What is a
Doula?
A doula is a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to mothers before, during, and shortly after childbirth. Doulas are knowledgeable in various birth practices and aim to enhance the birthing experience by assisting mothers in achieving the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible. Unlike medical professionals, doulas do not perform clinical tasks. Instead, they offer comfort with pain-relief techniques, provide emotional support, facilitate communication between the laboring woman, her partner, and clinical staff, and help families advocate for their preferences. Doulas are a valuable addition to the birth team, ensuring a nurturing and empowering environment for the mother.
Benefits of a Doula
The Party Planner For Your Birth
The benefits of having a doula by your side during childbirth are profound and supported by research. While your doctor or midwife focuses on the medical aspects of your delivery, a doula provides continuous, personalized support that encompasses the emotional, physical, and educational needs that arise during birth. Studies have shown that the presence of a trained birth doula can lead to significant improvements in birth outcomes:
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31% decrease in the use of Pitocin for labor induction or augmentation.
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28% decrease in the risk of Cesarean birth.
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9% decrease in the use of any medications for pain relief.
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14% decrease in the likelihood of newborns being admitted to a special care nursery.
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34% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience.
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12% increase in the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth.
These statistics highlight how doulas play a critical role in enhancing the birthing experience, advocating for the mother’s needs, and supporting her through the physical and emotional challenges of childbirth. For more detailed evidence on the effectiveness of doulas, visit Evidence Based Birth.
Labor Doula
When you choose a birth doula from Reachable Wellness for the duration of your pregnancy and childbirth, you are assured comprehensive support designed to enhance your birthing experience. Here’s what you can expect:
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Personalized Prenatal Meetings: Enjoy two tailored sessions in your home, focused on preparing for your labor and birth, aligning with your personal wishes and expectations.
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24/7 Support: Receive round-the-clock support for any concerns, questions, or reassurance you might need throughout your pregnancy.
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In-Person Labor Support: Your doula will provide in-home support during labor, advising on the optimal time to head to the hospital and staying by your side to ensure you and your baby navigate the birth process smoothly.
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Continuous Labor Assistance: From facilitating comfortable positional changes and using soothing techniques like massage and breathing strategies, to offering emotional support and empowering you to communicate effectively with your healthcare provider, your doula is there to enhance your comfort and advocacy.
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Post-Birth Support: Following the birth, your doula remains with you to help with initial recovery, nourishment, and your baby’s first feeding.
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Postpartum Home Visit: Your doula will visit you at home after hospital discharge to assist with breastfeeding, offer strategies for soothing your baby, and answer any parenting questions you may have during those first crucial days.
With Reachable Wellness, a birth doula does more than just support physical birth; they enrich your entire journey to motherhood, ensuring it is as comfortable, empowering, and fulfilling as possible.
Postpartum Doula
When you choose a postpartum doula from Reachable Wellness, you are choosing a partner specially trained to support both your recovery and your newborn’s early days. Our certified postpartum doulas are experts in all aspects of postpartum physical recovery, mental health, and infant care.
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What to Expect from a Reachable Wellness Postpartum Doula:
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Emotional and Physical Support: Our doulas are skilled at identifying both normal and unusual aspects of postpartum recovery, offering constant support as you navigate the emotional transitions after childbirth.
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Parenting Philosophy Guidance: Well-versed in various parenting philosophies, your doula will help you establish and implement the parenting approach that best fits your family’s needs.
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Practical Help and Education: As baby care experts, our doulas will teach you to understand and respond to your baby’s cues and comfort them effectively. Whether you choose to breastfeed, bottle-feed, or both, your doula is trained as an Infant Feeding Specialist to assist with any feeding challenges.
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Household Assistance: Beyond caring for you and your baby, your doula can perform light household tasks, prepare meals, and help with other children, allowing you to focus on recovery and bonding with your new baby.
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Flexible, Extended Support: Our support doesn’t stop after a few weeks; it adapts to your family’s changing needs. We offer continued assistance through your baby’s second year, ensuring you have the support you need as your family grows and evolves.
Choosing a postpartum doula from Reachable Wellness means having a compassionate, professional, and knowledgeable supporter by your side, making your postpartum experience as peaceful and empowering as possible.
