I am a Certified Doula, Licensed Massage Practitioner, Childbirth Educator and
Postpartum Doula. I have been specializing in Pregnancy Massage
since 1999; I became a Birth Doula and Childbirth Educator in 2001, and a
Postpartum doula in 2002.
Services I Provide:
As your doula, I accompany you into labor to help ensure a safe
and satisfying birth experience. I provide emotional support, physical comfort,
and facilitate communication between you and your Health Care Practitioner, as
needed. I provide reassurance, encouragement and perspective to you and your
partner; make suggestions to aid in the progress of labor, and help with
position changes, massage, relaxation methods and other techniques for easing
labor pain.
I provide my doula services for all births, with all Health Care Providers (OB,
General Practice Doctor or Midwife), at any place of birth (home, hospital,
birth center).
Additionally, I have the Aqua Doula labor
and birth tub for rent.
My Doula Services Include:
Free consultation visit
2 Pre-natal visits in your home
Reviewing Birth Preferences list
Phone consultations throughout pregnancy
Continuous labor support until after the birth
Photography or video taping at the
birth
References and resources
Breastfeeding help
2 Post-partum visits
Benefits of a Doula:
Labor support has been used by women for centuries, as women
would gather to help other women through the normal and natural course of
childbirth.
Research has shown that the presence of a Doula during labor and childbirth can
reduce the length of labor, decrease the use of interventions, and decrease the
need for medication.*
*Mothering the Mother, Kennel, Klaus and Klaus.
Labor Massage:
During labor your body is working hard to open
your cervix and move your baby through the birth canal. You may feel stress in
your back, hips, legs, shoulders and arms from trying to accommodate your body's
needs in labor. Labor massage can help relax and rejuvenate tired, sore,
and overworked muscles.
Labor massage also:
Contributes to shorter, less painful labor.*
Reduces labor
complications, medications and interventions*
Improves
infant well-being*
*Pre-and Perinatal Massage Therapy, Osborne-Sheets
Pregnancy Massage:
Massage during pregnancy, as with other times in
your life, can reduce stress and promote relaxation.
Pregnancy massage can also:
Reduce musculoskeletal strains and pain related to pregnancy.
Reduce edema by gently pushing fluid into the circulatory system.
