Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Doula?

The word “doula” comes from ancient Greek. It's meaning is "A woman who serves" or "Woman's servant".

A trained companion who is NOT a medical professional, who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to a mother before, during and shortly after childbirth to help her achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible. There are also death doulas, doulas who support after miscarriage, still birth, and more.

“From the beginning of time, women have been cared for and nurtured as they become mothers. Family, friends and neighbors from the community would rally around the new family to help guide them through their tender early weeks and months with a new baby. With time, this has become a profession.” From DONA international

What is a Birth Keeper?

Birth Keeper was a term coined by the late Jeannine Parvati Baker, referring to a woman who not only supports as a doula, but more importantly advocates and encourages women to know their rights regarding a physiological birth. The mother should trust her instincts and knowledge above all else in pregnancy and birth. A Birth keeper posses the knowledge and wisdom surrounding physiological birth and her support is not limited by a "scope", allowing her to provide specific support to each individual woman's desire (without providing medical care). There are no limits or regulations on what a birth keeper can or cannot do in a non-medical way during birth.

"We are the keepers of sacred space." 

-Desirae Miller, Co-founder of HERBAL

Is a Doula the same as a midwife?

No, a midwife is a trained health professional who helps healthy women during labor, delivery, and after the birth of their babies. Midwives may deliver babies at birthing centers or at home, but most can also deliver babies at a hospital. When needed, midwives will make referrals to Doctors, and often work closely with OB-GYNs.

Midwives can have different levels of training:

• Certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) are registered nurses who have graduated from an accredited nurse-midwifery education program and have passed a national exam. They can practice in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

• Certified midwives (CMs) are non-nurse midwives who have a bachelor's degree or higher in a health field, have completed an accredited midwifery education program, and have passed a national exam. Only a few states permit CMs to practice.

• Certified professional midwives (CPMs) are non-nurse midwives who have training and clinical experience in childbirth, including childbirth outside of the hospital, and have passed a national exam. Not all states permit CPMs to practice.

• Lay midwives are not certified or licensed but have apprenticed or received informal training.
  

Will doula support replace my partner?

Absolutely NOT! Doulas love partners, and partners love doulas. One father referred to me as “the QB” of the birth. Doula support is designed to HELP your partner know what to do, and take away the stress/ worry, so they can focus on you and your sweet baby. Your partner knows you better than anyone, your doula knows birth and is there to help in any way needed to support YOU.

What happens if a Cesarean is needed or I choose to have a C-section?

Sometimes birth doesn’t go the way we imagined, and sometimes, cesarean is chosen. Whatever the reason, there are many ways a doula can support you and your partner through surgery. You still have rights, choices, and a voice during the birth of your baby. Currently, most hospitals only allow certified doulas, and one support person. As your doula, I can help you navigate the ins and outs of cesarean birth and recovery, and document with photos, if you’d so desire.

What does the evidence show on doula support?

From a PubMed article: Continuous support for women during childbirth, July 15, 2013

Ellen D Hodnett 1, Simon Gates, G Justus Hofmeyr, Carol Sakala

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23076901/

Main results: Twenty-two trials involving 15,288 women met inclusion criteria and provided usable outcome data. Results are of random-effects analyses, unless otherwise noted.

·      More likely to have a spontaneous vaginal birth (15% increase in likelihood)

·      Less likely to use any medication for pain relief (10% decrease)

·      Less likely to report dissatisfaction with the birth experience (31% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied)

·      Labors were shorter (by 41 minutes on average)

·      Less likely to have a caesarean (25-39% decrease)

·      38% decrease in baby’s risk of low five minute APGAR score

Authors' conclusions: Continuous support during labor has clinically meaningful benefits for women and infants and no known harm. All women should have support throughout labor and birth.

How do you manage Doula support and photography at the same time?

While my role as Doula can be physical during labor; there will be moments when you won’t need my physical presence as close (for instance while partner is helping you with a position or hip squeeze, or you are pushing your baby earth-side or nursing). In those moments, I will be documenting your birth and coaching you with my presence, words and information.

Why did you become a doula?

I can’t explain this in any other way but I’ve been called to this work. It is in every bone of my body to serve and help others. I have big love to share and my passion is in communication (my first job as a SLP), and childbirth. In short: a journey of infertility, a traumatic cesarean birth, miscarriage, and then a redemptive unmedicated VBAC with my rainbow baby led me here. I want nothing more than to help women through pregnancy, birth and motherhood. Trauma is currently reported in 1/3 births, and I want to help women avoid this. You deserve to know all the things, have a voice during pregnancy and labor/ birth, and feel supported. This is why I do what I do.

What is your education?

I am a Certified Holistic Birth keeper & Doula through HERBAL- Holistically Empowered Rebel Birth keeper’s Academy of Learning through H.E.R.B.A.L, I’m certified through VBAC Pro Academy on VBAC birth, hold a Masters degree in Speech-language Pathology, from Northern Arizona University, an undergraduate degree from Arizona State University, and believe learning is never-ending. I often read several books at a time and am a self-proclaimed book hoarder. My education and learning will continue my entire life.