The Birth Doula...
- Recognizes childbirth as a key life experience that the
mother will remember all her life.
- Understands and trusts the process of birth and the
emotional needs of a woman in labor.
- Is experienced and trained in providing labor support.
- Meets with expectant couples during pregnancy to get
acquainted, explore and discuss their priorities, fears and
concerns, go over labor positions, comfort measures, pain
management, process your birth wishes to create a birth
plan if so desired.
- Provides emotional support and physical comfort
measures to birthing women and families from early labor
until after childbirth.
- Provides suggestion in labor for: comfort, pain
management, and enhancing the progress of labor.
- Acts as a liaison between the laboring couple and the
medical staff to facilitate communication and help the
woman get the information she needs to make informed
decisions.
- Supports the informed choices of her clients.
- Inspires confidence in a woman's ability to give birth in
her own best way.
- Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the
woman's memory of her birth experience.
- Offers resources and information.
The Birth Doula Does Not...
- Perform clinical tasks, such as fetal heart tone checks or
vaginal exams. She is not there for medical reasons, other
than to provide support.
- Make decisions for you. She will help get the information
necessary for parents to make an informed decision and
the one that is right for them.
- Speak to the medical staff instead of the laboring woman
regarding matters where decisions are being made. She
will discuss your concerns with you and the staff and
suggest options, but you or your partner will speak on
your behalf to the medical staff.
- Replace the partner during labor. She supports and
encourages the partner and enhances their support style
rather than replace it.

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