What is a Doula?
In my role as a birth doula, I offer professional services as a childbirth assistant. I support you and your family through the transition of bringing in a new family member. Primarily, I am an emotional support to the family. I also offer suggestions during the birth to help keep it moving. Prenataly, I meet with the family and offer informational and process oriented dialogue. There is a mantra in the doula world, “how will she remember this?” That question is always on my mind during the labor and birth process. Both the father, mother’s and baby’s experiences are extremely important to me.

“A labor support doula’s role is to provide physical, emotional, and informational support to women and their partners during labor and birth. The doula offers help and advice on comfort measures such as continuous emotional reassurance and comfort; assistance to partners who want to play an active support role; help so the woman has a safe and satisfying childbirth as the woman defines it.”

— From DONA (Doulas of North America)

As a Birth Doula, I attend births with clients in the setting and with the care provider of their choice. My goal is to get to know your highest wishes for your birth and to be familiar with your birth preferences. I will be a member of the birth team who is there holding these goals in the forefront of my awareness, as well as providing you with in-the-moment labor support. Birth can be unpredictable, and flexibility is extremely important. I help people navigate doing the “next best thing” if something unexpected should arise.

I have been attending births professionally since 1999 and have attended many births (between 150 and 200) in a variety of settings. I am familiar with the physiological as well as the emotional aspects of the childbearing experience. Each birth is amazingly unique. I feel honored, to attend every birth that I go to. I will help you prepare for this momentous experience in several ways. By giving you all of the most current information, you will hopefully feel empowered about making informed decisions. Evidence based research is abundant right now. That is only one level of preparation. On another level, emotional and spiritual preparation is where the deeply interesting and juicy work is. I'll stay by your side during the entire labor and birth to provide emotional and physical support and comfort.

Finding a good match in your doula is so very important. There is truly someone that is perfect for everyone! That good chemistry can be very helpful to our journeys. I have found that the best match for clients and me is when families who hire me as their doula also take my class. This is mostly due to the fact that we get to know each other on many levels through that process. It also helps foster the environment of community, which is so supportive during the childbearing year. For more information on the classes, visit: www.consciousbirthingaustin.com They run about every 6 weeks or so, and have ongoing start dates.