Each woman brings to her birth her own set of specific needs, desires, and life experiences. All of these things give her a valid view of the world, and a valid opinion toward the options she chooses for her birth. As a doula, my role is to support these choices fully and joyously.

Pregnancy and birth are normal processes on the timeline of most women’s lives, and should be treated as such. As a doula, I encourage parents to remember this.

A woman’s choices in health care, including pregnancy and birth care, are hers to make, with the input and guidance of a like-minded healthcare provider. As a doula, my role is to encourage open, honest communication between a woman and her midwife or doctor. I don’t provide second opinions, but I occasionally ask if a second opinion from a qualified professional would be an option for a client.

Birth is a sacred event; where once a maiden stood, there is now a mother, and (usually) where once was just a son, now stands a father. As a doula, my role is to encourage a mother’s partner to participate fully at whatever level he or she is comfortable, providing guidance and suggesting options as needed.

Women labor and birth easiest in places where they are comfortable. As a doula, my role is to keep the space sacred, helping to keep the room heated to the right temperature to the extent possible for the mother, reminding her to stay hydrated and nourished, keep the music she likes playing, keeping the room smelling nice, providing inspiring images, and encouraging families to bring a bit of their home to the birth room, especially if that room is away from home.

Women in labor deserve anything that they ask for, and they deserve the continuous presence of a supportive companion. As a doula, my role is to provide an extra pair of hands to make this possible. These hands might massage a mother or her partner’s shoulders, carry warm or cool washcloths to a sweaty or chilly brow, take memorable photographs, carry water or food from a refrigerator, hold an emesis basin, support a squatting woman, fan an overheated body, or hold another hand.

Birth is an emotionally fulfilling and diverse process. As a doula, my role is to be there, fully, and to be emotionally available as a trusted woman with experience in the process.

Birth is different for each person who experiences it, each time. As a doula, my role is to help women and their families to find their own voices, to speak up for themselves, to live the experience and give birth themselves without being delivered of their troubles. I seek to allow women to give birth fully, actively, with each woman as a revolutionary.

Revolutionize birth. Hire a doula.