Blessed Birth Services (757) 896-9809 or (757) 622-2791 Southeast Virginia's Homebirth Resource

Doula Services

You can search for doulas through many organizations online, including DONA, ALACE, ICEA, and CBI.  The ladies on our list have the special BBS stamp of approval.  Some of these gals are certified through a doula organization, some are nurses, some are students, and some are moms who have been blessed with the gift of helping pregnant women.  They have all the skills to help at hospital births and they have been specially trained to help at homebirths.

These women do not work for Blessed Birth Services, they work for you.  You will contract with them for fees, time, on-call schedules and so forth.  We encourage you to give each lady a call and talk about what they have to offer and how they would fit in at your birth.  

Amelia Avila, CD (DONA) Candidate
Christine Morales, CD (DONA)
Amara Minnis, CD (DONA), PCD (DONA)

What Is A Doula?
The word doula comes from the Greek and means "in service of".  A doula is a woman trained and experienced in childbirth. The doula’s role is to provide physical, emotional, and informational support to women and their partners during pregnancy, labor and birth. She will assist you in gathering information about pregnancy, labor, birth plans and your options for birthing.  The doula also offers help and advice on comfort measures such as breathing, relaxation, massage, movement and positioning to help you through your labor and delivery.  Perhaps the most crucial role of the doula is providing continuous emotional reassurance and comfort throughout your pregnancy and after the birth.  The doula may be knowledgeable about breastfeeding and she may be able to help you begin nursing your baby shortly after delivery.  Some doulas are willing to help around the house before and after the baby comes so that you may have time to get ready for your baby and recover from your labor.

Why Use a Doula?
In order to have a positive birth experience, most women need continuous labor support. Although OB nurses are experienced in dealing with a laboring woman’s emotional and physical needs, they can seldom guarantee the support they provide will last throughout the labor - especially in hospital settings where shift changes, coffee breaks, heavy paperwork and busy nights regularly occur. Some OB nurses handle up to SIX laboring couples at a time. Midwives may be able to offer more labor support, but they too have clinical duties to which they must attend.  A doula will assist your husband by offering suggestions for things that will help you during labor (position changes, massage, breathing techniques etc...) a doula will allow your husband to take a coffee break or potty break knowing that you are in good hands - he will not be leaving you ALONE to labor by yourself or with a nurse you have never met before, a doula can remind you to eat and drink, a doula can act as the liaison between your family and the medical personnel - helping you make an informed decision about procedures the medical staff might want to do.
 
Studies have shown that the use of a doula decreases:*
· Rate of cesarean birth by 50%
· Length of labor by 25%
· Pitocin use by 40%
· Narcotics use by 30%
· Epidural use by 60%
· Forceps use by 30%

Use of a doula has shown:*
· An increase in successful breastfeeding.
· An increase of maternal satisfaction.
· Less postpartum depression.
· Fathers participate with confidence.
· An increased satisfaction with partner.

*Mothering the Mother, How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter, Easier and Healthier Birth, by Klaus, Kennell, and Klaus (1993)

Will the Doula Replace the Father?
Some fathers or partners are concerned they may be sidelined or replaced by the doula during labor. Although individual situations vary, generally the answer to this question is no - she will not replace him. Studies have shown that fathers usually participate more actively during labor in the presence of a doula than without one. A responsible doula supports and encourages the father and enhances his support style rather than replaces him.