A doula supports women and their families in achieving the birth that they desire.  Doulas work in homes, hospitals and birth centers.  A doula gives emotional, physical, and informational support.  While your healthcare provider will take care of your medical needs and the actual delivery, your doula will ensure that someone is always available to look after you emotionally and help you to attain the birth you desire.

Some Things A Doula Does:

• Recognizes childbirth as a key life experience that the mother will remember all her life.
• Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor.
• Assists the woman and her partner in preparing for and carrying out their plans for the birth.
• Stays by the side of the laboring woman throughout the entire labor.
• Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures, and an objective viewpoint, as well as helping the woman get the information she needs to make good decisions.
• Helps advise and advocate for the couple during birth.
• Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner, and clinical care providers.
• Sees her role as nurturing, advocating and protecting the woman’s birth experience.
• Respects each mother’s individuality and unique circumstances.

“Our BIRTH WORKS Doula helped me achieve my birth of choice.  Josh and I are so glad we hired her as our doula.  We worked so well together.  My birth was just the way I wanted it to be because of her.  So Josh and I both thank BIRTH WORKS, and our Doula, from the bottom of our hearts.  You’re the best!”

Ashley and Josh Reeder

“Birth Works Doula Services played a vital role in bringing our two children into the world.  During our first pregnancy, we greatly benefited from the very informative and educational childbirth classes.  Our daughter is now five-years-old, and to this day, we still have a weekly play group with another family we met through our class.  The same doula assisted us prenatally, at the hospital birth of both of our children, and postpartum, as well.  She was a tremendous source of support, both emotionally and as our advocate.  I will always remember and be forever grateful for the loving care, expertise, encouragement, strength, and respect that we received from the amazing staff at Birth Works.”

Mary Anne Seibert, proud mom of Zoe (5) and Turner (2)

“My Birth Works Doulas really prepared me for everything and helped so much with my birth planning. I really enjoyed having our 1 hour prenatal sessions just to talk about everything I was going through with the pregnancy and what to expect during the labor and delivery of my little angel. Everything went perfect, just as planned. The doulas played a vital part in keeping me focused through the contractions, especially at the hospital at the end, during 1 ½ hours of pushing. They were my mental and physical support.   And it was so wonderful to have happy, familiar faces to take my mind off the pain and help make the hospital a less scary place. My doula worked great with the doctors and nurses and my family.  I would recommend Birth Works to everyone who wants a natural birth at home or in the hospital. Birth Works class prepared me too and gave me an opportunity to be around other parents about to go through the exact same thing. Thanks for everything Birthworks! I can’t wait to use you again next time!!!”

Amanda Bledsoe, Chiropractor and mother of Audrey Grace