What is a birth doula?​
-A birth doula is a person trained and experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after childbirth.

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- Where does the word “doula” come from?
The word “doula” comes from ancient Greek, meaning “Woman’s servant.” Throughout history and in much of the world today, a cadre of women support a woman through labor and birth, giving back rubs and providing continuous emotional support. Like their historical counterparts, DONA International birth doulas know how to help a woman in labor feel better. However, today’s doulas are much more diverse than their predecessors. DONA International membership includes men and women from a wide range of ages and cultural backgrounds.

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- What effects does the presence of a doula have on birth outcomes?
Numerous clinical studies have found that a doula’s presence at birth:

tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications
reduces negative feelings about one’s childbirth experience
reduces the need for pitocin (a labor-inducing drug), forceps or vacuum extractionreduces the requests for pain medication and epidurals, as well as the incidence of cesareans
 

- What effects does the presence of a doula have on the mother?
When a doula is present during and after childbirth, women report greater satisfaction with their birth experience, make more positive assessments of their babies, have fewer cesareans and requests for medical intervention, and less postpartum depression.

- What effects do the presence of doulas have on babies?
Studies have shown that babies born with doulas present tend to have shorter hospital stays with fewer admissions to special care nurseries, breastfeed more easily and have more affectionate mothers in the postpartum period.

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- How do doulas practice?
Doulas practice in three ways: privately hired directly by clients, as hospital employees, and as volunteers in community or hospital programs.

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- Does a doula replace nursing staff?
No. Doulas do not replace nurses or other medical staff. Doulas do not perform clinical or medical tasks such as taking blood pressure or temperature, monitoring fetal heart rate, doing vaginal examinations or providing postpartum clinical care. They are there to comfort and support the mother and to enhance communication between the mother and medical professionals.

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- Does a doula make decisions on my behalf?
A doula does not make decisions for clients or intervene in their clinical care. She provides informational and emotional support, while respecting a woman’s decisions.

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-Will a doula make my partner feel unnecessary?
No, a doula is supportive to both the mother and her partner, and plays a crucial role in helping a partner become involved in the birth to the extent he/she feels comfortable.

The above was extracted from DONA International.

Find out more about doulas on Dona International

Literature & Resources 

​​DVD​​

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Orgasmic Birth

Birth As We Know It
The Business of Being Born
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Websites & Literature on the net
Orgasmicbirth.com
BirthIntoBeing.com
MamaSource.com

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http://www.worldprayers.org/



Delayed Cord Clamping Should Be Standard Practice in Obstetrics



Books
Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina Gaskin
Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin
Pregnancy Chidbirth and the Newborn 4th ed.  by Simkin,Whalley,Keppler,Durham & Bolding.
The Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav
Self-Awakening Yoga: The Expansion of Consciousness
Own Your Own Power by Rosemary Altea
You are a Spiritual Being Having a Human Experience by Bob Frissell





















​I offer prenatal yoga and labor support on Long Island and in the Queens area of NY.  I am a very proud member of the Long Island Doula Association.

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​KarmaWaves Birth Doula Services include :​



• 2 Personalized Prenatal Meetings
• 1 back up Doula
• Optional Prenatal Yoga (for additional fee)
• Ongoing  e-mail support 
• Birth Plan/Preferences Consultations, as needed
• Resource Information
• 24 hour on-call labor support as of 2 weeks prior to your estimated due date
• Continuous emotional, physical, and informational presence during your labor and birth
• One post-partum visit to admire your baby, answer questions, and provide referrals
• Please feel encouraged to contact me with questions or if you would like to set up an interview