The word "doula" comes from ancient Greek, meaning "a woman who serves", but the possibilities for the support a doula can provide are endless. There are doulas like me, who offer support with fertility, birth, postpartum, and bereavement all together or separately. While others may provide support for end of life, menopause, and more! However, for this question I will specifically provide information on how a birth and postpartum doula could support you in your pregnancy and birth journey.

A birth doula is a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to pregnant people and families during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum to help them achieve the most satisfying experience possible.

A postpartum doula is a non-medical support person that offers families guidance, education, information, and physical support in the postpartum period.

A doula will NOT perform any clinical tasks, such as vaginal exams, fetal heart monitoring, etc.

A doula will NOT give medical advice or diagnose conditions.

A doula will NOT pressure the birthing person into making certain decisions, or make any decisions for you.

A doula will NOT catch the baby.

A doula will NOT speak to medical personnel on your behalf.

A doula will NOT provide childcare without a parent in the home.

A doula will NOT provide any type of transportation for you or your support team.

A doula will NOT take over the role of the partner (if applicable).

You can hire a doula at anytime! However, being hired during the second trimester gives us lots of time to get to know each other, as well as what your hopes are for your birth and postpartum period.

No, a doula is not the same as a Midwife.

A doula will not perform any medical procedures including cervical checks, blood pressure checks, fetal heart rate monitoring, delivering/catching the baby, etc., as they are NOT qualified. A doula is not a health care provider such as a Midwife or OB and does not replace them.

Doulas will however provide non-medical support and comfort measures, such as pain management techniques, emotional support, and more!

Doulas support ALL births. Doulas do not have any agenda and offer non-judgmental support. A doula's job is to help you make choices that are right for you - what those choices end up being are not important, so long as they are yours. Doulas are trained to support all kinds of births - at home, in the hospital, with midwives or OB’s, medication free or with pain medication, vaginal or cesarean. You do what you think is best for YOU. Remember, it is your body, your baby, your birth, your choice!

* Please note that at this time I cannot take on clients that are planning on doing a free birth/unassisted birth.

Absolutely!

We will educate, hold space for, and physically support partners during the childbirth journey.

This can look like me supporting them by offering prenatal education, helping them work through fears or apprehensions, facilitating conversations with the two of you, ensuring that they are fed and hydrated during labour and birth, educating them on how they can provide you with support during childbirth and 4th trimester, and more!

Postpartum doulas assist with debriefing your birth, newborn care, offer feeding support (breastfeeding, formula, etc.), help with light household tasks and meal preparation, emotional support, and more!

Check out Postpartum Support for more information.