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| What Does a Doula Do? |
| As a Doula, my goal is to help Mom and her Partner to have a safe and satisfying birth experience through: |
| Preparation. I will provide you with private, personalized prenatal, childbirth, postpartum and baby care education prior to your birth. I will also aid you and your partner in writing a Birth Plan or Wish List. |
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| Positioning. I will help you to assume positions in labor and during pushing that naturally enhance labor and reduce discomfort. I will also help you use a Birth Ball or Labor Tub to relax muscles and help labor along. |
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| Relaxation. I will use a combination of massage, aromatherapy, hydrotherapy, counterpressure, visualizations, breathing and other relaxation techniques to help you relax as your labor progresses. |
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| Information. I will provide you with additional information and on-the-spot childbirth education about procedures and interventions to help you make informed chioces in labor. |
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| Support. I will encourage you and support you continuously throughout your birth experience. I will stay with you until Baby is born. I will provide relief for your partner so that he/she can sleep, eat, etc. |
| As a Doula, I do not provide the following services: |
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| Clinical Tasks. I am not a midwife, doctor or nurse. I do not perform vaginal exams, monitor fetal heartbeat or administer medications. |
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| Make Medical Decisions. While I can support you and help you gather information, I can not make decisions for you or give you medical advice. |
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| Replace Your Partner. Although I sometimes work with single mothers, I can not replace the loving presence of your Partner at this important time. My role is to support your entire family throughout your birth experience. |
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