Doula is a Greek word referring to a woman in the service of another. Today it refers to a female birth assistant who provides physical and emotional support during labor, without medical assessments of fetal or maternal well-being. A Doula has been trained to understand the normal process of labor and respects the natural way a woman's body functions during this wondrous experience. She allows the laboring couple the freedom to experience birth as a team, participating as an objective guide, lending encouragement and support when needed.

What is a Doula?

  A Woman who understands and believes in the natural process of labor and a woman's ability to birth.

  A Doula helps a woman work through and with the pain of labor.

  A Doula provides emotional support during the pregnancy, labor and the postpartum periods.

She can help you prepare a birth plan for your medical team and hospital or birth center.

She is trained in providing comfort measures for pain relief such as massage, movement, breathing, relaxation, visualization, hydrotherapy and much more.

  She helps support the partner so that they can love and support the laboring woman.

  She will be able to help you understand medical intervention or advice from the medical team.

  She will not make decisions for you, speak for you or provide clinical or medical procedures.

Does Labor Support really make a difference?

Doulas and Coaches

Many couples feel that they have studied the process of labor and the various techniques provided during their childbirth preparation classes but don't feel qualified to act as a labor authority. They may feel that the guidance and support that they receive from a Doula gives them relief from having to know it all. The doula's experience gives both parents a sense of calm, enabling them to interact in a loving and peaceful way.

A woman's labor partner may be helped with the doula's knowledge and acceptance of pain during labor, understanding it as a normal part of her body's work, thus allowing him/her to feel confident in her body's ability to birth. This confidence will allow the labor coach to help the laboring woman by instilling confidence in herself and assuring her that she is strong and capable.

A Doula is sensitive to the laboring couple and respects the couples relationship. She will be able to step back and allow the couple to work at their own comfort level. She may guide the labor partner or when needed involve him/her gently, complimenting and strengthening his/her role as the coach. She will never take the place of your partner, she will nurture and support both of you.

Doula Training

All Doulas provided by Birth Partners have been trained and certified by recognized organizations. The organizations that currently certified Professional Labor Assistants are: The American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth (The Bradley Method), The Association of Labor Assistants and Childbirth Educators (ALACE) and Doulas Organization of North America (DONA). They have also attended births during their training periods with an experienced Doula and have been found ready to help you have the birth experience you have planned for.

All Birth Partners Doulas are able to help you no matter what type of childbirth classes you have attended. They are all well versed in the different types of breathing techniques and various relaxation methods.

Doulas must know or learn communication skills. They must be able to effectively convey empathy and provide comfort through touch, words and actions. They will not only be communicating with you, your partner and family but with the hospital staff and your medical provider. They have attended births in all local hospitals and birth centers, thereby developing a relationship with the staffs there. This gives our Doulas the acceptance from the medical community as an integral part of the birth team. The Doulas skills for working with laboring families is greatly appreciated by the medical staff and recognized as a much needed asset.

How will a Doula help me?

A Doula wants every birth to be special and feels that every woman has the capability to experience labor as a natural and normal process, drawing on her inner strengths to cope with the intensity of her body's work. A Doula will help to provide the emotional support that it may take to find those strengths, She will encourage you through words, touch and expressions. She will support and nurture you. She will remind you of the work that you have done and help you to rest during the breaks. She will help you attend to your needs.

Since all Birth Partner Doulas have special training in labor techniques, she understands the hard work that you must do. Your Doula will keep you informed about your progress through labor and remind you of different relaxation techniques to help you through those stages. She will help you to create a visual image to help you focus. She may encourage movement, showers or provide massages. She will help to keep you on track. She will do what ever it takes to help you and your partner have the birth you have planned.

A Birth Partners Doula is not afraid of hard work. She understands that labor takes as long as it needs to be. She will be with you and your partner through the entire hospital or birth center labor and delivery, staying with you until all of you are settled and ready to begin your experience as a new family. She will make sure that you and your new baby have time to initiate breast feeding. She can help you with some of the problems new mom's may encounter after delivery and suggest ways of dealing with them.

In the event of complications your Birth Partners Doula will be able to explain the circumstances, helping you to understand the suggested alternatives. She is a soothing and calming advocate, helping you and your partner to interact with the medical team.She may also accompany you and your partner into surgery if you desire, (with permission from your doctor) if a cesarean becomes necessary.

Your Birth Partners Doula is there to support your desires and requests. This is your birth, we want you to have a wonderful memory and experience. Our goal is to have healthy Moms and Babies.

What does a Doula cost?

Fees are based on experience and the amount of time the Doula is working. Fees range from $500.00 - $1,000.00. Fees maybe negotiated with Birth Partners and reduced if ability to pay is difficult. We do want you to have a good birth, so don't let money keep you from hiring a Doula. All fees are payable no later then 15 days prior to due date.

Fees for Doulas may be reimbursable from your insurance carrier. Please check with your company to see if this is a covered expense. You will be responsible for billing your insurance company, however we will provide you with a superbill to send in with your claim form.

Can I choose my Doula from Birth Partners?

Yes, you can choose the Doula you feel most comfortable with. All Birth Partners Doulas will be happy to meet you and your partner at a convenient time at your home or office. You may ask for more then one Doula to meet with and they will either come together or individually. You choose the one you like. Our Doulas are all caring and experienced women who want you to have a memorable birth.

Our doulas do choose their back-up from our staff, if the primary Doula is not available in case of emergencies, someone that you have met will be called to work with you.

Call us today to setup an appointment.