As your doula it is an honor and privilege to be present at the birth of your child. It is with great respect that I come to nurture, encourage and assist you in this most extraordinary event. I view birth as a normal and healthy process. My goal as a doula is to help you have a safe and satisfying childbirth as you define it.

Prenatal Meetings

We will have two prenatal meetings (in addition to the initial interview) in which we will discuss your fears, hopes and desires around childbirth. I get to know more about both the mother and her partner, learning about how I can best help both of you to have a positive experience in childbirth. We will also cover the basics of labor progression if you are not taking a childbirth education course. I will help you develop a birth plan that addresses the issues most important to you. We also practice pain coping techniques, and determine which ones work best for you. If there are any questions that come up about your pregnancy we can discuss these as well. We will talk about how to get the information you need to be comfortable making decisions during labor.

I will be on call 24/7 to come to your birth from about three weeks before your due date, until you give birth. You are always welcome to call with questions or concerns.

Labor Support

When you are in labor and ready to have my support I will come to your home, hospital or birth center to join you. I stay until about an hour or two after the birth, when everyone is settled in. I provide suggestions for positions changes, visualizations, relaxation techniques and lots and lots of encouragement. I help the parents gather the necessary information for making decisions, in which they can feel confident about the path ahead. I help the father (partner) to be as fully involved in the birth as he feels comfortable with, encouraging him to maintain the emotional connection that is so important to the mother in birthing her baby, while not getting overwhelmed by the intensity of the birth. I help the father with suggestions for positions and movements (as well as breathing, visualizations, foot rub, etc.) to support the mother. I let my intuition guide me for helping both the mother and father. Sometimes I may be more in the background with some encouragement and a few suggestions, while other times I may be the primary support person when the father is uncomfortable (or absent) in that role. Throughout the labor I am available for whatever the laboring couple may need beyond the medical needs, whether it be food, a cool washcloth, support for difficult decisions, or help through the contractions. I support the family with whatever decisions are made, regardless of what my own choices or preferences may be.

Once the baby is born I also assist with breastfeeding immediately after the birth. If you like, IÕm happy to take pictures at the birth as well.

Postpartum Support

Postpartum, my connection with the new family continues through phone contact and visits to assist with the transition to parenthood, breastfeeding and processing the birth. My continued encouragement, information and resource referrals help ease you into your new role as a parent. I generally visit families between three and five days postpartum, primarily to help with breastfeeding, but also to check in on immediate recovery after discharge from the hospital. I have found this visit to be the most important meeting we will have, aside form the actual birth. I also visit the new family about a month after the birth to discuss the labor and birth and provide any further resources and support that may be needed. Families who need additional postpartum doula support can also have me come in the role of postpartum doula.

More Information

I encourage you to visit the DONA International to read their position paper on birth doulas. Their article on Dads and Doulas is also especially helpful.

For more information, please contact me
at melinda@babymoondoula.com
or 425-876-5049.
 

Updated: March 13, 2008