Doula is a Greek word which means "servant woman." In ancient times a Doula was the most important female servant in the house. She assisted the lady of the house through childbirth.

Today, a Doula serves a woman in the same way. In the doula spirit, we offer physical, emotional, and educational support to you throughout your entire pregnancy and the childbirth process and during the initial postpartum period.

Our responsibility is to ensure you are fully enabled to make your own decisions regarding pregnancy and labor and to assist you postpartum. We help you gather information about pregnancy, childbirth, and labor options. We serve as advocates for both you and your labor partner in the delivery room and out, providing the continuity of care that medical staff often can not give. As your doula, our role is to ensure the best birth experience for you whether at home, at the hospital, or at a birth center.

A Doula is trained in massage, labor positioning and movement, comfort techniques, visualization, and relaxation and breathing during labor. With this training, we are able to provide sound suggestions to allow a positive birth process, and to reduce the occurrence and need for medical intervention.

We can help you and your partner remember and utilize the strategies you learned in the childbirth education classes you may have taken during pregnancy. We can relieve some of the stress felt by your partner in his or her desire to play an active role in your labor.

While every expectant family can benefit from a Doula’s personalized support, some women in particular may find her services especially helpful:

• Women without a partner
• Women planning a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean)
• Women who prefer to avoid pain medications
• Women who want individualized care and support during the prenatal period
• Women diagnosed as having a high-risk pregnancy
• Women who want to avoid a cesarean birth
• First time mothers
• Women who are expecting multiples (twins, etc)
• Women who have a history of physical or sexual abuse.
• Teenaged mothers