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.