Your husband or support person wants to help you, but most likely they don't know how to effectively do that. They wants to be that support without being responsible for making sure they are doing it right. When things get tough, they may not be able to help you stick to your birth plan. A doula does not take the place of your husband or support person. A doula comes alongside and teaches and helps them support you. If two hands are good, 4 hands are invaluable when it comes to comfort. A doula is another woman focused on helping you and it will help boost the confidence of your support person to know that they are effectively comforting you

Most nurses are amazing, but their main responsibility is to provide medical care. Nurses have numerous other responsibilities so during a typical labor a nurse will come in the room once every hour to put you on a monitor for 20 minutes and ask if you need anything, and then leave. 20 minutes later the nurse will come back in to disconnect the monitor and again ask you if you need anything. The nurse will not typically be in the room continuously until you are close to the stage of pushing. A doulas primary responsibility is to provide comfort by continuous care throughout the labor and delivery. Most Dr. and nurses like having a doula at the birth because the care that we provide helps make their job flow more smoothly. We do not work against the staff, we work as a compliment to them, but are working for the client not the hospital. 

A mother who is having an epidural needs just as much support as a natural birth. When having an epidural a mother needs to be moved every 45 to 60 minutes. There are positions that a doula can help put you in that will encourage progress. Typically you cannot feel much from your waist down, and will need greater coaching during pushing. It also provides the support for both you and dad. 

 In a society that is so much about women's choices, I believe that birth is the one area that women do not exercise their choices. I do not believe that every woman needs a doula, but I do believe that every woman needs to know that she has the option of having a doula. I think one of the toughest things right now is bringing the awareness of doulas, what we do, and how we can help, and the value of our service.

 Yes, I offer evidence based ICEA Childbirth Educations Classes. The hospital is not currently offering in person classes.  I offer an in-depth class in order to help you during pregnancy and prepare you for a more natural labor and delivery. We also cover breastfeeding and the new parent stage. My classes are 1 to 3 couples and have the flexibility to set a schedule that works for you. I offer a discount for class and doula services together.