Doulas and Dads

Many dads-to-be worry that a doula will replace them at the birth. A father may worry that his partner doesn’t trust him enough to be a support for her during labor. He may also be concerned that a doula’s presence at the birth will remove the intimacy of the moment.

But a doula can never replace the father’s role, which is to be there to love and support his partner. Plus, he also experiences the birth of the child, in his own way. As far as the doula interfering with the intimacy of the moment, the doula is only one member of the birth team, which includes nurses, a doctor or midwife, and sometimes other specialists. In fact, a doula can often help create that intimate feel by helping shoo the nurses or doctors out of the room for a moment, so the about-to-be-new-parents can be alone for awhile.

A doula is there to help the father, as much as she helps the mother. The fact of the matter is, our society places a great deal of pressure and responsibility on the father-to-be during labor. A childbirth class isn’t enough to prepare a new, nervous dad to support his wife through what may be one of the most difficult and challenging moments in her life. Is it fair to expect the father to remain 100% focused and calm, when his wife is struggling?

A doula can help support the father, so he can concentrate on his wife.

What Exactly is a Doula?

"Doula" is a Greek word whose definition has come to mean a woman who helps other women. The word has further evolved to mean a woman experienced in childbrith who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the mother before, during and after childbirth.

What Can a Doula do for Me?

A doula spends time with the pregnant mother to understand her desires about childbirth and helps her prepare for the natural course of childbirth along with the expectations of labor and birth. The doula understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor and will give her continuous support throughout the entire labor and birth. Immediate postpartum support is given to the mother in the place of birth.

Doulas help moms in many birth settings, such as hospitals, in birthing centers or in the comfort of their home. Doulas work beside physicians, midwives and nurses.

Doulas help preserve the memory of birth, recognizing childbirth as a key life experience that the mother will remember all her life and may help lower the risk of postpartum depression.

Statistics with Doula Care

Research studies have found that when doulas attend births, the following results happened:

• 50% reduction Cesarean birth
• 25% shorter labor
• 60% reduction in Epidural requests
• 40% reduction in Oxytocin use
• 30% reduction in analgesic use
• 40% reduction in forceps delivery

My Contact Information

To inquire about my doula services or to schedule a non-obligatory interview, please call 817-733-5907 or email lovinghandsdoula@gmail.com

What do I charge? What services do I offer?

Fees
My current rate is $500. The nonrefundable retaining fee is due at contract signing ($250.00) and the remaining half will be due by your 38th week of pregnancy.

Services

These services are included for every client and may be altered to suit the needs of each individual client~

• An initial interview (non-obligatory) meeting to discuss about how using a doula's services may benefit you during your labor and birth
• One to two prenatal visits which include detailed discussion for your unique birth preferences, aromatherapy, labor and birth positioning and more
• 2 postpartum visits, one at the place of birth and the second in your home
• A lending library filled with pregnancy, childbirth and parenting books
• Extensive educational handouts pertaining to pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period
• Early labor support in your home, at your request, and continuous support throughout your labor
• A birth ball and many other tools to assist with your comfort during labor
• Immediate postpartum support
• Breastfeeding support and counseling/education
• A back-up doula who will be educated on your birthing preferences (if available)
  
• Labor and birth photography as time permits
• A written birth story which describes your personal journey through labor and birth

I am open to appropriate bartering opportunities and also a sliding scale if you are unable to afford my fees and would like to hire me as your doula.

Areas I serve

I serve Waco and surrounding areas. I will travel up to an hour away for a birth. Please contact me if you have any questions.

DONA International

Dona International - (from www.dona.com) is the oldest, largest and most respected doula association in the world. Our founders are among the foremost experts on doula care, and DONA International certification is a widely respected measure of quality and professionalism. We are an international, non-profit organization of doulas that strives to have every doula trained / educated to provide the highest quality / standards for birth and/or postpartum support to birthing women and their families. To that end, we promote continuing education for doulas and provide a strong communication link among doulas and between doulas, families and the medical birthing community.

Doula

Doula - A doula is a non-medical assistant in prenatal care, childbirth and during the postpartum period.

Birth Doula

Birth Doula - Labor support doulas (or birth doulas) are trained and experienced labor support persons who attend to the emotional and physical comfort needs of laboring women to smooth the labor process. They do not perform clinical tasks such as heart rate checks, or vaginal exams but rather use massage, aromatherapy, positioning suggestions, etc., to help labor progress as well as possible. A labor support doula joins a laboring woman either at her home or in hospital or birth center and remains with her until a few hours after the birth. In addition to emotional support, doulas work as advocates of their client's wishes and may assist in communicating with medical staff to obtain information for the client to make informed decisions regarding medical procedures.