Doula
Every birth is unique. I strongly believe that it is important to surround yourself with the most loving and supporting birth team whom you completely trust and feel safe with. This way you will be able to let birth unfold itself within its own uniqueness.
– If a woman doesn’t look like a Goddess during labor, then someone isn’t treating her right – Ina May Gaskin
My goal is to give you support, increase your knowledge about birth and help you discover all your options, enabling you to have your own unique, memorable and positive birthing experience.
During pregnancy I will provide you with all (evidence based) knowledge and options in order for you to be able to make your own informed decisions on your pregnancy, your birth and your baby. I will teach you all about the birthing process, give you tools and techniques to use during labor and I’ll give you emotional support; I’m there for you when feeling insecure or anxious and I’ll encourage you to follow your own path. It’s up to you of course, but you don’t need any additional pregnancy course.
During labor everything revolves around you, your baby and, if present, your partner. I’ll give continuous support during the whole process. I’ll do this in every setting; at home, a birth center or the hospital, wherever you feel most comfortable.
Unlike doctors, midwifes and nurses, I will not be bound by working shifts and I do not have other tasks to perform. This allows me to focus on you and my sole goal is to provide you with the best possible continuous support. This includes physical, emotional and practical support, but I also give information, guard wishes and make pictures. You’ll have somebody whom you trust by your side during the whole birthing experience; I’ll arrive when the first contractions start and will not leave until you and your newborn are settled.
I’ll also be there for you after birth. Finding a new balance with a newborn can be quite overwhelming. I’ll answer any questions you might have and provide you with good postpartum tips.
Besides supporting the person in labor, another important part of my job is to support the partner of the person in labor. Birthing Day is a major life event of this person too and one they will always remember. For partners it can be very reassuring to have somebody that will not leave, who knows and guards all birth wishes and who can guide them to support their partner in the best way they can. Partners know the birthing person better than anyone, Doula’s know birth: together they make an amazing birth team.