Birth Services
A Doula is a woman specially trained to give emotional and practical support during your pregnancy, labour, birth and postnatal period.
This leads to a more satisfying and empowered experience, hopefully a decrease in interventions, caesarean sections, postnatal depression and is a positive influence in successful breastfeeding. More and more women and couples are choosing to have a doula to support their babies birth.
Unless a woman employs an independent midwife, she may not have the same midwife throughout the labour. Midwives often have to tend more than one woman and have a host of other responsibilities that prevent them being constantly present. And when they are there, they're busy monitoring the labour and making notes. Even though they may want to, they simply don't have the time to offer much hands-on care.
This is where I, as a doula, come in.
I do not use clinical skills and do not offer medical advice. I am caring and compassionate, but emotionally detached from the mother. I am knowledgeable about birthing matters and will discuss the pros and cons of advice from the medical team. I remind the mother of her birth plan.
I will stay with the mother throughout the labour while the medical staff goes through one or more shift changes. As everyone else comes and goes, I remain a constant presence. When the intensity of labour increases, I am there to suggest new positions or activities to assist the progression of labour and help the mother to feel as comfortable as possible. When a mother is feeling scared, I am right there to provide reassurance and instill confidence that all is well.
Continue...Click here for Postnatal Services
