.A doula, also known as a birth support worker or birth worker, is a trained professional that supports pregnant, labouring, birthing, and postpartum people and families. Doulas can also support families who are trying to conceive or have experienced a loss.

Birth doulas assist pregnant people towards the end of their pregnancy, during labour and birth, and immediately postpartum. The bulk of our work is providing consistent support throughout the entirety of labour, and advocating for the birther if needed. Birth doulas can also provide support to people who have scheduled cesarean births. The main focus of birth doulas is on providing continuity of care, and comfort and support to their clients (physical, emotional, educational).

A birth doula does NOT replace a spouse or partner! We support the whole family through these transitional times and supporting the birth partner is just as necessary and important because they are undergoing their own journey through the birth as well.

Birth doulas are NOT medical professionals. We do not offer medical advice, make diagnoses or catch babies. We are one part of the health care team supporting birthing people and their families, but we do not take the place of a midwife, doctor, or nurse.

Studies show that for people who have continuous labour support from a doula, there is:

• 39% decrease in risk of Cesarean birth

 

• 15% increase in likelihood of spontaneous vaginal birth             

    

• 10% decrease in the use of pain relief medications

 

• 41 minutes shorter labour on average

 

• 38% decrease in baby’s risk of low 5min Apgar score
  

 

• 31% decrease in risk of birthing experience dissatisfaction
  

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Postpartum doulas support birthing families in the immediate postpartum time and during the fourth trimester (first 3 months after birth). Our focus is on assisting the family transition to life with a new infant in the mix and providing some of the “village” that is needed to raise a child.

Because the needs of the infant and the birthing person (and the rest of the family, for that matter) are so acute during those first few months, postpartum doulas are a huge source of support during that time. We are experts in newborn care and postpartum recovery, and we offer a lot of physical, emotional, and educational support for families.

Postpartum doulas are NOT babysitters, housekeepers, or nannies! We have a specialized body of knowledge, training, and expertise that is distinct from these other roles.

For more information about what exactly I offer as a doula, check out my services here.

Contact me.

email

[email protected]

phone

please email me

location

Prince George, BC