Located in the Edmonton, Alberta metropolitan area, we will guide you through a journey of self discovery into the power you already possess to create and control your personal birth experience.
WHAT IS A DOULA?
A doula is a trained professional childbirth companion who can help before, during and after childbirth.A doula also helps the mother and her partner make informed choices to achieve their desired labour and birth experience. A doula stays by the side of the mother throughout her entire labour and the immediate post partum period and is available to assist with breastfeeding.
A doula provides continual physical, emotional and informational support to the mother and her partner before, during and just after childbirth.
COMBINED RESULTS OF 6 RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS ON LABOUR SUPPORT
Obstetrical Outcomes
THE "Doula Effect"
Caesarean Section Down 50%
Length of Labor Down 25%
Oxytocin Use Down 40%
Pain Medications (narcotics) Down 30%
Forceps Down 30%
Epidurals Down 60%
Other findings:
Reduction in:
Maternal fever
Number of days in NICU
Septic workups
Long-term Benefits
Improved breastfeeding
Increased time spent with baby
More positive maternal assessments of baby’s personality, competence and health.
Decreased postpartum depression.
Summarized from chapter 3 of Mothering the Mother, by MH Klaus, JH Kennel, and PH Klaus. New York: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1993
DOULAS AND DADS!
A Doula does not replace the father, but can make the labor experience one that he is more comfortable with.The Doula is trained in how to keep the situation relaxed by sharing information with the couple as to what is normal.
Dad does not have to stress about what to do or if what he is doing the right thing to aid in the labor process. He can rely on the knowledge of the trained Doula to assist him in administering comfort measures,position changes and decisions regarding medical interventions.
Ask any dad that has had a Doula present at the birth and they will agree that it truly did enhance the birth experience.
BLESSINGWAY CEREMONY
As a part of my practice I have had the privilege of being asked to facilitate mother blessings in the Navajo tradition of BLESSINGWAY ceremonies. This is an alternate to a typical baby shower where the focus is on the mother and her rite of passage into motherhood. The mother is showered with gifts and blessings from her closest friends and family members. Her feet are soaked in water scented with oils and laden with flower petals and her hair is adorned with flowers. She sits back and is read all of the blessings and well wishes and when the ceremony is over each woman is given a votive candle to be lit at the onset of the mother's labour with the intent of sending her positive energy, well wishes and love.
DOULA-IS IT WORTH IT?
Sometimes it's hard to be a doula.There may be times you have to make hard choices. There will be times you will have to sacrifice your own basic needs of sleep, food, or drink. You may miss certain social engagements you may have enjoyed, or were expected to be a part of--a birthday, a wedding, a soccer game. There will be people in your life whom you'll disappoint. Some may give you unsolicited advice, which may contradict your own convictions, but may cause you to question and doubt yourself. There will be people in your life who do not fully understand what you are doing, why it is so important, and worthy of all you are willing to give for it's sake. There will be times when you are so tired, you wonder how much longer you can go on. Your feet hurt, your back aches, your arms are exhausted. Other people and other commitments are waiting for you. Your own life has been put on hold and you are painfully, acutely aware of what your absence will cost you. But, you have to push on--to keep walking, keep massaging, to keep believing in this process; to keep believing in the wisdom of babies and mothers. You have to find FOCUS to become fully present again in that moment, in that place. There will be clients you share sisterhood with, and clients for whom it will take digging deep into yourself to find a place of love for. There will be births that are quick, easy, and joyful; others are challenging, and will take days of hard work. Some may even end in sorrow, and break your own heart. It takes courage to be a doula, to look life straight in the eye at its very foundation. It's easier maybe to live your own day-to-day reality, not regarding the enormity and depths of it all. Sometimes it's hard to be a doula. But let us not lose sight of the gifts and rewards we receive for our efforts. We are rich! We are blessed! We are privileged! And in those hard times, when the hours wane away, you will somehow find all you need to go on. And then, in the cries of a newborn, and the exhausted & elated tears of his mother, you will find the answer to A VERY BIG QUESTION: YES--IT'S WORTH IT!
LOVE NOTES
..........WHAT CLIENTS ARE SAYING ABOUT BIRTH CONNECTION!
“Having you there made our experience a very positive one. I am thrilled that I was able to have our son with no epidural or pain medication, and your support had a great deal to do with that. Thank you so much for your support and for sharing this special experience with us.” - FIRST TIME MOM
“ Thank you for all the support and encouragement you gave me. I don’t think the experience would have been as tolerable without all your diligent efforts” FROM A MOM WHO REQUIRED A C-SECTION AFTER A LABOUR THAT HAD FAILED TO PROGRESS.
“Thank you for giving me the confidence and power to feel that I could give birth the way I wanted to. You were and inspiration and a motivator.I was able to labor at home using the ball, the shower,and the bath .Thank you for crossing my path when you did.and for letting me know ahead of time that I could do it!” - FROM A FIRST TIME MOM WHO I MET WITH AND SHARED RESOURCES WITH, ALTHOUGH SHE DID NOT HAVE A DOULA AT HER BIRTH.
“Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for us. It means so much that you were willing to help with this birth, and we couldn’t have done it without you!” -TEEN MOM ON THE BIRTH OF HER FIRST CHILD
“Thank you very much for your support. It meant a lot to me to have you help us in this new and exciting experience. Knowing you would be there added a great deal of confidence to me.I’m sure you will get many more thank you’s because of the wonderful help you will be to many more mothers and FATHERS! “ - FIRST TIME DAD
“How can I thank you enough for an evening that was magical and something I’ll never forget. it taught me so much about myself and the impression I leave on others...and I gained strength and courage from it.” FROM A CLIENT AFTER HER MOTHER BLESSING CEREMONY
“Thank you for the beautiful send off as my journey into motherhood approaches. I will remember the positive energy as I enter the excitingly, scary new phase of my life. The power of women will be with me.” YOUNG MOTHER-TO-BE AFTER HER MOTHER BLESSINGWAY CEREMONY
“Thank you for all the support during my pregnancy and labour. Just knowing you were there for me made such a difference.” A CLIENT THAT WAS ALSO A DOULA!
