Joyful BirthWays - Childbirth Education and Doula Services

Joy Buckhout, BS, LCCE, CD(DONA)

Serving Families in Rockland, Bergen, Orange & Putnam Counties and New York City

Doula Services

Need a Doula?

Having a doula at your birth has statistically been shown to*:

• Reduce the need for cesareans
• Reduce requests for epidurals
• Reduce the need for Pitocin
• Reduce the length of labor
• Increase incidence of breastfeeding

*excerpted from: Mothering the Mother by Klaus, Kennell and Klaus, 1993.

What exactly is a Doula?

The word doula comes from the ancient Greek and means "woman's servant." Presently, a doula refers to a woman trained and experienced in childbirth.

The doula is there to provide continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the expectant mother and her partner throughout her pregnancy, and during labor, delivery and the immediate postpartum period.

The doula's primary role is to help women have a safe, memorable and empowering birth experience.

Women have been serving other women in childbirth for centuries and studies show that mothers who are "mothered" by another woman during labor are better able to nurture their own babies. ("Continuous Emotional Support During Labor in US Hospitals", Kennell, et. al., JAMA, May 1991, Vol. 265, No. 17).

How can a Doula help you?

While the rest of the birth team is trained to perform medical procedures, the doula's priority is you and your partner's continuous emotional and physical comfort.

The doula is there to reassure you and your partner that you CAN birth this baby, like millions of women before you.

When a doula is present, there are better outcomes for babies and their mothers, shorter, more comfortable labors, and greater maternal satisfaction.

Fathers are freer to provide emotional support when a doula is present, and feel more confident knowing someone knowledgeable is there to help answer questions and facilitate communication with care providers.

The doula will meet with you and your partner prenatally to get to know you and your desires for this birth and will assist you in your efforts to write a birth plan in order to clearly express your wishes to your health care provider and the medical staff.

She will also help clarify information discussed with you by the doctor/midwife or may make suggestions for future topics to review with your caregiver.

She will be available by phone and email throughout your pregnancy and will be on call 24/7 for 2 weeks prior to and following your due date. Once you call to say that you're in labor she will counsel you over the phone until you would like her to join you either at your home or at the hospital.

From then on she will use her expertise to guide, comfort and support you through your entire labor until the birth of your baby.

Doulas will often use a hands-on approach to reduce stress and anxiety during labor. However, the list of comfort measures is much more extensive and includes such things as position changes, massage, relaxation, breathing techniques, counter-pressure, visualization, acupressure, aromatherapy, vocalization and various water therapies.

Immediately following the birth, your doula will remain with you for the initial breastfeeding to help establish a good latch and a positive bonding experience for both you and your baby.

And finally, your doula will follow up with a postpartum visit to your home to see how you are adjusting to the new addition to your family. This is a time to reflect on the birth itself and discuss any questions or concerns you may have.

In addition, your doula may be available to provide birth photography, belly casting and/or other forms of birth art.

Prenatal Services