Every couple deserves a Doula!
A Doula is a trained professional, providing an extra pair of attentive eyes, listening ears, helpful hands, and a caring heart. A Doula offers priceless gifts of service to new and growing families.
Whether it’s a family’s first baby or their tenth, a doula can help make the birth and postpartum experience significantly better. A Doula provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to a mother and father before, during, and after childbirth to help the mother achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experiences possible no matter where or how she delivers.
A Doula is not a fashionable new status symbol. While the name is new and becoming more recognized in the world of birth since the 80’s, the role is not new. “Doulas” have been around since the beginning of time supporting mothers and families and meeting the basics human needs that the industrialized version of childbirth has omitted from its plans.
Countless scientific trials examining doula care demonstrate remarkably improved physical and psychological outcomes for both mother and baby. Doulas have a positive impact on the well-being of the entire family, including dad.
A Doula does not replace the father or anyone else in your birth team but compliments their roles. Dads and Doulas work together. The presence of a Doula helps to ensure a more intimate and non-intrusive birthing and postpartum environment. A Doula is there to support both of you and act as your pillar of strength and guardian of your special moments during labor and through the postpartum adjustment.
A Doula does not perform clinical tasks or make decisions for you but empowers you to work effectively with your clinical team and make informed decisions for your birth, postpartum and your baby.
A Doula is an essential part of your team! You are encouraged to explore the different roles that a Midwife, Dr., Nurse, Partner, and other family members can provide, as well as the Doula. Be realistic about your expectations for them and how everyone can work together to create your perfect team!
The presence of a Doula at a birth and helping moms through their postpartum adjustment has shown wonderful statistics with low medical intervention rates including caesareans, high birth satisfaction, successful breastfeeding, and recovery and low postpartum depression rates.
The Forgotten Trimester and the benefits of a Postpartum Doula-
Postpartum is often a time that is easily overlooked, and most families do not understand the major milestones that mother and baby face together, especially the first 2-6 weeks. Virtually no prior preparation goes into making sure meals and household duties get taken care of while mom gets the extra rest and nurturing, she needs along with emotional support, help with breastfeeding, and infant care.
Dads and siblings need reassurance and support during this transition too. Dad’s availability and skills are often limited surrounding these issues but even if he can do it all, should he? Whether you have an involved support team or not, a Doula will compliment them.
We must remember to celebrate this new mother and emulate the other cultures that honor new mothers by caring for them, supporting them, and placing value on the magnificent transformation she is going through. Postpartum depression is common in our culture yet, virtually non-existent in other cultures where this time of much needed support is valued.
A postpartum doula can help bridge the gap of support for mothers and babies by providing the support, education and extra nurturing they need to be confident, healthy new mothers. This is the greatest gift we can give to new mothers and newborns.
My Unique Expertise -
I have over 22 years of experience and developing my skills of professional, comprehensive, evidenced based education and intuitive, nurturing care. I've educated and/or provided care to over 700 girls and women since 2001.
I have attended home & hospital births for both singles and couples of all ages and walks of life. I have experience in helping clients with natural births, medicated births, VBAC, Cesarean birth, difficult labors, multiples, teens, sibling preparation, difficult family life, unexpected situations, miscarriages, infant death, congenital diseases, perinatal/postpartum fitness and health, postpartum depression, breastfeeding difficulties, and postpartum difficulties. Furthermore, I have made beautiful friendships and provided long-term counsel and reassurance as couples have stayed connected with me as their baby moves through milestones the first year and beyond.
I specialize in Pregnancy, Childbirth, and that first year Postpartum!
I help you to set a solid foundation for Staying Healthy and Low Risk, Understanding all your Options in Healthcare, Good Communication Skills and Advocating for your Family, Creating a Realistic Plan for Birth, Postpartum and Parenting, Preparing for the Unexpected, Effective Coping Skills, Parenting Strategies that line up with the Basic Biological Milestones and Needs of the Mother and Infant/Child......and furthermore providing accountability and tools that you need to not only
Learn BUT Succeed and feel Nurtured and Supported on this Journey!
Truly an Investment in the present and future for your family!
I will meet with you prenatally to help you discover your goals and develop a plan including back-up plans.
I will help facilitate communication between you and your partner, birth team, and family. I will offer additional perspectives and resources on progress and interventions to help you make informed decisions and help to ensure positive experiences along the way.
I will help you and your partner with comfort and coping measures, and help you reach your goals.
I will support you in whatever decisions you make.
I am always honored to come along aside parents during these special moments I am specially trained to help guide you through these physical and emotional changes by providing education, support, extra nurturing, comfort measures, coping and transition skills, and newborn care. I can also help your partner, siblings and other family members transition through this time too as you develop your own unique parenting style without compromising babies most biological needs!
We will talk about my suggested schedule based upon typical milestones and line that up with your specific needs and goals, keeping in mind dad’s availability and your support system at home.
My services are tailored to you and can include –
Attachment Parenting Principles along with comprehensive, holistic care
Co-sleeping Safety
Help setting up a nurturing and healing environment
Help with light housework and tidying, light meal prep, meal planning, laundry, changing sheets, etc.
Prenatal and postpartum fitness/core safety/healing instruction
Aromatherapy foot bath, light massage and other nurturing techniques
Physical and emotional tips and comfort measures
Breastfeeding Education, Instruction, Latch & Tongue/Lip Tie Evaluation, Weight Checks, and Support
Infant care help, instruction, and tips galore
Sibling and family support
NICU support on site, if needed
Assessment of and help with Emotional Processing of your Labor, Birth, and Postpartum
Reassurance and Confidence as a new mother and father
Resources and Referrals
YOU deserve a Doula!
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