Labor Support Services
While teaching prenatal yoga, I became very drawn to the idea of helping women during the uniquely powerful and transformative time of labor and birth. My goal is to empower women to make informed choices, and to support the mother throughout her labor and birth and into motherhood. I utilize a number of different tools including yoga postures, essential oil therapy, reiki, massage, breath awareness and guided meditation exercises to help mothers find comfort.
Some information from DONA International’s website:
What is a doula?
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.
Studies have shown that when doulas attend birth, labors are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they breastfeed more easily.
A Birth Doula:
- Recognizes birth as a key experience the mother will remember all her life
- Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor
- Assists the woman in preparing for and carrying out her plans for birth
- Stays with the woman throughout the labor
- Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint, as well as helping the woman get the information she needs to make informed decision
- Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and her clinical care providers
- Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the woman’s memory of the birth experience
- Allows the woman’s partner to participate at his/her comfort level.
Postpartum Doula Services
My goal as a postpartum doula is to help ease the transition into parenthood, to care for you, to lighten your load, so you can focus on caring for your little one . This role varies greatly from family to family and I am happy to work with you to meet your individual needs, whether it be helping teach newborn care, organizing baby’s area, doing laundry, preparing meals, helping with postpartum recovery, or maybe just holding baby, so mom can (finally) take a shower!