So you're having a baby? You've come to the right place.  Around the world doulas have been a normal part of childbirth for hundreds of years.  In North America however, we are just beginning to fully appreciate the value of having a doula during labor. 

Having a doula can help to make your childbirth experience one you will want to remember forever.  A doula is experienced in childbirth and is focused solely on your needs.  This allows you to feel safe, relaxed and confident and in turn can shorten your labor, minimize interventions and help you to bond quickly with your baby.

Email me  for a copy of my doula contract.

What does a birth doula do? 

A birth doula provides physical, emotional, and informational support to women and their partners during pregnancy, labor and birth. She offers help and advice on comfort measures such as breathing, relaxation, massage and positioning. She provides assistance to families in gathering information about the course of their labor and their options, both prior to and during labour and delivery. During labor and delivery the birth doula is a source of continuous emotional reassurance and comfort and can help explain medical procedures and their usefulness. In hospital births nursing staff often attend to more than one mother in labor at a time, and therefore is often absent for long periods of time. A birth doula supports the mother (and birth partner) through the entire labor and delivery.

During labor and delivery birth doulas offer non-medical skills such as massage, counterpressure and other comfort and pain relief measures. The birth doula works with the mother and birth partner, using numerous proven breathing, positioning and movement techniques. A birth doula is also trained to provide any needed assistance to partners who want to play an active support role.

Why should I hire a doula?

Almost every woman can benefit from the special attention and continuity of care that a doula can give. Statistics repeatedly show that doulas can make a difference in the outcome of your birth. Here are a few examples taken from the book "Mothering the Mother: How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter, Easier and Healthier Birth" by Klaus, Kennell, and Klaus (1993):

50% reduction in the caesarean rate
25% shorter labour
60% reduction in epidural requests
40% reduction in oxytocin use
30% reduction in analgesia use
40% reduction in forceps delivery