What is a doula?
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The term doula is Greek for slave or servant. In recent times, it has come to mean someone that provides continuous emotional and physical support during pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum. A doula has skills that have been medically proven (evidence based) to make a true difference in the experience of birth and postpartum. Evidence shows that labor will be shorter, less need for medical intervention and fewer cesareans. When using a doula, women see themselves as better and more confident mothers.
In doing this, the doula recognizes and understands
birth as a key life changing experience that a mother will remember all her life. She also has a
good understanding of the physiology of birth and the emotional needs a woman has in labor. She
will assist the woman and her partner in preparing for and carrying out their plans for the birth.
During the birth, the doula mentors the partner in providing labor support. The partner is able to
participate at a level of confidence. |
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Doulas also stay by the side of the laboring woman through the entire labor. As she is doing this she is providing continuous emotional support (mothering the mother), physical comfort measures (non-medical type pain relief), an objective view point and assistance to the mother in getting the information she needs to make good choices regarding her and her baby's care. Doulas see their role as one who nurtures and protects the woman's memory of her birth experience.
A doula doesn't speak for the couple, or provide medical or clinical skills. She does facilitate communication between the laboring woman, her partner and health care providers.
Taken from Mothering the Mother by Klaus, Kennell, Klaus, 1993 |
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What types of doula services does Robin Sharples-Ray offer?
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Doula services include...
- A minimum of one to a maximum of three in home visits- this includes one post-partum visit after the birth of the baby.
- Unlimited phone consultations. When not in labor, office hours are between 9:00am and 5:00pm, email consultations are also welcomed
- Assistance in writing up a birth preference list or birth plan.
- Emotional support for the mother and her labor partner.
- Physical comfort measures, utilizing labor coping skills.
- Early labor support at home.
- Continued emotional and physical support at the birth location.
- Massage and other non-medical pain relief techniques.
- Positioning suggestions during labor and birth for comfort and progress.
- Support for her partner so that he/she can love and encourage the laboring woman.
- Acting as an advocate or “guardian” of the mother and labor partner's wishes for the birth.
- Help temper the environment (i.e. reduce noise levels, heat regulation, phone messages, etc.)
- Consumer advocacy
- V.B.A.C support
- Respect for privacy of both partners
- Photography
- On-call status-4 weeks prior to due date until birth.
- Breastfeeding assistance during the recovery period or at the post-partum visit.
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Photo Courtesy of www.purechildphotography.com |
As a doula, I will not...
- Speak for you or make decisions on your behalf
- “Take over” the partner's role of primary support (unless partner is absent or chooses to not participate)
- Make medical judgments or recommendations.
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I follow the Scope of Practice as outlined by Doulas of North America and have been certified with them since 1997 |
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What can I expect at my Prenatal doula visits?
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Robin offers free initial consultations at any time in your pregnancy. Prenatal visits may be scheduled in your last trimester and the postpartum visit is usually done two weeks after the birth of baby.
In prenatal visits Robin discusses the benefits of having a doula, her role in your birth, and answering any questions you may have on the birth process or possible procedures. Robin will also explore any fears or concerns you have regarding birth. Finally, and most importantly, mom's partner will share about their role and involvement during labor and birth so Robin can help them participate at a comfortable level.
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After this discussion, you may choose to write a birth plan or birth preference list to use as a communication tool for your partner, doctor and doula. Robin can provide examples of birth plans as well as websites to visit to help you form your own unique plan. This plan is used so everyone involved is aware of your wishes for your birth. The plan also discusses labor preferences such as walking, hydrotherapy, epidural or medicine preferences and can also cover post birth desires such as bonding and breastfeeding with in moments of birth.
When you hire Robin she is available through unlimited phone contact (9:00am-5:00pm) or e-mail. In addition, Robin can offer options for prelabor discomfort and nutritional support. Robin appreciates updates from you after you have seen the doctor or midwife to let her know what concerns you have addressed during prenatal visits. |
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What can I expect at my doula labor and birth?
