Doula Services

What is a Doula?

Doula is an ancient Greek word that roughly translates to "a woman who serves." In modern times, the term doula has become the title of an individual who has training and experience as a labor companion. A doula is someone who supports a laboring person and their partner(s) before, during and just after childbirth by providing them with continuous emotional support, physical comfort measures and assistance in obtaining up to date and evidence-based information regarding pregnancy, labor and the postpartum periods.

A Birth Doula is a doula with specific training and focus on labor and delivery. Birth doulas support new parents prior to labor by discussing the parents' ideal birth, help find research and information that supports their birthing choices, explain the labor and delivery process, provide education about comfort measures and coping techniques, and help answer any questions they may have prior to delivery. During labor, the doula joins the laboring person in their home or the hospital and stays with them throughout their labor, delivery and the first few hours postpartum. The doula supports the parent's choices throughout the labor process by providing emotional support and physical comfort measures (like hip compressions and gentle touch) and providing reassurance throughout the labor and delivery process. After delivery, the doula generally stays to help with the baby's first feeding and to ensure the new family has extra support while also allowing them to bond.

A Postpartum Doula is a doula with specific training and skills to help new parents after delivery. Postpartum doulas provide much needed support in those first few days and weeks in many different ways. The doula's services are oftentimes based upon the new family's postpartum needs; the doula may come and help with light housework so the parent(s) and baby can bond or sleep or she may provide emotional support and education with chest/breastfeeding. The doula is mindful of the new parent's emotional state and provides an empathetic, supportive place to talk about any concerns they may have had with the delivery or problems adjusting to their new role as a parent. Additionally, the doula can provide the parent(s) with local area resources, such as a Lactation Consultant, as well as help find information if there are any questions or concerns that may arise during the postpartum period. Generally a postpartum doula offers their services at an hourly rate, though some offer package deals or have minimum number of required hours to book services through them.