A doula…

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• is a person, typically without formal obstetric training, who is employed to provide guidance and support to a birthing parent during labor.

• is a non-medical support person for labor, birth, and postpartum.

• provides information and help during your prenatal period so that you can make educated choices about your labor and birth.

• provides emotional and physical support during labor through training in drug-free pain management, relaxation techniques, and labor tools.

• encourages and supports partners to participate in labor, birth, and postpartum.

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During the postpartum period, a doula...

• helps new parents by allowing them to review their own birth process and heal from any part they found confusing or upsetting. 

• can identify and provide resources for perinatal mood disorders. 

• encourages new families to be open about the challenges they are facing in order to help them normalize or cope with the situation.

• is trained to educate new families about nursing and help establish good habits.

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A doula…

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• does not perform blood pressure checks or monitor fetal heart rates

• will not give medical advice, but will provide information so that you can make a choice based on evidence

• does not push our personal opinions or judge your choices

• will not communicate to the hospital staff for you, but encourage you to speak up for yourself

• feels it is very important to help a pregnant person find their own strength and utilize it

• does not interfere with medical decisions, and we will do our very best to create a cohesive environment between the hospital staff and your family

• does not replace your partner or family member, rather we facilitate a calm, positive environment that encourages participation from your birth partner, family, and friends