D.A.M.E. 

Doulas Attending Mothers Exceptionally

Doula means 'Mother the Mother'.

Professional and customized support to the mother-to-be. An ageless tradition common to all cultures. 

Benefits of Doulas include:

25% decrease in the length of labor

50% decrease in cesarean section

30% decrease in the use of forceps and pain medications

40% decrease in the use of pitocin and induction

60% decrease in the use of epidurals

 

4 kinds of Doulas

P.L.A. (Professional Labor Assistant)

This doula tends to the mother's emotional and physical needs in labor but is also skilled and licensed to do a birth should it be indicated. This doula typically starts labor with the mother at home and then transfers to the birthing site with the family.

This is a doula in training as a midwife under supervision or a state-licensed midwife able to do vitals and exams.

Services Include

Help in preparing the expectant mother and family for your new arrival.

Physical comfort and relief to the mother while she labors

Hydrotherapy Advanced mental and physical relaxation techniques

The option to labor at home for as long as possible

Advocacy for the family to better understand what is happening

Sibling support and preparation for brothers and sisters

Lactation support and counseling 24/7

Postpartum support 24/7

Why?

Statistics show that women who give birth with a doula present have:

Shorter labors

More comfortable labors

More successful breastfeeding experience

Forty percent TO 60% fewer interventions of epidural, cesarean, Pitocin, and episiotomy

Twenty-five percent or 30% fewer uses of forceps, vacuum, extractors, and narcotics.

Specialized appointments to establish and build a solid working relationship.

 

Postpartum Support Doula

This doula tends to the afterbirth transitions and helps the family in the home with light housekeeping, breastfeeding support, and other miscellaneous items that may need to be dealt with.

Sibling Support Doula

This doula tends to the sibling's needs if planning to attend an upcoming birth. Time is spent with the child to build trust. Birth videos, a coloring book, and preparation activities are incorporated. The doula is there solely for the siblings and their needs. It is an excellent combination with the sibling preparation class.

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D.A.M.E. Doula

The doula has had extensive training and is in the process of gaining certification. Part of the course is to provide services for experience and feedback from the families they serve. This will help them to perfect their skills at service families. They can provide all doula services except P.L.A.

 

EOLA (End of Life Assistant) Doula

An End-of-Life Doula is like a labor and birth Doula, only at the end stage of life. The “Death Doula” role is to help with the care and decisions leading up to the client's death and the details of after death. Some of the things that will be learned are, but not limited to:

Facilitating advanced directives

End-of-life healthcare planning

Navigating the healthcare system

Pain and symptom management

Attaining peaceful death with voluntary actions such as stopping treatment, voluntarily stopping to eat and drink, and disconnecting life support treatments with physician support.

Interfacing with health professionals about compassionate, client-centered care for mindful death

Support and resources appropriate for individual circumstances

Grief support and the cycle of emotions with loss

Honestly discussing one's wishes and helping those wishes be implemented and legally honored

How to facilitate aid for dying

Helping family and friends be effective advocates for the dying loved one

Burial options and religious supported choices for cremation, green burial, and embalming

Celebrations of life ceremonies and live memorials