A perfect birth begins with an empowered birther.
Giving birth back to the mother.
My mission is to educate, empower and support the mother as she embarks on this life changing journey. I educate through evidence based research and teach B.R.A.I.N. work that encourages the mother to make educated decisions for herself and her baby. It is through this work the mother is empowered. I provide acceptance of the mother’s rights to choose and deliver quality support throughout the journey as we place birth back into the mother’s hands. As your doula, I stay updated on local resources and aim to exceed the mother’s expectations with love.
A modern approach.
Acceptance is top priority for By You Maternal Support Services. I aim to use non-offensive language and proper pronouns when with my clients. Our services include prenatal, birth and postpartum support as well as birth education classes. Support is offered in a variety of packages to best suit your needs. All of our services are LGBTQ+ friendly and are not limited to any specific cultures or religions. By You takes an open communication approach to all circumstances so that all parties involved feel heard and loved.
What does a doula do during birth?
A doula will help you physically by:
making sure you have a constant supply of water
spending hours squeezing your hips to get you the counter-pressure you are craving
bringing tools like a robozo or yoga ball for you to use during birth
going with you for a walk if you need a change
making you laugh with a dance party when you need to pick up the energy
A doula will help you emotionally by:
reminding you that birth is normal
smiling when things are hard and giving you courage with her confidence
counteracting that voice in your head that says you can’t do it
providing you with ideas for pain management when you run out of them
suggesting different ideas that can help your labor progress if you feel stuck
encouraging you to change things up if you start to feel defeated or deflated
A doula will free up your partner to support you by:
telling your husband exactly how to press your back in the way you need
taking pictures so your partner can be right next to you instead of running around documenting everything
reminding your partner of the words you want to hear
helping your partner cope with the fact that he is witnessing you in pain and they cannot take it away no matter how much they want to
being comfortable and confident that everything that is happening as you birth is normal and okay when they are not sure
giving them a chance to take a break from supporting you so that they can take bathroom breaks, make a phone call or get something to eat
making sure that you are not alone when it is 3 in the morning and he is exhausted and needs a nap
We often say that when a baby is born, so is the mother. But it is also true that when a baby is born, so is the partner. This is a huge transition for the partner in your life as well. Having a doula means that your partner will have someone to encourage and guide them through the day as well. Often a doula can help a partner find his place in the birth room when otherwise he would be a little lost.
What does a doula do in a C-section?
She can often go into the OR with you where she can hold your hand and offer comfort
She can help you focus on the birth of your baby instead of the many distractions in the OR
She can take pictures of your first moments with baby and as a family
She can provide information about what is going on and how to cope with side effects such as shaking or nausea
Advocate for baby to be placed with you as soon as possible and sometimes help you breastfeed before transferring back to your room
What does a doula do in an emergency?
When there is an emergency during birth, everything goes very fast. Everyone on your birth team will have a job and be focused that job. Often, there is not a lot of time for communication about the details of what is going on and why. A doula can sometimes provide information about what is going on and improve communication.
In a nutshell…
A doula does many things. She is with you through the unfolding of your birth experience and will support you in many various and unique ways through the journey. She is not occupied by medical tasks or on a shift. She is your person start to finish to help you have the best experience possible. Having a doula doesn’t guarantee you will get everything you want during your birth, but it does mean that no matter what happens you will have a person equipped to support you by your side helping you navigate the new and unfamiliar waters.
