What is a doula? 
The word "doula" comes from the ancient Greek meaning "a woman who serves" and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period.
Studies have shown that when doulas attend birth, labors are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they breastfeed more easily.
A Birth Doula
- Recognizes birth as a key experience the mother will remember all her life
- Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor
- Assists the woman in preparing for and carrying out her plans for birth
- Stays with the woman throughout the labor
- Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint, as well as helping the woman get the information she needs to make informed decision
- Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and her clinical care providers
- Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the woman's memory of the birth experience
- Allows the woman's partner to participate at his/her comfort level
Fee: $1000
Services include:
Two in person visits before your birth to get to know you & discuss your birth plan.
Unlimited phone & email support before and after the birth.
Unlimited support during your whole birth including massage and acupuncture as desired.
One in person post-partum visit.
A written copy of your birth story.
"I knew I wanted Yiska to be my doula after she took care of me the whole ninth month of my pregnancy when my back was out. She gave me massage and acupuncture twice a week up until I went into labor and I was thrilled that it was she who would support us at the birth. Yiska's confident and soft presence, her knowledge of the body, and her incredible hands is exactly what I wanted for my birth. She knew exactly the right things to say and exactly the right way to touch me throughout it all. The couple of moments when I thought, I can't do this, Yiska's magical words and general way kept me focused. The bonus of course was her writing up our birth story post-labor. What a gift."
Birth Testimonial, A.I., Mother
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