What Is A Doula?
"A doula is a companion that provides support to people through fertility, pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period."
As a birth Doula I provide emotional and practical support to my clients and their partners/families. I also provide a whole host of valuable resources and information which enables my clients to prepare and make informed decisions no matter what stage of their journey they're in and no matter where and how they choose to give birth.
Statistics show that hiring a Doula can:
- Reduce the probability of belly births aka Caesarean births
- Reduce the probability of instrumental births
- Reduce the need for painkillers or epidural during births
- Reduce the need for induction of births
- Shorten the stages of births
- Increase the parental satisfaction with the birth experiences
- Increase the likelihood of successful breastfeeding
- Reduces the risk of antenatal and postnatal depression
As a postnatal Doula I work with clients and their family's in the days, weeks and months post birth. I will be guided by my clients as to how much support they would like from me during this time.
The services I offer help to support the day to day running of the household so that my clients and their partners can rest and bond with their new baby. Services may include;
- meal prep
- cleaning
- childcare
- Essential food shopping
- Overnight support
- Supporting partners and older siblings, helping them to feel included
- Referring clients to specialists as an when required e.g. lactation consultants to help with breastfeeding
- Providing resources and information on the postnatal period for parents and baby's first days and months in the world
The postnatal period is also a time for nurturing so I provided services that will relax the body and calm the soul such as;
- Massage therapy
- Yoni steaming
- Herbal baths
- Guided breathing relaxation
- Healthy and nutritious postpartum cooking
- A friendly and non judgemental ear
What a Doula is not; A Doula is not a healthcare professional, a Doula is not a medically trained midwife and a Doula is not someone that advises or tells you what to do and how to do it.
