Handouts
Downloadable resources to help you feel informed, supported, and confident during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
FAQs
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A birth doula is a professional who provides emotional, physical, and informational support to pregnant people during their perinatal period.
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A doula begins working with you during your pregnancy, offering evidence-based information and resources to help you understand all of your options and prepare for your birth. During childbirth, the doula offers you physical and emotional support to help you feel safe and lessen the intensity of labor. The doula also explains to you what is happening and offers suggestions to help with the progression of labor through relaxation techniques, position changes. She also advocates for your birth preferences and helps you understand the different medical interventions that may arise so that you can make decisions that are best for you and your baby.
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Different studies have shown that the continuous support of a doula:
Increases the chances of having a vaginal birth with less use of anesthesia
Increases positive feelings about the birth experience
Reduces labor time and complications in the birth of babies
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The price range varies depending on experience and service. All of our doulas offer sliding fee scales when the financial situation of the person or family requires it.
Doulas En Español also offers scholarships for different groups of people under the following categories: single pregnant people/teenagers/unemployed, families of African or indigenous descent, or Medicaid recipients.
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The presence of a doula complements and strengthens the role of your support person. A doula helps prepare your support person by sharing different labor techniques, explaining what is happening, and caring for them during your birth so they stay energized and confident. Your partner and family bring a loving emotional connection and intimate knowledge of you that your doula does not have. Combined with your doula's professional experience, the team creates the ultimate support system.
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Yes, because the accompaniment of a doula is related to what the person needs or wants for their birth, and not to a specific type of birth.
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Postpartum doulas are expert professionals who help families during the critical period immediately after the birth of their baby. They offer a variety of services to help mothers and fathers feel more secure in their roles, sharing education about family adjustment, and addressing the unique needs of a new family. A postpartum doula works with each family individually to understand their particular needs.
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A counselor helps people who choose to breastfeed to succeed. Their services include:
Basic breastfeeding education
Evaluation of the adult-infant dyad to help the breastfeeding person understand good latching and effective milk transfer
Advice for problems or complications related to breastfeeding
Refer to an IBCLC when the situation requires medical diagnosis and treatment