A Doula is a labor Assistant

Doula is from the Greek referring to a woman who helps other women. A Doula is someone who helps women and is partners during labor and birth through massage, relaxation, positioning and breathing. A Doula also helps families learn about information to help them to have a better birth experience. Doulas help to create an environment of safety for the mother so that she can allow her body to relax and work without feeling tense and threatened. She is not there as a medical advise. A Doula works for you!

Benefits of having a Doula

  • Shorter labor of about 25-50%
  • Decrease the chance of c-section by up to 50%
  • Decrease the need for pain medication by 30-60%
  • Help Fathers to participate with confidence
  • Increased success in breastfeeding
  • Greater satisfaction about the birth
  • Decrease the use of forceps by 40%
  • Reduce the use of Pitocin
Source: Klaus, Marshall H.,John H. Kennell, and Phyllis H. Klaus: Mothering the Mother: how a doula can help you have a shorter, easier, and healthier birth. Reading Pereus Books, 1993

As a Doula

I provide physical and emotional help to women and their partners in labor. I will help you with your labor through massage, relaxation, breathing, positioning, and other comfort measures. I want to help you to have the best birth experience possible for you whether you choose to have a natural birth, one that is medicated for pain, or have a cesarean. The choice is yours and I am here to support you in that choice. I want to help you to have a positive memory about this special day.

I will become your doula after I meet and agree on the services that I will provide. during our prenatal visits I will learn what you will want during your labor and birth. I can then help you communicate these things to the medical personnel at your birth. I will also help you to stay on track with your birth plan as much as nature and birth permits. I will remain with you throughout your labor starting from when you feel that I am needed until up to a few hours after you have given birth.



Services Provided

  • An initial free interview.
  • One-two prenatal visits.
  • I will be available 24 hours a day, 3 weeks before your due date until the baby is born.
  • I will be available for you to call and email me with questions before and after the births.
  • Help in writing your birth plan.
  • I will be with you throughout your labor and birth.
  • Use of my books and videos on pregnancy and childbirth.
  • Help with initial breastfeeding immediately following the delivery and for the next few days as needed.
  • A postpartum visit within a month of the birth to discuss the birth and help with any new questions you might have.
  • Pictures of you, your husband, and your baby after the birth as the situation permits.
  • You will receive a CD of the pictures at the postpartum visit.

Doulas and epidurals

Even if you plan on getting an epidural a doula can be a great help to you. There is always the chance that an epidural may not work properly or that you can’t receive one for one reason or another. if the epidural does work out great, it is nice to have someone there that knows about birth, and can help to relieve any tension or fears that you may have about birth and what is happening to you at that time. A doula can also help you to stay on track with your birth plan as much as possible at this point.

Doulas and cesareans

A doula can help you to begin breastfeeding after the surgery and can stay with you while dad goes with the baby to the nursery. This way you are never left alone after surgery.

Doulas and Dad’s

As a Doula I try very hard to make sure that the father is involved in the birth of his child as much as he wants to be. I work with the father to help him to know what to do to comfort you and to give you both reassurance when things can get long and tiring. it can be very hard for your husband to see you in pain and discomfort as you are someone that he loves very much, as a doula I can remain objective and calm and help to remove any fears that the two of you might have.

Fees

The fee for my services as a doula are $300-$450.

I have payment plans and do work on the barter system if you have something to offer in trade.

Things that have been offered are:

  • Cooking
  • Babysitting
  • Filing
  • Scrapbooking
  • Yard and house repairs etc. . . .

Make me an offer, you never know what I may need.

We had a wonderful experience with Megan Keller as our doula for the birth of our second child, Maxwell. When I decided to try my labor and birth naturally, Megan was an excellent resource of information. A month or two prior to my due date, we invited her into our home to answer our questions and to help Paul and I with various birthing positions that we might choose to use when the time came. I brought up my many concerns and she answered every single question that I had and was very patient, professional and kind.

I will be forever grateful to Megan for the service she rendered during the birth of my son. I am proud of myself and know that I couldn’t have done it without Megan!

-Aubrey Petersen

Megan was a great help to us leading up to and during the birth of our second child. As soon as my wife decided that she wanted to try a natural birth we knew that we could use some outside help. Megan was helpful in explaining and answering questions that we had. She was always honest with us and let us know that she would be willing to help as much or as little as we thought was necessary. During the birth she was there to help and remind us of all the things we had previously spoken about and was very helpful is letting the hospital staff know what my wife’s concerns were and made sure that they were addressed. We had a great experience with Megan and would highly recommend her.

-Paul Petersen

Heather received her training through  DONA (Doulas of North America) and ALACE (association of labor assistants and childbirth educators). She has taken their basic training and an advanced course for doulas.  She became a Doula after using one during the birth of her second child.  The doula's help before and during labor  made all the difference in the world.  Heather hopes that she can provide the same positive experience for you.