Doula Services

A Doula Help At Waterbirth

Doula Means Woman Helping Women

Doula is from the Greek referring to a woman who helps other women.

A doula fulfills that meaning and then some–she is someone who helps women during labor and birth through massage, relaxation, positioning and breathing.

A doula also helps families learn about information to help them to have a better birth experience. Doulas help to create an environment of safety for the mother so that she can allow her body to relax and work without feeling tense and threatened.

A doula is not at the birth to function as a medical adviser. She is working only for you as a wonderful, objective support and advocate.

What are the benefits of having a doula?

  • Shorter labor of about 25-50%
  • Decrease the chance of c-section by up to 50%
  • Decrease the need for pain medication by 30-60%
  • Help Fathers to participate with confidence
  • Increased success in breastfeeding
  • Greater satisfaction about the birth
  • Decrease the use of forceps by 40%
  • Reduce the use of Pitocin
Source: Klaus, Marshall H.,John H. Kennell, and Phyllis H. Klaus: Mothering the Mother: How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter, Easier, and Healthier Birth, Reading Pereus Books, 1993.

We provide physical and emotional help to women and their partners in labor. We will help you with your labor through massage, relaxation, breathing, positioning, and other comfort measures.

We want to help you to have the best birth experience possible for you whether you choose to have a natural birth, one that is medicated for pain, or have a cesarean.

The choice of how you birth your baby is yours and we are here to support you in that choice. We want to help you to have a positive memory about this special day.

To choose a doula with Birthing Your Way, we can meet and agree on services that will be provided throughout the pregnancy and delivery and immediately following birth. During prenatal visits we will learn what you will want during your labor and birth. We can then help you communicate these things to the medical personnel at your birth.

We will also help you to stay on track with your birth plan as much as nature and birth permits. Your doula will remain with you throughout your labor starting from when you feel that the doula is needed until up to a few hours after you have given birth.

Services Provided

  • An initial free interview
  • Up to 2 prenatal visits
  • 24 hours a day availability, 3 weeks before your due date until the baby is born
  • Available for you to call and email me with questions before and after the births
  • Help in writing your birth plan
  • Your doula will be present throughout your labor and birth
  • Use of books and videos on pregnancy and childbirth
  • Help with initial breastfeeding immediately following the delivery and for the next few days as needed
  • A postpartum visit within a month of the birth to discuss the birth and help with any new questions you might have
  • Pictures of you, your husband, and your baby after the birth as the situation permits
  • A CD of digital pictures will be given to you at the postpartum visit.

Doulas and Epidurals

Even if you plan on getting an epidural a doula can be a great help to you. There is always the chance that an epidural may not work properly or that you can’t receive one for one reason or another.If the epidural does work out great, it is nice to have someone there that knows about birth, and can help to relieve any tension or fears that you may have about birth and what is happening to you at that time. A doula can also help you to stay on track with your birth plan as much as possible at this point.

Doulas and Cesareans

A doula can help you to begin breastfeeding after the surgery and can stay with you while dad goes with the baby to the nursery. This way you are never left alone after surgery.

Doulas and Dads

Doulas try very hard to make sure that the father is involved in the birth of his child as much as he wants to be. They work with the father to help him to know what to do to comfort you and to give you both reassurance when things can get long and tiring.

It can be very hard for your husband to see you in pain and discomfort as you are someone that he loves very much, a doula can remain objective and calm and help to remove any fears that the two of you might have.

HypnoDoula

Heather Shelley has training as a doula in hypnosis births. This is for those who have taken one of the hypno methods of birth and are looking for a doula who can help them with that method of childbirth.

Doulas Suport the Mother
Doulas Improve Birth Outcomes

Mothering Your Way Doula Packages

Basic Doula Package $350

  • One prenatal visit in our office
  • One postpartum visit in our office
  • Join you once in active labor
  • Use of our library of books and videos
  • Discount on childbirth classes
  • Childbirth Book

Deluxe Doula Package $500

  • Two prenatal visits
  • Massage in our office
  • Two postpartum visits one in your home and one of which is a massage
  • Special gift pack for mom and baby
  • Join you once you are in active labor
  • Use of our library of books and videos
  • Discount on childbirth classes
  • Childbirth Book

We currently have two doulas on staff: Heather Shelley,  and Rachel Anderson. We have more in training at this time. If you are interested in a doula that is in training for a reduced fee please contact us for details.

Please call or email to arrange a meeting with one of the doulas, or sign up to meet us all at our Meet the Midwife/Doula Night.

Now serving Utah, Salt Lake, Millard and Summit Counties.