Birthing with Sara- Penny Simkin
The word "doula" comes from the ancient Greek meaning "a woman who serves" and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period.
Studies have shown that when doulas attend birth, labors are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they breastfeed more easily.
A Birth Doula
- Recognizes birth as a key experience the mother will remember all her life
- Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor
- Assists the woman in preparing for and carrying out her plans for birth
- Stays with the woman throughout the labor
- Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint, as well as helping the woman get the information she needs to make informed decision
- Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and her clinical care providers
- Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the woman's memory of the birth experience
- Allows the woman's partner to participate at his/her comfort level
Research evidence shows that the quality services of a postpartum doula can ease the transition that comes with the addition of a baby to a family, improve parental satisfaction and reduce the risk of mood disorders.
(Taken from DONA Int'l.)
Birth doulas are especially helpful in assisting laboring women stick to their birth plan while maintaining a calm atmosphere during the labor and delivery process. A birth doula does this by helping the laboring mother stay focused and remain relaxed through contractions, assisting in self-hypnosis (or going to a “happy” place in her mind), breathing with the mother, visualization, showing the father how to be as supportive as possible throughout the process, providing massage and other touch-therapy. She also assists the laboring mother with walking and changing positions to speed-up labor, use position changes to turn the baby in the womb or encourage baby to descend, and shows the father what techniques can help relieve pressure (like the double hip squeeze or lower back pressure). A doula also helps the birthing team communicate efficiently with their healthcare professionals and explains any possible medical procedures to the mother and father, thereby helping the mother avoid any unnecessary medical interventions. She also helps the father feel more comfortable so that he can participate during the labor and birth and so that he can better offer support to the mother.
The presence of a birth doula has been proven to:
- Reduce the need for cesarean section by 50%
- Shorten Labor Time by 25%
- Reduce in Epidural Requests by 60%
- Reduce the use of analgesics (pain meds) by 30%
- Reduce the need of a Forceps assisted delivery by 40%
After the birth of the newborn, the doula stays with the mother and baby for an hour or two to help the mother with the basics of breastfeeding and to make sure the new family is as comfortable as possible. She answers any questions the mother and father may have about how the birth went, about the recovery period, and first few days or weeks of their new baby’s life.
My Training
- Mothers Circle Empowered Childbirth Class - Observed, 13.5 hours
- Peaceful Beginnings Hypnobirthing Class - Observed, 8 hours
- La Leche League Leader; keep up to date on breastfeeding information, personal experience (7 years) - Since September 2008
- DONA Birth Doula Workshop - 16 hours
- Capital Area BirthNetwork co-leader - Since October 2009
- Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) and Hypnobirthing Class with Mary Lawton - 8 hours
- Spinning Babies with Gale Tully, Optimal Fetal Positioning and Belly Mapping - 8 hours
My Services
- Free Initial Consultation
- 2 prenatal visits so that we can build a relationship and work on your birth plan.
- Continuous labor support either at home, hospital, or birth center.
- Photography, if desired.
- A Postnatal visit to see how your family is settling in, to review your birth experience, to offer breastfeeding support, answer questions about newborn care, and deliver a meal.
- Unlimited telephone and email availability for questions or concerns up to two weeks postpartum.
- On call until you deliver.
