Doula is a Greek word that means a woman who serves another woman, or a female servant.  A birth doula is a trained, non-medical childbirth support professional, who attends to the emotional and physical needs of women and their partners during the childbirth.

As your doula I will join you at home, in the hospital, or your birthing center once your birth process has begun and will remain with you until after your baby's birth. I am not a medical professional, but will assist you in creating a peaceful atmosphere and with comfort techniques that work best for you.  Some of the techniques I use are: massage, aromatherapy, counter pressure, applying hot or cold compresses, giving relaxation and/or hypnotic cues, assisting with controlled breathing and suggesting various labor positions to speed labor and provide comfort. I will also act as your advocate to help achieve your ideal birth and to help you make informed decisions should complications arise.

A doula is not meant to replace the father or birth coach, but rather to provide a voice of experience to assist both the coach and mother. The partner, being more emotionally involved in the process and often less experienced with childbirth, benefits from the advice a doula can offer. My role is to take off some of the pressure the birth partner may feel so that he can be more emotionally available for his partner. 

As a doula I serve women who plan to do natural, medicated and cesarean births (as your hospital allows). My goal is to help you have a positive birth experience, whatever that means to you.

I believe it is especially important for us to build a relationship before your baby's birthday. Our first meeting is for you to interview me and see if you think I am the right birth assistant for you.  Chemistry is very important to me, because I know if we are not comfortable with each other I will not be able to help you as effectively.  Once you have selected me as your doula, I like to meet with you to discuss your expectations and preferences, explain some stretches to do to help your body prepare for childbirth, help you build a birth plan, and discuss any questions or concerns you have about pregnancy, childbirth and baby care.  For your second visit I offer a choice of the following: joining you for a pre-natal visit with your care provider, a birth rehearsal with your partner, a pregnancy art session or a maternity photo session.  I am always available to my clients by phone or e-mail for additional support.

Once your birth process starts I will be with you from the onset of active labor, or when you feel you need assistance, until your baby is born.  After the birth I will be there to assist with initial breast feeding and take pictures.  I also will come to meet with you a week or so after your birth to discuss your birth experience, follow up on breastfeeding, post-partum depression, any baby care questions you may have and take pictures if you'd like. 

I have trained as a Bradley Method Childbirth Instructor and am certified as a Hypnodoula with HypnobabiesR.

Please contact me if you would like to arrange an interview.

Sincerely,

Dana Nassau