Welcome to Moon River Birthing!
What is a doula?
A doula is a specially-trained labor and birth companion who stays with you throughout your birthing experience, offering physical comfort measures, emotional support, and information to help you make informed decisions regarding your care.
Doulas help families make and carry out birth plans, we understand the physiology and emotional needs of laboring women, and we facilitate communication with medical staff. It is the doula's role to help the mother's partner participate at his or her comfort level.
Why use a doula?
Women have complex needs during childbirth and the weeks that follow. In addition to medical care and the love and companionship provided by their partners, women need consistent, continuous reassurance, comfort, encouragement and respect. They need individualized care based on their circumstances and preferences.
DONA International doulas are educated and experienced in childbirth and the postpartum period. We are prepared to provide physical (non-medical), emotional and informational support to women and their partners during labor and birth, as well as to families in the weeks following childbirth. We offer a loving touch, positioning and comfort measures that make childbearing women and families feel nurtured and cared for.
The Research
Research shows that the presence of a doula at a birth tends to:
-result in shorter labors with fewer complications
-reduce negative feelings about one’s childbirth experience
-reduce the need for pitocin (a labor-inducing drug), forceps or vacuum extraction, and cesareans
-reduce the mother’s request for pain medication and/or epidurals
Research shows parents who receive support often:
-Feel more secure and cared for
-Are more successful in adapting to new family dynamics
-Have greater success with breastfeeding
-Have greater self-confidence
-Have less postpartum depression
-Have lower incidence of abuse
For more information, please contact me or see DONA’s website. I borrowed a lot of this text from them.
What is Hypnobirthing?
HypnoBirthing is as much a philosophy of childbirth as it is a technique. It will prepare you and your family for a comfortable, peaceful, gentle, and joyful birth experience.
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