As a birth doula I have the exciting and rewarding opportunity to help parents-to-be have the fulfilling and safe birth that they desire.
The benefits of doula assistance are numerous. Decreased medical intervention in labor: reduces the need for cesarean by 26%, reduces the need for forceps or vacuum extraction by 41%, reduces the use of pain medications by 28%, reduces dissatisfaction with birth by 33%, reduces length of labor. Six weeks after birth, mothers who had doulas were: less anxious and depressed, had more confidence with baby, more satisfied with partner, more likely to be breastfeeding, (These statistics appear in Hodnett E, Gates S, Hofmeyr G, Sakata C. Continuous support for women during childbirth. The Chochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2003)
Services include a free initial consultation to determine if I am the right person to assist you, two prenatal visits, continuous physical and emotional support during labor and birth, immediate postpartum support for up to two hours after the birth, and a postpartum visit.
Please feel free to learn more about me and the services I offer by visiting my website, http://birth-doula.webs.com
Rachel was present for my homebirth on 02/29/12. (She acted as an apprentice/doula for my midwife.) I had never met Rachel prior to that evening but she inevitably played a pivotal role during my Hypnobabies homebirth providing support, nourishment, comfort, etc. She also provided her placenta encapsulation services as well which I believe have had a profound effect on my postpartum recovery.
Rachel attended the birth of my son on 2/13/09. She was an absolutely wonderful asset to have during labor. I was a first time mother and needed the support she gave. We had been listening to the hypnobabies CD's and hadn't gotten a portable CD player for the hospital. When my husband spoke to her to let her know we were at the hospital he told her about not having a CD player and when she arrived she had one that I could borrow. She walked the hall with my husband and I. While with us she showed my husband several things he could do to assist me with my contractions. Even though my birth plan changed she was still very supportive and professional. After my son was born she assisted with me breastfeeding him and then politely excused herself and gave my family and I time alone with our new addition.
Edited to add: My husband and I had our second child on 10/24/10. We once again had Rachel as my doula. What I wanted during labor this time was very different from my first. Rachel was able to adapt to my needs and once again was a wonderful asset.
I know Rachel through various activities in the Chattanooga area. She has not attended my children's births but I know she is a fantastic doula. She has had various birth experiences herself and she has used Hypnobabies Childbirth Hypnosis. I know that I would recommend her to any of my Hypnobabies students for the birth of their children. She is kind, compasionate and an advocate for the parents.
Rachel attended the recent hospital birth of my son, and I cannot say enough about how helpful she was in enabling me to deliver him free of anesthetic and medical intervention.
Throughout, she made gentle suggestions to encourage my labor to progress, including changing positions and movement. She massaged my back and feet, which was such a relief during contractions. She ensured that I stayed well-hydrated, notified the nurses when I needed anything, and engaged respectfully and professionally with my midwife.
Throughout the early stages of labor, she walked the halls with me (while my husband napped), and encouraged me to rest on her during contractions so that I might continue to stand.
Her kind and gentle bedside manner as well as her understanding of the birth process and concern that I have positive and safe birth experience made the delivery of my son SO MUCH easier!
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