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Robin's on-call status (24hours, 7days/week) starts 4 weeks before your due date. Phone calls in the middle of the night are okay!! Labor support begins when you feel you need her help. Robin will be there to support you whether it is in your home during early labor, just before you go to the hospital or shortly after you arrive at the hospital. She offers continuous support for as long as you are in labor. During labor she will provide massage tools, birth balls, essential oils for aromatherapy. Robin will also help with some body massage, suggestions for beneficial positions for labor and lots of assurance and encouragement as you labor. In addition, she is there to support your partner during labor by giving necessary breaks so they can recharge. |
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There is also informational/educational support to help you make decisions regarding your care should you need. Robin will also advocate for those decisions during your labor. If a cesarean is necessary, she can be part of the support team as decided by you and your care providers. Also, Robin can stay with you after the cesarean while your partner follows baby to the nursery. She can also help you breastfeed while still in recovery after surgery. |
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What can I expect after my doula assisted birth?
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Immediately after birth Robin will help you initiate breastfeeding. She will help with proper positioning of baby to the breast and help you find a comfortable position to hold your newborn. Robin is also available to take photographs of your new family.
Once you return home, there is unlimited phone contact for you and your partner regarding your postpartum recovery and the baby's development. Robin also offers breastfeeding support in the days after you birth. Assistance is available in helping you find good resources for furthering your parenting skills when needed.
The two week visit addresses any remaining questions you may have regarding your birth experience, parenting or feeding concerns. After the two week visit, Robin is available by phone or e-mail to answer any questions regarding your recovery and transition to parenthood. Robin truly enjoys hearing from you and staying in touch for as long as you are parents!
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Testimonials for doula assisted birth
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I chose a doula for peace of mind. I had a highly qualified and compassionate person experienced in childbirth who was there for me and me only. Knowing I had Robin as my doula really eased my mind and trust me, I needed all the help I could get! -
Kelly
We chose to use a doula because I was really hoping for a drug-free birth and had read the statistics on how a doula would increase the chances of that happening. Having Robin there let me and my husband be more comfortable laboring at home for as long as I could and we were able to have a successful and completely natural birth experience. -
Jennifer |
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I chose to hire a doula for the birth of my third child because I felt she would help me to maintain more control over the process and avoid some of the disappointments which had occurred during my previous birth experiences. It was the best prenatal decision I ever made! Robin took such good care of me, and she advocated for me so that I didn't feel rushed or pressured as I had in the past. I was finally able to enjoy my son's birth on my own terms and at my own pace. I wish that I had met Robin years earlier. I am very grateful for the service she provided. - Shannon
On the recommendation of a close friend, I chose to have a doula. Since my sisters and mother all live out-of-state and I desired a doula to support me and my husband in my first birth which ultimately resulted in a C-section and our 10 pound 6 ounce son. When I found out my second child was also going to be of large birth weight and I was going to have a C-section, Robin was kind enough to provide postpartum doula care for me on the “night shift” for my 4 day hospital stay. I was able to successfully get my second son to “latch on”, setting us both up for a satisfying and rewarding breastfeeding experience. My gift to my sisters when their time comes is to find a doula for them too! -
Joanne |
As my due date grew closer, my husband and I became more nervous about childbirth and wanted to have someone there to help support, coach and nurture us through the process. We were so impressed with Robin during our childbirth preparation class and decided to meet with her about her services. What a great decision. Robin's caring words, techniques and guidance were just what we needed as we took the final steps (and there were a lot of them during labor!) towards the moment our son entered the world. Thank you for being there with us! -
Illana
I chose to hire a doula with the birth of my first daughter because I needed someone with experience to guide me though the great journey. Robin gave me and my husband much needed stability during stressful times, even if you have great nurses, they are not supporting you the entire time like your doula. -
Jennifer |
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Since my husband is an airline pilot, I was concerned that he might be somewhere between Mexico City and Miami when I went into labor. We chose Robin to be our doula because we trusted her instincts. In the event I went into labor and my husband was not available, I would have the loving care of an experienced woman by my side to interface with the doctors and nurses at the hospital since labor can be so intense and a challenge to make decisions on your own at such an emotional time in your life. - Jodi
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My husband was thoroughly prepared due to Bradley classes to act as my coach in labor. Having a doula took some of the pressure off of him and made us both feel more secure. We could rely on Robin's wealth of knowledge about birth and the labor process. She would be there to assist me in labor if Jim needed to be with our other child.�When Jim was able to be my primary support, Robin was able to support HIM with gentle guidance and encouragement. I wouldn't have it any other way! - Erika |
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Jonathan's Birth - A Birth Story
When we had our daughter in 1999 we utilized the services of a wonderful doula in California. We knew, when we were pregnant with our son in 2003 that we would again desire the support of a doula. To find Robin, we researched DONA.org and found her to be local to us.
