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Why hire a Doula?
Labor Support
Studies have shown that when doulas attend birth, labors are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they breastfeed more easily.
Postpartum Support
Utilizing a Doula to help during the Postpartum period provides a smoother transition to new parenthood. It allows new parents to learn how to care for their newborn(s), get much needed rest and immediate answers to the many questions that all new parents have.
Why me?
Nearly Three Decades of Doula Experience
I have had the honor of assisting women throughout the Bay Area since 1990. For almost 30 years, I have been labor and/or postpartum support for nearly 1000 babies. As a result of my extensive experience, I am able to provide excellent labor support and help in the transition to the postpartum period.
I am one of the more senior and widely known Doulas in the East Bay with over 30 years experience. I am a popular figure in the various maternity wards and highly respected by East Bay midwives, obstetricians and nurses. I know the hospitals, most of the caregivers and many of the nurses quite well. I have made it a point to respect and be respected by them. Having a Doula that is well known and respected at the facility where you are birthing, helps to make your birth experience a more positive one.
I have also attended home births and know how to navigate the Doula care, while assisting the midwives when necessary.
What is a Doula?
The word Doula (pronounced Doo-la) is an ancient Greek word meaning woman servamt or caregiver.
We now use the term Birth Doula to describe a trained and experienced labor companion who "mothers the mother." She provides the birthing person and their partner continuous emotional support and physical comfort to help smooth the natural process of birth. She also assists in providing information before, during and just after the birth and in helping the partner to interpret the birthing person's wishes to the hospital staff.
A Postpartum Doula is a trained and experienced caregiver who offers non medical support for the birthing person and their family in their home in the weeks following the birth, either during the day or overnight. She provides evidenced-based information on infant care, breastfeeding, baby calming, and sleep methods. She also provides non-judgmental support for the new parent's emotional and physical recovery from childbirth.
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