What is a doula?
The word "doula" means "woman caregiver". A doula is an experienced labor companion who offers physical, emotional, and informational support before, during and after the birth of your baby. A doula is not a doctor or midwife and does not make any medical decisions. She is a silent advocate for the mother, encouraging her in her desires for her birth. The doula assures the mother that she will stay with her the entire labor and not leave her alone being a positive nurturing presence. She helps the mother relax and feel confident, providing massage and suggestions for birthing and pushing positions.
The doula provides a better understanding of procedures and complications that may arise at anytime during your pregnancy or birth of your baby. This informational support helps relieve any uncertainties and anxieties that the mother and her family may have. The birth of your baby will be something you will remember forever. Some doulas take pictures, video, and write birth stories for the family to enable them to recall every precious moment. 
Benefits of having a doula:
~ 50% reduction in cesarean rate ~ 25% shorter labor ~ 60% reduction in epidural requests ~ 40% reduction in oxytocin use
~ 30% reduction in analgesia use ~ 40% reduction in forceps delivery
***statistics from: Mothering the Mother: How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter Easier and Healthier Birth, written by Klaus, Kennell, and Klaus (1993)
Postpartum benefits :~ mother's reported less pain during labor and 24 hrs after
~ mother's increased interest in her baby
~ greater incidence of breast-feeding at 6 weeks
~ less anxiety, fewer signs of depression, and a higher level of
~ less anxiety, fewer signs of depression, and a higher level of
self-esteem
~ helping your birth be a gentle beginning ~
Congratulations on your new journey of parenthood and to finding a doula! I want to thank you for considering my services.I encourage every family looking for a doula to interview several doulas to find the right "fit" for you. It is important to find someone you feel comfortable with.
International Symbol for breastfeeding
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"So many thanks to Michele for assisting us in a wonderful, positive, and natural childbirth experience. We wholeheartedly recommend Michele as a doula! Her presence and knowledge at the birth of our son made it the natural childbirth experience that we were striving for."~ Amanda & George ~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
