The term ‘Doula’ comes from Ancient Greek: δούλα. Its original meaning is “a woman who serves.” Now it is used to describe a person who provides physical, emotional, spiritual, & educational support during pregnancy in preparation for birth, during labor, as well as in the initial postpartum period
Doulas Support mamas and their partners in five ways:
Physical- Comfort measures may include; hand/back massage, suggestions for position changes, use of the birthing ball etc.
Emotional- actively listen to how you are doing/feeling, provide encouragement during birth and give you space to process the birth at a post partum visit- if desired.
Spiritual- learn about and respect your faith/religious/cultural practices
Educational- provide current research on evidence based maternity care, giving you a thorough packet of resources/educational hand outs. Help you create a birth vision, & meet to discuss what to expect during labor and help you understand the birth process.
Communication- Encourage you and your partner to be reminded of your birth vision and work with your birth team to ensure you are heard and supported; doulas do not speak for you but rather empower you/your partner to ask questions.
* Doulas DO NOT provide medical care, advice or interpretations
Doulas empower you to make informed choices during pregnancy & birth and encourage you to trust in your body's ability to birth.
"My husband and I were unsure if we wanted a doula at first. We wanted to keep our birth space intimate and personal. After we met with Michaela, we were sure we wanted to invite her into our birth space! From the moment we met, she felt just like a girlfriend! She is so kind, personable and is such a great listener! Our meetings were always so fun! Michaela was an amazing educator of all things birth for my husband and I. She gave us lots of evidence based information so we could make informed decisions for our birth and baby. She was always available through email to answer any questions I had during my pregnancy! When I was in labor, she met needs I didn’t even know I had! She did things like put my hair up out of my face, gave me juice when my energy was running low and put oil on my forehead (this felt amazing) when I was having a difficult time! Her care for my husband and I was so well rounded and holistic. She supported us perfectly through every part of my pregnancy, birth and postpartum. She was truly a God send! " - Phoebe
“Birth is not only about making babies. Birth is about making mothers — strong, competent, capable mothers who trust themselves and know their inner strength."- Barbara Katz Rothman
Your Birth & Baby
The birth of your baby is a powerful journey, not only are you bringing life into the world, you are also becoming a mother and creating a family of three (or more!). You deserve to be supported through it all! It is your body, birth, and baby and it is my desire to help you explore the choices you have when preparing for your birth and postpartum period.