Is a doula a midwife?

No, although they both attend births.  A midwife is medically trained and certified to deliver babies.  On the left  you will see an image that may help: 

• The doula is on the right, supporting the mother, up near her head and heart.  
• The midwife is on the left, attending to the baby's arrival from a medical perspective. 

Both are important roles to support a mother.

The sole aim of our doulas is to nurture and empower new families.  We believe in the power of infants, women and partners to collaborate in the magical movements of birth.   

What this means practically:

• Personalized preparation - education, birth plan, breastfeeding class, baby care
• Continuous attendance through labor (and birth)
• Help with the first breastfeeding (if birth is attended)
• Postnatal home visits during the early days - answer questions and hands-on help

Our doulas meet with parents-to-be before the birth to understand their needs and how they have prepared for birth.  We give helpful suggestions (for arrangements that set them up) for the best possible start.  We bring best practices for child birth and early parenthood for parents to consider.  

One of our greatest joys is to facilitate bonding immediately after birth.  Quietly, our doulas guide parents and babies to have immediate skin-to-skin contact and early initiation of breastfeeding.

Our doulas also bring much-needed follow-up attention to the new parents.  New mothers, in particular, often cite that it isn't until after the birth that they really need help and reassurance.  Our doulas will visit once or twice at home to check on mothers' well-being, assist with breastfeeding hiccups and answer questions on baby care. 

Absolutely!  We hope that each women is attended by a calm, experienced champion. Whether this is your partner, mother, friend, midwife, doctor or doula, it has been shown that continuous support during labor and birth produces better birth outcomes and higher satisfaction for mothers.   

An important part of our birth preparation is to ensure that dads-to-be are able to participate as fully as possible in the birth and beyond.  Doulas don't replace the need for dads to be involved. We work as a team.  

Having a doula for your birth allows dad to take a break and shift perspective.  
 
 If you would like some guidance to help you and your partner work as a team during labor, our Childbirth education courses will train your loved one to focus on your needs during this special time.   

Molly gave birth to her first child in the UK.  She was attended by a doula (and two NHS midwives).  She found having a consistent, personal advocate by her side critical to achieving an unmedicated birth at home.  The gentle guidance, encouragement and confident support was a powerful reassurance. For her second birth, in Hong Kong, she benefitted from having a midwife (acting as a doula) to guide her and help time her move to the hospital.

She returned to corporate work after the birth of each of her children. After 15 years helping businesses manage large-scale organizational change, Molly pivoted to helping people with their individual transformation to parenthood.