I will be on maternity leave from Doula work until 2022!

Birth doula

I would love to serve you as your Doula for your pregnancy and birth. Please continue reading for more information on what a Doula is and what their role in the birth room may be!

Are you unsure of what a doula is and if having one present for your labor and birth is right for you? Let's get talking! ...

What is a Doula?

Doula (doola) comes from the Greek word meaning “woman who serves”. Labor support is incredibly comforting, encouraging & empowering all at the same time. Because labor is emotionally & physically demanding, it’s super valuable to have one person whose sole job is to attend to you and your partner’s needs. Doulas are individuals who are hired by families looking to have additional support during their pregnancy and birth. Doulas are there to support the mama in labor emotionally, physically, and with information. We are not there to act as your doctor or midwife as we do not make any medical decisions or do any medical procedures. Nor do we "replace" the very important role that the dads/ partners play in your labor support. Doulas give prenatal support and continuous labor support. Having the sort of support that doulas are able to give has been shown to reduce the rates of interventions (including cesareans) and improve satisfaction rates.

What are some of the benefits of hiring a Doula?

Attention to physical comfort through techniques such as touch and massage and assistance with breathing
Emotional reassurance, comfort and encouragement
Information about what's happening during labor and the postpartum period, including explanations of procedures
Help with facilitating communication between you and the hospital staff
Guidance and support for loved ones
Assistance with breast-feeding

Often, however, a doula's most important role is to provide continuous support during labor and delivery. Although research is limited, some studies have shown that continuous support from doulas during childbirth might be associated with:

A decreased use of pain relief medication during labor
A decreased incidence of C-sections
A decrease in the length of labor
A decrease in negative childbirth experiences

A doula might add another opinion to the mix when decisions need to be made about labor and delivery. However, a doula doesn't provide medical advice, nor can she or he change the clinical recommendations of a midwife or an obstetrician. Also, fees and insurance coverage vary.

If you're interested in hiring a doula, ask your health care provider, childbirth instructor, family or friends for recommendations. You might also contact your local hospital for a referral.

When interviewing potential doulas, ask about their training, how many births they've attended, their philosophies about childbirth, what services they provide, and the cost. Also, discuss your preferences and concerns about pregnancy, labor and delivery.

Info from The Mayo Clinic.

Want to learn more?

Please contact me to see if we can meet for a coffee or tea to further talk about the role of a doula as well as the other birth services that I have to offer. You can also check out books from my lending library to further your reading and understanding. In my links section I have a wide variety of information available to you as well!

What others are saying about Elyse:

"Elyse was my Doula for the home birth of my second child. She was a great support both mentally, speaking English to me when everyone else was German and physically, giving back rubs and holding me up through contractions. She was an amazing woman to have during the birth as she was so relaxed and knew what to say to make me feel empowered."- Racine

"Elyse is a wonderful Doula that helped us and supported us during my almost 3 day labor. She gave me great advice along the way as well as helping me relax and encouraging me to continue with the breathing exercises. Unfortunately, in the end I had a C section birth, but especially for me, since my family couldn't be there, she was really a great help for my husband and me. I will always be grateful for her kind character and all the support she gave us. I strongly recommend Elyse as a Doula. She really made me feel supported throughout the birth as well as after." -Katerina