We first talked to her a bit on the phone to make sure we felt comfortable with Robin and her approach and her experience. We then invited her to our home for a face to face interview so that we would all feel comfortable with the arrangement.
On Thursday, May 1, 2003, I started what seemed like labor. We called Robin a few hours after I had been in “labor”. She evaluated my condition over the phone and determined that she should come up. While laboring at home, she sat next to me while I labored on the toilet and in the bathtub; she also rubbed my back as I leaned on my husband. She sat with me while he got drinks and snacks.
We labored at home until late at night when it seemed like I should go to the hospital. Robin followed us there. The nurses evaluated that I was only at 2 cm, they had me walk the halls of the hospital for a few hours to see if I would progress further – Robin was supporting one side of me, while my husband was on the other. After a couple of hours, they re-evaluated my condition and determined I wasn't progressing and they sent us home to rest and eat.
On Saturday afternoon, again in I went in to labor. Robin again came over and I was truly progressing. So we again went to the hospital. Robin was by my side the entire time. My labor progressed very, very slowly. Finally my doctor recommended that either I have a cesarean or that I use some pitocin to augment my labor because my contractions were not strengthening and I was getting very tired.
In my first labor, I had no medication and really wanted to have a second birth the same way. Robin spoke with the nurses and my doctor and determined the necessity for the medical intervention. She then explained it to my husband and me and we determined we would prefer to use pitocin than to have a cesarean. Robin knew that I was extremely scared to have an epidural and she talked to the anesthesiologist before he started to work on giving me the epidural. Robin talked me through the procedure for an epidural and what I should expect. She helped my husband and I to calm down and focus during an extremely stressful time.
After the epidural and pitocin were both administered, my contractions really increased and finally I started to progress. A few hours later I was ready to push. Robin was there the entire time and supported both my husband and myself. She talked to me and gave me ice chips as my husband rested for a couple of hours.
By the time I was ready to push, the nurses had turned off the epidural so I could feel need to push. Robin held one of my legs and my husband held the other. They both supported by back each time I needed to lean forward to push. When my son crowned, Robin continued holding my legs so that my husband could take pictures of our newborn.
After Jonathan was delivered, Robin took pictures of my son and some pictures of all 3 of us together. After the birth Jonathan was whisked over to a monitoring table for testing. Robin explained the tested they were doing to Jonathan, as some were different than with our daughter. She relieved my husband so he could stay with our son during the tests. She stayed with me and explained to me what the doctor and nurses were doing with my postpartum care.
After my son was given to me, Robin checked to make sure that Jonathan was latching on well and nursing was starting. An hour after delivery, Robin left us to bond. The next day, Robin came back to check on both Jonathan and me, to make sure I was recovering well and nursing was continuing well. She answered some more questions for us.
Finally, she did an at home follow up when Jonathan was 3 or 4 days old. It was a sweet time as we had bonded with him and she was able to come enjoy him too.
Now, four years later, we have again hired Robin as our doula for the birth of our third child.
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