The term Doula is an ancient Greek term meaning “a female helper”. However, over time this meaning has changed a little, and is currently more accurate to be described as a trained support person who provides non-medical support prenatally, during labor and delivery, and in the postpartum period to the birthing person and their family. Think of a doula as your personal birth coach!

For every family, there is a different reason. Some families are looking for support for the pure fact that they might not have anyone else or they might not have childcare for their other little loves at home and the other partner might need to stay at home. Others are looking for the chance to have fewer medical interventions during labor. For some, it means having someone help them to understand everything that’s happening (or not happening) during labor and birth; a translator if you will.

Research shows that people who use a birth doula are:

-less likely to need Pitocin

-less likely to have a cesarean birth

-less likely to use any pain medicine

-more likely to rate their childbirth experience positively

A doula can do anything to help the birthing person be comfortable. Massaging your back or hands, getting you more water or ice chips, talking to the nurses about things you might want but you are too focused on laboring or might be too shy to ask, running a bath, helping you get in and out of the bath, track contractions, encourage you to keep moving to help labor progress, help you focus and be aware of what’s happening with you and around you. We also take photos to help you remember the day. We can walk the halls, bounce on a yoga ball, give your partner a rest, feed you… the list goes on. We are there to support you, comfort you, advocate for you, and help you feel empowered and loved.

We support labor and birth in any setting. Whether it be at Bartlett Regional Hospital, the Juneau Family Health & Birth Center, or at your home; we will be there. I will support you and the decisions you want for your birth.

Whether it’s a romantic partner, a friend, or another family member, the birth partner’s experience matters. Doulas are there to support every birth partner in being as involved as they’d like with the birth. Physical and emotional support makes a huge difference for everyone involved.

YES! We can create what we like to call Birth Wishes, which is exactly what a birth plan is. However, calling it “Wishes” instead of a “Plan” can help if the unexpected or unplanned occurs. We can then email it to your provider’s office and ensure everyone has a copy during labor.

A doula is a non-medical support person. We cannot advise you on anything medical, we can help you break down what medical terms mean and what your options are. A nurse is a trained person who provides care within the ordering scope of the physician. A midwife is a health professional who cares for mothers and newborns around childbirth, a specialization known as midwifery. A midwife can deliver your baby and make medical decisions about your care with you. A doctor is a medical professional. An OB doctor is educated in the field of study concentrated on pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.

We are there to support you and your birth until the end. We won’t leave you if it’s past the agreed-upon time frame. When setting your contract with us, we will discuss the rates for possible overage.