Whenever and however you give birth, your experience will impact your emotions, your mind, your body, and your spirit for the rest of your life.
-Ina May Gaskin
what a doula is
What is a doula and what does she do? The word "doula" comes from the ancient greek and means"women's servant". DONA International defines a doula as "a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to a mother before, during and shortly after childbirth to help her achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible." A doula should support YOUR ideal birth and not have her own agenda. A doula is part of your birth team and should be respectful to the entire birth team.
What a doula isn't
What does a doula NOT do? A doula is not a medical professional. She does not perform clinical tasks. She does not make decisions for you- she should work hard to educate you so that you feel confident in making decisions that are best for you and your family! A doula does not take the place of your spouse or significant other- she is there to support them and help them feel more equipped to support you! A doula does not only support unmedicated birth- she supports ALL types of birth- unmedicated birth, medicated birth, induced birth, and cesarean birth!