What is a Doula?
What is a postpartum doula?
As a postpartum doula I enter every home with the goal of decreasing stress and increasing parent’s confidence. Doulas provide non-medical, physical, emotional, and practical support throughout the perinatal period. Postpartum, this includes a mix of education and hands on care. Guidance in newborn development, practice breast/body-feeding, recovery techniques for birthing parents, and much more. Together we cultivate a nourishing postpartum environment, with tasty foods at the ready and laundry taken care of for you. I get to share new families’ joys, while also listening to and normalizing their hardships -offering a wealth of experience to make newborn challenges more manageable. When issues arise that are beyond my scope of practice, I help find the best resources our larger perinatal community has to offer.
Birth Doula Philosophy
It is an honor to support families through the intensity and transformation of birth — to help provide comfort amidst the whirlwind of labor. With a calm presence, I provide grounding touch in intense moments, gentle guidance when questions arise, and steady advocacy for your rights and preferences. Birth is powerful, you deserve support that honors both your strength and vulnerability.
I aim for a continuity of care model, where I stand beside clients every step of the way, as a trusted companion throughout your perinatal journey. Continuing education ensures I provide you with evidence-based guidance, and prenatals that leave you feeling prepared and confident for birth. You should be able to understand your options clearly, and feel confident that care decisions align with your values.
Birth doula care is an awesome intersection of health care and feminism. I am drawn to birth work because of this perfect match. My work stems from a belief that every person deserves informed, respectful, patient-centered obstetric care. When this is achieved, birth can be experienced as positive, affirming, and powerful.
I recognize that giving birth in a medical setting carries both incredible resources and real challenges. Healthcare inequality is a unfortunate reality that drives many of us doulas to this work. For this reason I strive to care for my clients with awareness, education, and advocacy.
Benefits of hiring a postpartum doula
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Better for your baby.
𖦹 Experienced guide through lactation/ feeding journey.
𖦹 Early infant-parent bonding.
𖦹 Greater understanding of newborn emotional and physical needs and behavior. -
Better for you.
𖦹 Less parental exhaustion, frustration, and apprehension.
𖦹 Holistic recovery from birth.
𖦹 Early recognition of signs of postpartum mental health challenges and immediately available patient advocacy.
𖦹 Prepare for returning to work with less anxiety. -
Better for your loved ones.
𖦹 Gentle, educated guidance for partners.
𖦹 Help organizing your loved ones as a team of caregivers to better support you.
𖦹 A third party paying for doula services gives friends and relatives a way significantly help, even from afar.
Evidence-Based Benefits of birth Doula Support
Research consistently shows that continuous, one-to-one support from trained doulas improves maternal, birth, and newborn outcomes as well as overall satisfaction:
Lower cesarean rates & more VBACs – Doulas reduce cesareans and increase chances of vaginal birth after cesarean. (source)
Shorter labors & fewer interventions – Linked with shorter labors, reduced use of pain medications, and fewer assisted deliveries. (source)
Improved breastfeeding outcomes – Higher rates of initiation and exclusive breastfeeding. (source)
Greater satisfaction & lower stress – Parents report more positive birth experiences and reduced anxiety. (source)
Benefits across communities – Evidence on doulas helping to bridge health care disparities. (source)
Broader maternal & newborn health – Associated with fewer preterm/low birth weight infants, better bonding, longer breastfeeding, and lower postpartum depression rates. (source)
You deserve a Doula!
Typical postpartum doula assistance, advice, teaching:
Overnight care to maximize your sleep.
Postpartum recovery and birth parent care.
Newborn care. Such as bathing, cord care, swaddling, soothing, sleep.
Nonjudgmental baby feeding support led by your choices.
Cooking and prep.
Listening and processing!
Breast/Chest/Body feeding instruction and support. (I am also a Certified Lactation Specialist.)
Get to know your baby’s milestones, abilities, personality.
Light household cleaning, laundry, etc.
Help in organizing your team of support around your needs (partners, family, friends, health care providers, etc.)
Patient advocacy: Accompany family to medical appointments. Brainstorm questions for IBCLC, doctors, physical therapists, acupuncturists, etc. Communicating with healthcare professionals.
Recognizing and mitigating postpartum mental health issues.
Sibling care.
Providing information on local parenting resources.