| Having a Doula Assisted Birth has Proven to: |
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| Questions about Doulas |
| Why would I need a Doula? A Doula is a woman who attends to the birthing family before, during, and just after the birth of a baby. She is specially trained to provide emotional support for the family as well as offer information regarding birth choices. The Doula acts as an advocate, coach, and support person for the laboring woman and her family. Regardless if you are planning to have no medications or an epidural, a doula provides additional support that many moms and families find irreplaceable. |

| Does a Doula Replace My Partner? A Doula does not replace your partner but is another member of the birth team. Having a Doula often times eases the anxiety your partner might feel about the labor experience. Because there is someone there to assist your partner, someone who has the experience of other births and a deeper knowledge of the birth experience, partners are often able to better assist you without fear or anxiety. Partners often say that the birth experience was more enjoyable because they could focus on the mom and not worry about procedure or technical terms. |

| What Does a Doula DO? Typically, a Doula will meet with you one or two times before the birth to assist you and your partner in developing a birth plan, talk about past birth experiences, discuss how the coming labor might progress and go over any other related concerns you may have. A Doula can help you determine pre-labor from true labor, offer emotional support, and, at the woman's request, can come to her and assist her. A Doula might assist by doing the following: * Provide consistent, continual care * Provide support for the woman's partner * Encourage proper nutrition and fluids during labor * Assist the mom and partner into helpful laboring or comfort positions * Provide a safe and comfortable environment where Mom feels secure and confident * Provide Mom and her partner with information about birth options. A doula works cooperatively with the entire health care team, including mom, dad or partner, nurses, midwifes, and doctors. |
