A Gentle Start Childbirth Services                                                      Every baby deserves a gentle start to life. . .

Are you a match?

One of the most important decisions you will make during this pregnancy is who you will allow to care for you.  You may have already made your selection.  You may feel on the surface that your current care provider is the best person in the world.  I strongly encourage you to ASK QUESTIONS.  All hospitals have policies and protocols for birth that must be followed for legal purposes.  All OB/Gyn's and Midwives have ways of doing things that may or may not fit with your wants and desires for your birth.  Your doula will help you understand what your goals are, and compare them with what is known about your care provider and chosen birth place.  For example...

You are a first time mom.  You hire a doula and you want to have natural childbirth.  You want to breastfeed your baby as soon as possible after birth.  You are hoping to avoid an episiotomy and would like to use the shower for pain relief.  

Your chosen OB is at Hospital B.   Their protocols are - Routine IV and continuous fetal monitoring.  Their epidural rate is 93%. Baby goes immediately to the warmer after birth. Then to the nursery for a bath.  Their C-section rate is 28% and your when you ask your doc about episiotomies he says ... "we'll just have to see, but you'll probably need one."

Is this a fit?  As your doula, I will help you match your wants and desires to the care providers in your area to find the best match.  I have experience working in many area hospitals/birth centers and can help you make an informed choice.  If you discover that you're selected care provider's philosophies and practices are not in line with your goals, you should consider finding one who is a better fit.  If you are still pregnant, it's not too late to switch.  Click on "Provider Questions" for a list of questions to ask your care provider.

These prenatal childbirth education classes serve several purposes.  Your doula will teach you about the birth process.  We will discuss the importance of fetal positioning for successful labor and ways to identify early on that your baby may not be aligned properly for birth.  Most importantly, this is the time when parents and doula get to know one another.  Your doula will become familiar with YOUR goals for YOUR birth, so that she can help you reach them.  Now is the time to share any fears, questions and past experiences - as all are contributing factors to THIS birth.

If you have never been somewhere before, you'd consult a map... If you had been there before but hated the drive, you'd consult a map to find a different way.    Consider your doula as your guide map to your birth - detours and all.

Send mail to AGentleStart@Comcast.net for information!
Last modified: 06/01/05