HOLISTIC HANDS 

A doula is a trained, non-medical support person who provides those giving birth with continuous assistance throughout pregnancy, labor, and birth. We are here to provide education, comfort, and guide you through preparing for childbirth. The physical support that doulas can provide in labor includes massage, counter-pressure, soothing touch, etc. Emotional support from a doula helps the birthing person feel a strong sense of fulfillment and empowerment. Examples of emotional support include encouragement and praise, visualization techniques, positive insight, and providing company. Doulas can navigate both you and your partner through labor and help facilitate various labor-management techniques such as breathing patterns, optimal positioning, using a birth ball, essential oils, etc. Your doula should not speak for you; rather, they should support and empower you in your decisions, keeping you feeling confident and informed.

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In the postpartum period, a doula can assist with breastfeeding and newborn care, but also simply check in on you. For example, help with implementing self-care, finding support groups, creating time management strategies, reflecting on/processing your birth experience, and adjusting to parenthood can all be facilitated by your birth doula. 

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Here's what the research shows:

Evidence-Based Birth recognizes that "the most positive birth experiences for fathers/partners are ones where they have continuous support from a doula or midwife." One clinical study showed that the use of a doula in conjunction with a supportive partner reduced the rate of Cesarean section from 25% to 13%. Furthermore, when labor was induced, the Cesarean rate was 13% with a doula, compared to 59% with a partner alone (Evidence-Based Birth, 2019).