Pampered Pregnancy – Blissful Birth

A birth doula is a trained professional who provides physical comfort measures, emotional support, and information to help parents make informed decisions during labor and birth.

What We Do

All of the Get Babied! doulas are experienced professionals who can help you achieve the birth you want.  We will assist you in planning your ideal birth and then stay with you for continuous support during and directly after the arrival of your baby.  The following is a general summary of our services, but this is not an exhaustive list.  Basically, we serve as personal assistants to our clients, helping them to have the best possible birth experience.

• Help you compose your birth plan
• Offer access to my lending library of books on birth
• Stay with you throughout your labor and shortly after delivery
• Provide physical comfort techniques throughout your labor
• Use aromatherapy to maintain a serene birth environment
• Act as a liaison with medical staff and as an advocate for you
• Help explain the risks and benefits of medical procedures and interventions
• Run errands like getting ice, snacks, etc. so other birth partner(s) can stay with you
• Leave the room if you and your partner need time alone
• Suggest positions that will make you more comfortable
• Use hydrotherapy (heat & cold) to ease discomfort
• Answer your calls any time day or night if you have questions or concerns about your pregnancy
• For hospital births:  Help move your things from the labor & delivery room to the post-partum room so other birth partner(s) can stay with you
• Take pictures of you & your new family immediately after birth
• Visit you & your baby post-partum to talk about any concerns or issues with the birth
• Provide breastfeeding support & referral
• Bring dinner to you & your new family
• Suggest further resources that might be useful to you

Get Babied! Doula Comfort Measure Checklist

Checklist of Comfort Measures for Labor and Birth

Relaxation/tension release
___ Relaxation
___ Respectful, caring atmosphere

___ Roving Body Check
___ Doula

Patterned breathing & Vocalization
___ Greeting/goodbye breath
___ Slow full breaths
___ Woman’s own pattern and rhythm
___ Vocalization, Moaning, sighing, groaning

Comforting Touch
___ Acupressure
___ Hand massage
___ Foot massage
___ Firm pressure
___ Light pressure

___ Crisscross on back

___ Holding, hugging, resting touch

___ Massage tools

Hydrotherapy
___ Bath/whirlpool
___ Shower

Mental activity
___ Count off intervals in contractions
___ Count breaths
___ Chant, mantra, sing, count, pray
___ Guided imagery
___ Affirmations

___ Spontaneous rhythmic rituals

Body positions/movements
___ Standing, leaning, slow dancing
___ Walking
___ Lunge
___ Sitting up
___ Semi-reclining
___ Rocking chair
___ Kneeling leaning forward
___ Kneeling on one knee
___ Birth ball (sitting, leaning, back)
___ Squatting
___ Supported squat
___ Lying down
___ Supine with tilt to one side
___ Hands and knees
___ Dangle
___ Sheet pull

Hot packs
___ To low abdomen/groin
___ To perineum

Cold packs
___ To low back
___ To perineum

___ To forehead, back of neck, upper chest

Specific backache measures
___ Counterpressure
___ Double hip squeeze

___ Open knee chest position

___ Hands and knees

___ Pelvic rocking
___ Lunge
___ Walking
___ Slow-dancing

___ Abdominal lifting with rebozo

___ Cold pack/hot pack
___ Rolling pressure
___ Shower to back
___ Tub

Emotional support from birth partner
___ Feedback/verbal reminders
___ Encouragement/reassurance
___ Compliments
___ Patience/confidence in woman
___ Immediate response to contractions
___ Undivided attention
___ Eye contact
___ Expressions of love

Attention-focusing
___ Focal point
___ Music
___ Voice
___ Visualization
___ Taste
___ Smell

Nourishment
___ Fluids
___ Foods

Pushing
___ Avoid bearing down (breathe/pant)
___ Spontaneous
___ Directed pushing

What a Doula is Not

A doula is not a midwife, doctor, or nurse.  We work for you, not for the birth center or hospital.

• We do not perform clinical or medical tasks like fetal heart rate assessments, vaginal exams, or blood pressure checks.
• We do not make decisions for you. Instead, we provide information that will enable you to make your own decisions. We will remind you if there is a departure from your birth plan.
• We do not speak on your behalf to medical staff . We can discuss your concerns with you and suggest options. We can support you in discussions with staff as your advocate, making sure you have the opportunity to voice concerns, but you and your partner will speak directly to the staff.