A Little About What We Do

• A Doula does not interfere with, or replace labor partner, but instead works with him/her to create a strong and supportive team.
• A Doula does not leave Mom, giving consistent support. Labor partner can take a break, get something to eat, make calls, etc, without worrying about mom being left alone.
• A Doula helps keep Mom calm with relaxation, massage, acupressure, and emotional support. Educational support is also a major factor in keeping the laboring couples calm and informed.
• If your labor partner forgets the technique, the Doula refreshes labor partner's memory to enable him/her to be effective for mom.

• The Doula can be contracted to help moms who may not have a labor partner available.
• If mom desires an un-medicated birth, the help of a Doula greatly increases the chances of her success.
• The success of a VBAC (Vaginal Birth after Cesarean) is higher. The Doula helps in significant ways, protecting your experience and acting as your advocate and providing support for mom, labor partner, and family members.
• If you decide to use medications, the Doula will fully inform you of all the options so you can make the best decision for your personal needs.

A Postpartum doula is a mother's helper. She is able to bring comfort to a sleep-deprived mother without "taking over". A postpartum doula is able to run errands, give breastfeeding tips, and assist with baby care, household activities, meal preparation and support to the new parents. We hear everyday from new parents "I wish I could take you home with me." Well now it is possible. We are a group of doulas that all have worked with mothers and infants in the hospital. Your wish can now come true. Some of our clients received a gift certificate to take advantage of our services. It is the gift every new family needs when returning home with a new baby.

Our Postpartum Doulas have the following qualities:

• Has a desire and enjoys helping new mothers and babies
• Calm and reassuring in personality
• Patient and caring
• Good with children and babies
• Have lactation education
• Comfortable with assisting mothers breastfeed
• Non-judgmental
• Has a good knowledge of normal newborncharacteristics

The birth of a family is a precious time for all involved. As labor and postpartum doulas, we find that the support given to the father allows him to participate in the whole process they way he wants without fear of not "doing it right".

Many fathers are interested in taking a very active role in the birth of their child, but feel ill at ease when left alone in a room. Many fathers realize that they need reassurance, support, and guidance too. Providing a safe, nurturing environment for both the mother and father allows them a peace to focus on the birth experience.

Doulas provide a constant support since we do not have any other responsibilities. Prenatally we meet with the family to discuss what role in the delivery parents wish us to take. Some fathers prefer to do all the support and have us as a needed back up for meals and bathroom breaks. That is fine. We support the family as they need us to.

DONA, the organization of doula professionals, has a great article on Dads and Doulas. I have included the web site for that here: