What's a doula even for?

Your belly is growing, birth is approaching, and you and your husband are scrambling to research. But what if you miss something? What if labor goes totally different than you expect? What if...?

Parents aren't meant to carry that pressure. You, as a mom, are reaching a massive moment in your life: the birth of your baby. And you should be free to focus on designing a nursery instead of researching complications.

Enter the doula in her cape. (Okay, I don't actually wear a cape, but I'm kinda like superman.) I'm the one who's up to date on the most recent natural birth methods. I understand the way your hospital works (if you're choosing one) and exactly what to do if a complication comes up. I can explain things in an easy-to-understand way from an unbiased perspective, equipping you to make the decisions stress-free that are best for your baby. I've talked with you about your preferences and can communicate them to your birth team so that you don't have to worry about something being forgotten. Not only that, but because of our fun prenatals, we'll know each other really well and be comfortable with massage and positions that will make your birth so much more relaxing and natural.

Do I get in the way of your husband/sister/mom/best friend who might be in the room? Not at all. I free them up to focus on YOU. I allow them to relax and just be there. I can free them to be the familiar presence that you need them to be. And guys, it's going to be great. With me there as your advocate, information source, and guide, you and the other people on your team can focus on laughing, breathing, and letting this baby come.

Not only that, but it's been shown that a partner's closeness during birth creates a hormonal surge that speeds up labor (read a really cool study about it here: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10261844/). By freeing up your husband to be by your side, you'll feel calmer and safer, creating the perfect environment for a beautiful birth.

No couple wants a doula for exactly the same reasons, and we'll discuss that in our prenatals. Maybe you want your husband to massage you but he doesn't know how? I'll teach him. Maybe you're afraid that medical professionals will over step their boundaries? I'll advocate for you. Maybe you just want me there in the corner, or maybe you want me completely hands-on...either way, I'm there for you. And if you don't know how you want to be supported, don't worry about it! I've learned to read laboring women's body language pretty well, so it's no problem. Labor is never the same way twice, and that's a beautiful thing.

Reach out to me in the "contact" section for a free Meet and Greet! And by the way, I only charge what you can afford, so don't let that keep you back from the birth support you deserve.

-Welcome Life Doula