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Birth Connections is proud to offer both Labour and Postpartum Doula Services. We customize all of our packages so that they are tailored to fit your needs and those of your families.
What is a Doula?
A doula is a trained caregiver who provides physical and emotional support to a mother during labour and afterward. Doulas provide continuous care, unlike doctors and nurses that keep coming and going from the room. Doulas are trained in many different comfort techniques such as massage, acupressure, positioning and more, all to help mom throughout labour. But doulas aren't only there to provide support to mothers; they are there to support the partner as well. As doulas, we encourage the partner to take an active role in the comfort of the mother, and we are there to support and comfort both.
Why have a Doula?
Studies have shown that when doulas provide labour support, women have shorter labours, fewer medical interventions, fewer caesareans, healthier babies and are more satisfied with their experience.
Postpartum Doula vs. Labour Doula
A labour doula is there to help you with your labour and delivery. She will visit you after the birth to help with anything you need but there is usually only one visit. A postpartum doula is someone who will help after the baby is born. She can assist you with breastfeeding, caring for a new baby and a new mom, cooking, cleaning, light errands, even sibling care. It is the job of the postpartum doula to make the transition be as smooth and as stress free as possible. The postpartum doula can even work evenings and nights, to help you with those difficult times in the middle of the night!
Partners and Doulas
In years past, the fathers and partners were expected to wait in the waiting room. Now partners are expected to be actively involved. This can be very stressful for parents, especially if it is the first child. Many partners feel overwhelmed with emotions when they are solely responsible for providing support for the mother in labour. The doula is there to support both mother and partner. A doula can help give the partner the confidence and strength that is required to support a labouring woman.
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