Pregnancy and Parenting Education Program
As
women and their partners begin to explore the options for their
birth, they may be interested to learn about the support
services of a Doula.
Doulas are trained professionals who offer support to expectant
mothers and their partners during childbirth and during the
postpartum period. Doulas are not medical professionals.
They are trained to offer emotional support and guidance during
labor.
Doulas can become credentialed or certified by various
childbirth education organizations usually after completing
several steps; attending workshops and childbirth
education classes, completing reading assignments, attending the
birth of several clients and receiving evaluation for that work
from the midwife or doctor present at the labor.
Why do women need a Doula?
There is
research that shows birth outcomes are significantly better
when the laboring woman is assisted during labor by an
additional support person other than her medical care provider.
Doulas offer continuous support, allowing the birth partner of
family member to take a break if he/she needs to. A Doula
can give guidance to the birth partner as well as the mother in
terms of the best ways to handle her labor. Doulas can be
trained to offer postpartum support to mothers without access to
their family network, providing companionship, household help,
infant care while mother rests and infant feeding support.
Find out more about Doulas
