jenn R. Morgan Roya Felicity Sarah U.

Lesley

Remember to Laugh

Your uterus is growing from the size of a pear to the size of a jumbo shopping bag. Your underwear is as large as a parachute. You've got facial hair growing where it didn't and shouldn't and now you've developed sciatica, causing your leg to ache from the butt to the knee. You walk with a waddle and pee when you sneeze. You can't eat without spilling everything down your front, putting Picasso to shame with your"blouse art". You have to employ the three point turn to roll yourself out of bed and even then, get a good grasp of the bedsheets to haul yourself up. Funny noises emit from you at all times and places, and you find yourself eating relish straight out of the jar. Remind yourself that while you are taking on the most challenging job there is, feeling out of control and frustrated by your limitations ... there is space for the release of a good laugh at what life asks of you during pregnancy.