Loving Hand Doulas
Professional childbirth support

Doulas have a unique and special role.

Birth Doulas are professional labor assistants who provide nurturing emotional and physical support for a woman and her partner before, during and after childbirth. This support is unique in that it is unconditional and exclusive. A doula is present solely for you.

A Doula is a familiar face who knows and respects your views on childbirth and will support your choices without judging. Having a Doula at the birth of your child means having someone with you who understands the impact emotions have on labor progress and who recognizes childbirth not just as a physical event but as an important rite of passage - an emotional, spiritual transition into motherhood and fatherhood - the birth of a family. She wants to ensure you are treated with kindness, compassion and respect on this journey into parenthood. This is a day you will vividly remember for the rest of your life, a Doula's goal is to help make the memory one you and your partner will cherish.

A Doula....

meets with you before the birth to get acquainted with you and your partner, to learn your preferences and to provide you with references, resources and information.

stays with you through the entire labor and delivery (no shift changes or need to care for other mothers/patients).

is trained to provide non-medical comfort measures. She uses relaxation techniques, breathing, massage, positions changes, applying heat or cold or pressure points to help you cope with labor pain.

is knowledgeable about the anatomy and physiology of childbirth. She can recognize the emotional signposts and stages of labor. She can suggest ways to speed labor progress.

has usually given birth herself/ has personal experience with childbirth.

provides whatever she can to ensure you can give birth as freely and peacefully as possible - this may entail being a coach, advocate, counselor or liaison. or simply finding a sandwich for your husband, answering a phone call, holding your hand or getting a cool cloth for your forehead (or your partner's) exactly when you need it.

A Doula's role is not a new one.

The role of the Doula is ancient - as old as humanity. Throughout the majority of human history women have attended women at childbirth - female family members, friends and midwives cared for laboring women. Only in recent history have doctors (mostly male) and hospitals replaced homebirth attended by women. Many women intuitively know the importance/benefit of having continuous support by a woman who is experienced in childbirth and they ask their sisters, friends and mothers to attend their births. While the word "Doula" may be new to us the concept and role is not.