The facts

Of the more than 130 million births occurring each year, an estimated 303,000 result in the mother’s death, 2.6 million in stillbirth, and another 2.7 million in a newborn death within the first 28 days of birth. The majority of these deaths occur in low-resource settings and most could have been prevented. As a solution to this, the World Health Organization (WHO) Recommends Doulas Attend All Births Globally.

In 2020, the maternal mortality rate for non-Hispanic Black women was 55.3 deaths per 100,000 live births, 2.9 times the rate for non-Hispanic White women.

according to evidence based birth, who publishes accurate, accessible and inclusive evidence about birth, people who receive continuous support were more likely to have spontaneous vaginal births and less likely to have any pain medication, epidurals, negative feelings about childbirth, vacuum or forceps-assisted births, and cesareans. in addition, their labors were shorter by about 40 minutes and their babies were less likely to have low Apgar scores at birth. there is a smaller amount of evidence that doula support in labor can lower postpartum depression in birthing persons.

the faqs

what is a doula?

A doula is a non-medical, trained professional or labor assistant who provides physical and emotional support to you and your partner during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period.

who needs a doula, and why?

All birthing persons, whether first timers or experienced, should consider having a doula for pregnancy, labor and postpartum support. Doulas provide invaluable support to birthing persons that may lack personal support or are going through this journey alone. you will likely need education on pregnancy, the birthing process and childbirth care - a doula will be able to offer evidence-based information to increase your confidence and ease concerns or worries about the perinatal period. doulas specialize in providing advocacy for their clients in a medical setting (hospital) where unfamiliar terminology may be used or unwanted procedures are suggested during labor/delivery. Doulas are also great for birthing persons that wish to have natural births - we can provide Many unmedicated comfort measures to help cope with pregnancy, labor/delivery and the postpartum period.

can a doula support a person with a scheduled cesarean?

Yes! Doulas are able to support clients that have a cesarean birth. In advance of and post cesarean, we can assist with educating the client about what to expect, holding space and being supportive emotionally and mentally. Afterwards, doulas can assist with breastfeeding as in some cases the type of anesthetics used can affect breastfeeding. Additionally, after surgery, birthing persons will be instructed to take it easy during recovery - a postpartum doula will be there to assist with those daily activities that may be too demanding for your body at the moment in order to get the rest you deserve and need!

can a consultation be scheduled?

yes! contact me to schedule a free 30 minute consultation to discuss any questions you may have.