Birth Doulas
- Provide a wide range of caring, non-clinical and highly beneficial techniques including physical comfort measures and emotional support before, during and after the birth.
- Understand the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor.
- Access helpful information for the expectant, laboring and postpartum parent/s to assist in their decision-making.
- Work in cooperation with physicians, midwives, nurses, and the partners and families of laboring and postpartum women.
- Facilitate communication between the laboring woman, her partner and clinical care providers.
- Vary in experience, training, services, and personality. There are certifications for doulas; however, many very experienced doulas are not certified.
- Recognize that childbirth is a key life experience that the mother will remember all her life. Thus, doulas help nurture and protect the woman's memory of her birth experience.
- Provide support and care for adoptive parents in the first few weeks of their new family member's arrival.
Postpartum Doulas
- Provide care and emotional support for the mother after the birth.
- Nurture the mother so she feels empowered in her ability to care for her newborn.
- Assist in the daily routine at home; help with nursery and household organization with a new baby.
- Listen without judgement.
- Trained to recognize postpartum depression early on and to make appropriate referrals.
- Educate, support, and assist with breastfeeding and refer when needed.
- Offer practical household help such as tidying, laundry, dishwashing and simple meal preparation.
- Run errands and/or accompany mothers/fathers to doctor visits, sibling classes or stores.
- Help with sibling adjustment.
- Guide parent/s with newborn caretaking and soothing skills.
- Provide support for adoptive parents.
- Postpartum doula services make a wonderful gift for the new mom.
