FAQ
What You Need to Know
Do you perform any physical examinations?
No. I do not assess medical concerns, diagnose, or prescribe. Rather I listen, give resources, and refer appropriately.
I empower you, the client, with information, provide emotional support, and assist in physical comfort measures.
How will hiring you affect my partner’s role during the birth?
I can check in with them to see how they are doing, help to explain what's going on, allow for breaks to rest and eat during labour, facilitate conversations about how they will work with the pregnant/birthing/postpartum person during each phase, create space for them to feel apart of the process, reduce pressure on them, and so much more.
What does a doula do?
Doulas do a lot! The main pillars of doula work are: physical, emotional, and informational support.
Some examples of what I may do are; suggest comfort measures, give encouragement, help to work through emotions, guide persons through labour/postpartum, help you to find relevant information, support partner(s), help provide a calm environment, amplify your wishes, and more.
Why should I hire a birth doula?
Studies have found that having a labour doula can decrease cesarean rates (if thats important to you), shorten labour, decreased request for pain medications, less need for pitocin, less need for forceps, less perceived pain, feelings of being more in control, less anxiety after birth, increased self confidence, decreased incidence of postpartum depression, increased incidence of chest/body/breastfeeding at 6 weeks, and improved relationship with partner(s).
How does a doula compliment the healthcare team?
I can help you, the client, come up with questions, give you resources, amplify your voice, facilitate informed consent, refer concerns to a professional, help you to understand relevant topics, provide continued support and comfort measures (this makes more time for the healthcare team), and so on.
