Blissful Initiations Doula Services Olympia,WA

What is a Doula?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           The word "Doula" comes from the ancient Greek meaning "a woman who serves.

 A Birth Doula provides continuous comfort, encouragement, and reassurance through respect

for women in labor.  This includes physical , emotional and  informational support for mothers

 and their partners before, during and after birth.  Techniques utilized include relaxation,

                        breathing, movement, massage, and positioning to aide labor progress. 

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 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

Doulas specialize in non-medical skills and do not perform clinical tasks.

Most importantly, doulas do not make decisions for their clients or

project their own values and goals onto the laboring woman. 

   My goal is to make every birth I attend an empowering, positive experience.

Benefits of hiring a Doula include:

 reduction in the cesarean rate

 shorter labor

 reduction in epidural requests

 reduction in oxytocin use

 reduction in analgesia use

 reduction in forceps delivery

 You may also have improved breastfeeding,

 increased time spent with baby,

and decreased postpartum depression

 Information obtained from:

Mothering the Mother: How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter Easier and Healthier Birth

Klaus, Kennell, and Klaus (1993)