What is a Doula?
Doula is a Greek word for “woman’s servant.”



Birth Doula's (aka Labor Support Doulas)

A birth doula is a supportive companion professionally trained to provide physical and emotional support during labor and birth.

A doula provides continuous support, beginning during early or active labor, through birth, and for approximately 2 hours following the birth. The doula offers help and advice on comfort measures such as breathing, relaxation, movement, positioning, and massage. She also assists families with gathering information about the course of labor and their options. Her most critical role is providing continuous emotional reassurance and comfort.

Doulas attend home births and hospital births; medicated births and unmedicated births, with women whose care is being overseen by doctors or midwives. Doulas may be the only support person for the mother, or may be part of a labor support team including mom’s partner, friend(s), and/or family members.

Doulas specialize in non-medical skills, and do not perform clinical tasks, or diagnose medical conditions.

Doulas do not make decisions for their clients. Their goal is to provide the support and information needed to help the birthing mother have a safe and satisfying birth as the mother defines it.

Postpartum Doulas

There are also postpartum doulas, who provide support after the baby is born. They have knowledge about postpartum recovery, breastfeeding, and newborn care. Their services vary depending on your needs, and might involve anything from a one-time visit for information and advice, to providing overnight care every night for a month.

Proven Benefits of Doula Care

  • Decreased medical intervention in labor*:
  • Reduces need for cesarean by 26%
  • Reduces the need for forceps or vacuum extractor by 41%
  • Reduces use of pain medication by 28%
  • Reduces dissatisfaction with birth by 33%
  • Reduces length of labor

6 weeks after birth, mothers who had doulas were:

  •   Less anxious and depressed
  •   Had more confidence with baby
  •   More satisfied w/ partner
  •   More likely to be breastfeeding


*These statistics appear in Hodnett E, Gates S, Hofmeyr G, Sakala C. Continuous support for women during childbirth. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2003. Issue 3, Art. No. CD003766. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003766.

For more about the research, see http://www.dona.org/publications/position_pape
r_birth.php


My Basic Doula Package

  • Two prenatal visits to assess your needs and desires for birth, define and understand our expectations of one another, and provide you with useful tools for labor and birth
  • Birth plan assistance to help you clarify your preferences for birth and explain the options that are available to you
  • Access to my lending library of books and videos about pregnancy, birth and baby care, to support your learning
  • Continuous physical, emotional, and informational support for you and your partner for the duration of labor and birth, to help the you hold and move towards the vision you created for your baby’s birth
  • Initial breastfeeding support immediately after birth to help your baby latch on properly and encourage the establishment of breastfeeding
  • One postpartum follow-up visit to celebrate the birth of your baby and answer any questions you have during the early postpartum period
  • Unlimited phone and e-mail support to answer your questions and offer suggestions and support throughout pregnancy and early




Doula Care
  • antepartum doula care for BEFORE birth, perfect for mamas on bedrest

  • birth /labor doulacare DURING labor and birth to support mama and dad at home and the hospital

  • postpartum doula care for AFTER birth , perfect for mamas who have had a c-section or dealing with postpartum depression


If a doula were a drug, it would be unethical not to use it.

~ H. Kennell, MD
Professional, Compassionate, Non-judgmental Labor and Birth Support
As a Birth Doula, I am trained, knowledgeable, and experienced in supporting Mothers and Families through the pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period.

My role is to provide continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to mothers and their families during labor and birth.

I also provide experienced support in all aspects of the postpartum experience: from helping the family to adjust, to infant feeding, bonding, and maternal recovery.
Additional Prenatal Services
  • Belly Casting
  • Prenatal Massage
  • Prenatal Yoga
  • Childbirth Education

Postpartum Services