After a lot of careful thought and soul-searching, I have decided to pursue nursing school! I feel that becoming a labor and delivery nurse (but always staying a doula at heart) will be the most impactful way for me to help area mothers.
At least for now, I feel unable to give birthing mothers the time and attention they deserve. Because I need to prioritize spending my attention on my own babies and on school, I have made the difficult decision to pause on taking clients.
I still have big dreams for a maternal care revolution in North Louisiana. Along the way, I hope to collaborate with maternal healthcare providers and stay connected with expecting mothers. If you are a fellow birthworker or a maternal healthcare professional, I would be happy to talk anytime.
Looking to hire a doula in North Louisiana? Check out my Referral page.
A doula is someone who can:
Provide continuous emotional and physical support to a birthing person and their partner during labor
Help with birth preparation and education during pregnancy
Offer postpartum support
Provide information that will help you make your own medical decisions
Attend hospital, birth center, or home births
A doula is not:
A regulated, licensed medical provider (like an OB, nurse, or midwife)
Someone who can give medical advice or perform medical exams or procedures
A 2017 Cochrane review showed that having consistent support during labor can make you:
More likely to have spontaneous vaginal birth, shorter labor, and higher Apgar scores for your baby
Less likely to have an epidural, vacuum or forceps delivery, Cesarean delivery, negative feelings about your birth experience, and even postpartum depression.
To read more about the evidence on how hiring a doula can improve outcomes for you and your baby, check out this article by Evidence Based Birth.
Apart from improving medical outcomes, a doula can:
Provide pregnancy and childbirth education
Help you design a customized birth plan
Equip your partner to better support you and improve the partner's experience
Help you mentally and emotionally prepare for labor and birth
Reassure and inspire you and your partner
Provide non-drug pain relief through several techniques
Equip you to self-advocate for what's important to you
Assist in communication with medical staff
And much more! Doulas are amazingly versatile, passionate people.