WHAT IS A DOULA?
The term ‘doula’ originates from the Greek meaning “woman’s servant.” It has evolved into now what we would define as someone that provides physical, emotional, and informational support to an individual during labour and birth.
Research has shown that those who have doulas are more likely to have:
- spontaneous vaginal births
- shorter labours
- less negative birth experiences
- a decrease in the use of pain medication
As your doula, I will not only be there during your pregnancy to assist with birth preparations (eg. gathering info about options and choices) but also to provide continuous one-on-one care during labour. This may look like relaxation and breathing techniques, verbal encouragement, different labouring positions, and information.