Supporting families during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
Doula care that makes a difference
A Doula is a professional labor coach who provides physical, emotional, and informational support to a woman and her family during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. A doula does not provide any medical care for the mother or baby. She simply cares for them and their family. The practice of having this sort of non-medical support for birthing women has been around for centuries. Mothers, or other close female companions, familiar with birth, would support and encourage a woman through her labor, while the midwife would focus on the safe delivery of the baby and the health of the mother. Those same women would then nurture and care for the new mother during her recovery. In our culture we have focused attention primarily on the medical needs of birth, and it is rare for a woman to have this sort of non-medical helper, and many women have not had the undivided attention and continuous care they need as they labor. Also many new parents, for a number of reasons, are isolated and lack support for after the birth and are left to manage things on their own - feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and alone.
Slowly we began to realize that women need more than blood pressure checks and fetal monitoring and pain medication during labor, that mothers and babies need to be cherished and cared for after birth, that parents need to be supported, helped, and encouraged through this intense incredible time of transition in their lives. And so the doula profession was birthed. Doulas stand in these gaps.
Birth is so much more than the end result of getting a baby out of a woman's body. It is an intense, profound, mysterious, physical, emotional, and often spiritual journey. A doula understands the complex needs of a woman in labor and brings a sense of comfort, reassurance, and many other benefits to the woman and her family. She possesses an understanding and patience for the process of birth while respecting the wants and needs of the woman in labor. Sometimes she is simply there to offer encouraging words and physical comfort. Sometimes she helps the woman get information from her care providers in order to advocate for the care she needs for herself or her baby. She is there to support and to serve the mother, and her family, in the practical ways they need as they journey through birth and beyond.
Slowly we began to realize that women need more than blood pressure checks and fetal monitoring and pain medication during labor, that mothers and babies need to be cherished and cared for after birth, that parents need to be supported, helped, and encouraged through this intense incredible time of transition in their lives. And so the doula profession was birthed. Doulas stand in these gaps.
Birth is so much more than the end result of getting a baby out of a woman's body. It is an intense, profound, mysterious, physical, emotional, and often spiritual journey. A doula understands the complex needs of a woman in labor and brings a sense of comfort, reassurance, and many other benefits to the woman and her family. She possesses an understanding and patience for the process of birth while respecting the wants and needs of the woman in labor. Sometimes she is simply there to offer encouraging words and physical comfort. Sometimes she helps the woman get information from her care providers in order to advocate for the care she needs for herself or her baby. She is there to support and to serve the mother, and her family, in the practical ways they need as they journey through birth and beyond.
"Johanna was an integral part of our wonderful success. She eased me into each phase beautifully, was calm and encouraging, a gentle and knowledgeable coach, and hands on support. She was invaluable, and the work and help of doulas in supporting moms, dads, and families is a special gift. One that should be more utilized than it is."
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Loving Hands Doula Care, LLC
Johanna Wright, CD(DONA) 919-964-5432 Mebane, NC Contact for more information |
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Providing compassionate, experienced, family-centered doula support
in central North Carolina from the Triad to the Triangle
in central North Carolina from the Triad to the Triangle
Logo Photo by Jessie Gladdek Photography http://jgkphotography.com/
