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What is...

Birth Doula

EXPLAINED

Here are the key aspects of what a birth doula does:

  1. Emotional Support: Doulas offer emotional support to birthing individuals and their partners throughout the childbirth process. They provide encouragement, reassurance, and a calming presence, helping to reduce anxiety and fear.
  2. Physical Support: Doulas use various comfort measures such as massage, breathing techniques, and position changes to help manage pain and discomfort during labour. They can suggest positions that may help the progress of labour and provide physical support like counterpressure and touch.
  3. Informational Support: Doulas provide evidence-based information about childbirth options, procedures, and interventions. They help individuals and couples understand their rights and make informed decisions about their birth plan. Doulas can explain medical procedures, potential side effects, and alternative options, empowering birthing individuals to advocate for their preferences.
  4. Advocacy: Doulas act as advocates for the birthing person's wishes and preferences during labour and delivery. They help ensure that these preferences are communicated to the medical staff and respected whenever possible. Doulas can facilitate communication between the birthing person, their partner, and the healthcare providers.
  5. Partner Support: Doulas also support the birthing person's partner, offering guidance on how to support their loved one effectively during labour. They can suggest ways for partners to participate and be involved, easing the partner's anxieties and ensuring a more positive birth experience for both.
  6. Continuous Presence: One of the significant benefits of a doula is their continuous presence. Doulas are typically available throughout labour, providing uninterrupted support from the early stages of labour until after the baby is born.

The presence of a birth doula has been associated with various positive outcomes, including reduced rates of medical interventions, shorter labours, increased satisfaction with the birth experience, and improved emotional well-being for both the birthing person and their partner. It's important to note that a birth doula does not replace medical care but complements it by offering emotional and informational support.

Birthkeepers that provide this service

The Male Doula

I am a passionate and experienced doula who believes that everyone deserves a positive and empowering birth experience. I provide prenatal education, labour and delivery support, and postpartum care to birthing people of all ages, backgrounds, and medical histories. I am committed to advocating for birthing people and their rights, and I am passionate about promoting diversity and inclusion in the birth community.

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Birth Doula
Postnatal Doula
Online or In Person
Bowen Therapy
Postnatal Recovery Massage

NatalieMayDoula

Hello lovely one, I'm Nat. I am a devoted birth and postnatal doula, passionate about supporting birthing people to be informed and empowered during their journey through pregnancy and beyond. I am blessed to be a birth worker that had the support of a doula during my own pregnancy and birth. This experience is partly what drives my passion for working with birthing people. I wish for all new parents to have the opportunity to be nurtured and supported to make informed choices during this time.

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Birth Doula
Postnatal Doula
Online or In Person
Travel Birth Keeper
Biomechanics for Birth

NadiaRaafatYogaBirth

I have been a birth doula for 14 years and supported every type of birth along the way. As an HBAC myself x3 I have a special love for VBACs and HBACs. I believe birth is powerful, spirtual, transformational, pleasurable and deeply challanging. It will unravel you and remake you a powerful woman and mother. I offer deep inner preparation, self advocacy and embodiemment all the way through to the other side. As a pelvic health speciliast I can also offer you a healing and recovery programme.

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Birth Doula
Antenatal Courses
Online or In Person