Doula and Childbirth Classes

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:02:16 +0100

What is a doula?

A doula is a person that is trained to help you through your childbirth experience by providing continuous emotional, and physical support through their birth. They also provide information to the birthing mother to help enable her to have the best birth experience possible.

Will a doula replace my partner?

No. A doula is there to help not only the birthing mother but her partner as well. She will teach the partner how he can better assist the birthing mother.

What does a doula do?

During the birthing process a doula can use massage, accupressure points that may help relieve discomfort and pain for the mother. A doula also assists by going through visualizations, breathing techniques and different body positions that may help the mother as well.
Before, during and after the birth the doula is available to share information with you that will help you have the best birth possible.

What are the benefits of having a doula?

Shortens first time birthing process by an average of 2 hours
Decrease in the chance of cesarean section by 50%
Decrease in need for pain medication
Father participating with more confidence
Greater success with breastfeeding
Provides greater maternal satisfaction
Decrease in the need for forceps by 40%
Reduces need for epidurals by 60%
Reduces oxytocin use by 40%

What do I offer as a doula?

Birth Doula Package #1

¨ Complimentary consultation

¨ Prenatal information package

¨ 1 hour pregnancy massage

¨ 1 hour postnatal massage

¨ 1 hour massage for dad

¨ Assistance in creating a birth plan

¨ 2-3 prenatal visits, 2-3 hours long

¨ Up to 10 hours of telephone consultations, pre & post birth, extra charges for overtime

¨ Available 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week

¨ Attendance at birth, extra charges for over 12 hours

¨ Postpartum immediately after, 1-3 hrs

¨ Early breastfeeding support

¨ 1 postpartum visit

¨ Infant Massage information package & education

¨ Infant Massage

¨ Personal Birth Story

Doula Package #1……………………………………………………………………………………………………………$850

Birth Doula Package #2

¨ Complimentary consultation

¨ 2-3 prenatal visits, 2-3 hours long

¨ Telephone and email consultations, pre & post birth, extra charges for overtime, extra charges for over 12 hours

¨ Available 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week

¨ Attendance at birth, extra charges for over 12 hours

¨ Postpartum immediately after, 1-3 hrs

¨ 1 postpartum visit

Doula Package #2………………………………………………………………….……………………………………………$450

»Payment options and plans available, and I am willing to work with you and your family to accommodate a variety of situations.«

There are some that feel having a doula just isn't right for them. I respect that. I was that person. But, I wish, as do many others that I had more information than what is given in the mainstream birthing classes. And more than that, I wish my husband had the information as well! So now, I am offering childbirth classes from a doula view.

I am offering private, and group classes. The classes would run for 5 weeks and last between 1 -1.5 hours and the outline for each class would go as follows:

Anatomy and Physiology of Pregnancy

How does your baby grow?
Prenatal testing

Common Discomforts of Pregnancy and Suggestions for Treatment

First trimester
Second trimester
Third trimester

The Birthing Process

Signs and symptoms
Stages of birthing
Childbirth and pain

Guidelines for support

First stage birthing process
Latent phase (0-4cm)
Comfort measures
Massage
Positions for birthing
Active phase (4-8cm)
Active birthing process techniques
Back birthing process
Abdominal pain
Accupressure points
Transitions (8-10cm)

Practice

Massage
Positions for birthing
Accupressure points

Fees for the class would be $50 for the entire 5 weeks in a group session or $15 per class. For private lessons the class would be $60 for the entire 5 weeks or $20 per class.

***Note: These are privately run classes***