What is a doula?

According to Dr. Christine Morton, author of the book Birth Ambassadors, a birth doula is a companion who supports a birthing person during labor and birth. Birth doulas are trained to provide continuous, one-on-one care, as well as information, physical support, and emotional support to birthing persons and their partners.

What does a Birth Doula do?

The most common question I get when I tell people what I do, is “So you’re like a midwife right?” Wrong. Midwives are medical professionals, doulas are not. Doulas provide educational, emotional, physical, and possibly spiritual support during pregnancy, labor, birth, and beyond. 

You may be wondering what that looks like practically.

I will meet with the clients prenatally, usually two to three times to establish a relationship with them, provide childbirth education, and help them discuss their birth preferences, as well as a postpartum plan. 

Birth is unpredictable, and I as a Doula help you to ride the waves that come with it.

I help clients walk around and find new positions, assist them in hydrotherapy like the shower, use hands-on counter pressure techniques to ease contractions, utilize massage and acupressure, guide their breathing, and provide encouragement and affirmations. I also will keep tabs on basic things that can get overlooked in the intensity of labor.