Hi! Welcome here, and congratulations on your pregnancy! While visiting, I hope you find comfort, reassurance and the answers to many, if not all of your questions!
While the journey to parenthood isn’t always as smooth as we plan for, I believe that birth can be a miraculously empowering, affirming and even redeeming experience and that past negative or even traumatic birth experiences do not determine the outcome of future experiences.
The way I approach maternal care is with a “love first” mindset. It doesn’t matter who you are, where you’re from, what your age, nationality, beliefs or background is; I love and support you first. Whether you are a first time parent or expecting your 3rd or 4th, my hope is that with unconditional love, unwavering encouragement, and reliable help and support, your experience can be positive and empowering.
“Love is like a placenta; it nourishes everything it’s connected to” -Rebekkah Traptow
Today, it is used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to a mother (and her partner if she has one) before, during and just after birth.
Also used to describe a trained and experienced professional who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period.
A Doula is not “like a midwife”
A Doula does not and is not qualified to perform any medical procedures including, but not limited to cervical checks, blood pressure checks, fetal heart rate monitoring, delivering/catching the baby etc. A Doula is NOT and does NOT replace a Health Care Provider such as a Midwife or OB.
How DOulas IMpact Birth (cited from evidence based birth)
25% decrease in the risk of Cesarean
8% increase in the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth
10% decrease in the use of any medications for pain relief
Shorter labors by 41 minutes on average
38% decrease in the baby’s risk of a low five minute Apgar score
31% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience
3 Pillars of doula support
Informational Support – Avoid Google. Ask your Doula.
I can help keep you and your partner informed through each milestone of your pregnancy and postpartum journey. I can also help you find evidence based information about different options in pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum. A Doula is an unbiased resource. NEVER a source.
Emotional Support – Your emotions and fears deserve attention.
A Doula is a continuous comforting presence offering reassurance and encouragement, showing a caring and empathetic attitude and helping you and your partner work through fears and self doubt about pregnancy and birth. Debriefing after birth is another way a Doula can support you emotionally.
Physical Support – Facilitating the birth of your dreams.
A short list of ways a Doula can support you physically is as follows:
Massage/counter pressure
Position changes and suggestions for optimal labour progression
Assisting with a TENS machine
Create a calming environment (lights, curtains, etc)
Aroma Therapy
Water therapy (bath, shower)
Hydrating and feeding birther
Hands on infant feeding support
Whatever you need to feel physically comfortable and supported in birth, a Doula can assist you with!
Doulas and Partners
As your Doula, it is NOT my job to replace your partner or other birth support person! My Job is to educate, emotionally and physically support partners to empower them to support mothers through the birthing process.
How do Doulas Support Partners?
Prenatal Education about the birthing process
Helping them work through their own fears or apprehensions
Facilitating conversations with the two of you
Teaching them Pain management techniques
Ensuring they are fed and hydrated
Reassurance and Comfort during the birthing process
Education about how to support a mother in the postpartum period.
lovefirstmaternalsupport.com 