“A doula helps you prepare for your birth and navigate life on the other side of childbirth.” 

— Elliette Johnson, AAIMM Doula

What does being a Doula Mean to you?

Beyond hands-on labor support, a doula is someone who provides unwavering emotional support during one of the most transformative periods of your life. A doula educates and informs, but also guides you towards your own innate knowing as you approach your birth. A doula holds a space to work through your fears and cultivate trust in your own abilities. A doula helps you prepare for your birth and navigate life on the other side of childbirth.

One reason a family should consider having a doula:

To learn about all of your options and receive non-biased, evidenced-based information to make the best decisions for your prenatal care, your birth, and your newborn, and to learn how to advocate for what you want and don't want.

Please share a story of one of your most memorable experiences as a doula.

A dear client had successfully achieved a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). She gave birth at home as she planned to — she worked so hard to bring her baby earthside and I was so proud of her! She labored at home for a long while with just her partner and her eldest child, and later called in a team of trusted birthworkers (myself, another doula, and a midwife). Soon after, she gave birth to a beautiful and healthy baby girl.

However, some time passed after giving birth to her baby, and her placenta was retained (it wasn’t coming out) so she needed to seek out medical attention to make sure there were no complications. I drove her to the hospital and thankfully after an exam there was no serious issue to be found. The doctor helped to release the placenta manually. I made sure to bring her placenta home as my client desired, and my client was back home within a couple hours with her newborn. I was grateful to serve as a doula at this birth because I was able to witness a beautifully triumphant birth and also support my client in a crucial moment at the final hour.