What is a Doula?
10 REASONS TO HIRE A DOULA
- Is there especially for you and your family.
- Addresses your specific needs for a satisfying birth experience.
- Enhances the bonding experience.
- Providing continuity of care.
- Complements the partner's coaching style.
- Extends comfort measures.
- Provides one-on-one education.
- Helps mother with breastfeeding.
- Can reduce anxiety for both partners
- Lower the percentage of having a cesarean birth.
The word "doula" comes from ancient Greek and is now used to refer to a woman who helps other women. It has applied to childbirth to refer to "a woman experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the mother before, during, and just after childbirth." In simple terms, we are professional labor support.
The birth doula recognizes birth as a key life experience that the mother will remember all of her life. She understands the physiology of birth experience and the emotional needs of a woman in labor. She stays by the side of the laboring woman throughout the entire labor. She provides emotional support, physical comfort, an objective viewpoint and assistance to the mother in getting the information the mother needs to make good decisions.
The doulas from For The Love of Birth have worked in all major hospitals in the Tampa Bay area and are well received by the hospital medical staff.
A doula "mothers" the whole family, through pregnancy birth and beyond!
Every woman should have a doula!
"The presence of a supportive woman during labor and deliverysignificantly shortens the labor and may reduce complications."
- Judith Walzer Leavitt, Author of Brought to Bed
Birth Partners
A doula can never replace the love and caring that the birth partner provides during the birth experience. No one else can fill this special role. A doula’s knowledge and experience can help the birth partner to participate comfortably in the birth. They work as a team. A doula gives the birth partner helpful ideas about what comfort measures work best during different parts of labor and birth.
Water Births with Doulas
Our doulas have been trained to help mom's labor in water or give birth in water.
Birthing centers, home births and three major hospitals in Pinellas County are offering these services.
Our doulas are trained for you to have a wonderful water birth experience.
Tampa Bay Area Services
Initial Introduction – This meeting is free. It allows for you and the Doula to get to know each other.
Prenatal Visits – At least 2 visits to learn more about each other and to understand what your desires and needs are for the birth. The doula can provide additional information about childbirth to supplement any childbirth classes.
Labor & Birth – The doula will come to you in labor when requested, be it at home, hospital or birthing center. She will stay with you no matter how long the birth process, assisting in massage, breathing techniques and other comfort measures.
Postpartum – We come to your home for at least one visit to answer any questions about newborn care, breastfeeding and birth recovery. More visits are done as needed.