Doula - Professional Labor Companion and Postpartum Support
I am completing my certification through Birth Arts International's
Monitrice Program (title for those individuals who surround, interact with and aid the
mother at any time within the perinatal period; professional labor companion and postpartum support). This certification program is extensive and exploratory in nature. Students learn how to
work prenatally, during the labor and the postpartum period, serving
the needs of the mother and her family. In addition, I volunteer as a birth doula with the Bronx Volunteer Project.
As a Monitrice, more widely known as a
doula, I provide continuous support to women during the labor and birth process. As a postpartum doula I provide support to women after the birth of the baby. This postpartum support is based on the needs of the Mother-Baby dyad and may include; breastfeeding support, early parent education, newborn basics, easing into postpartum life, mother-infant care.
To schedule my services or make an appointment for a free consultation click here.The Doula's History
Throughout the ages, in nearly all societies for which we have records,
women have been helped and comforted in labor by other women. These
women stayed throughout labor providing physical comfort, emotional
reassurance, and information. Essentially, labor support is "mothering
the mother." Today, labor support professionals called doulas (DOO-lah;
Greek for "woman who serves") are
trained to provide the comfort and
care women need during labor. The Doula at a turning point in the history of childbirth (extract from "The Farmer and the Obstetrician" by Michel Odent. Free Association books 2002)
Benefits of a Professional Labor Companion
- 26% less likely to give birth by cesarean section
- 41% less likely to give birth with vacuum extraction or forceps
- 28% less likely to use any pain medications and
- 33% less likely to be dissatisfied with or negatively rate their birth experience (Hodnett and colleagues 2004).Courtesy of Childbirth Connection
Women who had continuous one-to-one labor support were less likely to:
- have regional analgesia/anesthesia
- have any analgesia/anesthesia
- have an instrumental vaginal birth (forceps/vacuum extraction)
- have a cesarean birth
- report dissatisfaction or negative rating of the childbirth experience
- they were more likely to have a spontaneous vaginal birth (Data Source: Continuous support for women during childbirth, Hodnett and colleagues 2007)
My philosophy
- It is my responsibility to promote and inform you about the normalcy of pregnancy and childbirth.
- Pregnancy is not an illness to be cured and managed, but a normal part of a woman's life cycle.
- If your pregnancy, labor or birth deviates from a natural and predictable physiological course I will encourage you to use your inner strength and instincts to give birth.
Scope of Practice
As your Doula I will…
- Hold a sacred space for you where you feel listened
to, respected and safe.
- Remind you to not make decisions based
on fear or a lack of understanding, but based on your vision for your birth,
your heart and sound evidence based practices.
- Provide physical, informational and emotional
support.
- Provide you with proven techniques
and skills for coping with labor using natural methods.
- Share evidence based information
about medical interventions and the impact on labor, birth and the newborn.
- Support your labor and birth preferences as your
personal choices regardless of my personal views.
Learn more about my services
Woman's Way Doula Group
I
am a member of Woman's Way Doula Group. Woman's Way is a group of doulas working together to support pregnant and laboring women and their families in New York City and Westchester County. Our passion is birth. We believe every woman deserves to have the opportunity to birth in her own way with a supportive team by her side. All of our doulas believe in unconditional support for women and families and we look forward to serving anyone who comes our way. If you have questions
contact me by calling 914-595-2065 or by email You may also visit our website click here.
To learn more about Doulas click on the play button.