I’m guessing most of you have at least a vague understanding of what a doula is already. Let me clarify more about the role as I practice it and how it can benefit you.
The word “doula” comes from the ancient Greek meaning “a woman who serves,” and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period.
Doulas are different than midwives in that doulas are not medical professionals. Midwives are and they are that as their primary responsibility. Midwives are often warm and caring and wonderful but their first are foremost responsibility it to ensure the health and safety of you and your baby. When you are laboring they will be checking heart tones and recording them. Their jobs are important and plentiful as you are laboring. They may intermittently hold your hand, squeezing your hips or coaching you on how to get through the next contractions, but most of the time their attention is used on the medical stuff. They will be managing the birth and your prenatal appointments with that focus. A doula is there for you. I love that about being a doula.
As a doula I find myself doing all kinds of things that comfort you and make your birth run smoother. Sometimes I am rubbing your feet. Other times I will be turning up the music & suggesting a dance party or I will be a shoulder to cry on. Sometimes I am helping you with self hypnosis, calling you mom, preparing herbs or tinctures, breathing with you, showing birth postures that might help or getting you or your partner a snack. Sometimes during a birth my hands don’t leave a mamas hips. Other times I am in the other room giving you private time with your partner because that is what serves you best. Honestly I find myself doing all kinds of things, each individual & birth is so wonderfully unique and always changing. With birth there is never a dull moment. It is always an absolute honor to serve the highest unfolding of the sacred occurrence that is your birth.
Studies have shown that when doulas attend birth, labors are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they breastfeed more easily. Studies show greater satisfaction with your overall birth experience.
As a birth doula I support you and your partner by providing the knowledge, preparation, comfort, and education necessary for a fulfilling birth experience, using techniques such as but not limited to:
- Massage
- Breathing techniques and vocalization
- Counter-pressure
Counterpressure - Visualization
- Relaxation & Birth Hypnosis
- Education and advocacy
I’m there for you and your partner. To support and strengthen your overall team. I am in tune with your needs and preferences so that you can rest assured your satisfaction and wellbeing are always being looked out for. This allows both you and your partner to turn your full attention to the deepening needed for birth and the tuning in to your instinct. To learn more about partners and doulas work together go to this link.
One thing that makes my work unique is the way I am able train you and support you in the self hypnosis skills that allow you to relax your body and mind into that instinctual mind which is extremely important for birthing as nature intended. Generation upon generation of birthing instruct is stored in your powerful subconscious mind. Tapping into it gives you access to the vastly complex orchestration and extremely intelligent design that birth is.
When you are able to get out of flight fight or freeze and into the “relaxation room” of your parasympathetic nervous system birth is able to proceed as intended and deepen. Hypnosis systematically trains you to go to that relaxed nervous system so that when you need it, it’s there for you easily and swiftly. When the contraction comes you are able to relax into the tightening sensation which let it be effective. This letting go of tension means it feels WAY better and you stay in control and at ease.
To learn more about how hypnosis help with pregnancy and birth read here. To learn more about my current birth hypnosis classes read here.
Give yourself and your partner the support you need to prepare for and achieve the birth you are wanting. Let it be easeful and sweet and sacred like birth is meant to be. You and your babe and partner will be so happy you did.
