Welcome to Compassionate Touch Therapy

What is a Doula?

BIRTH DOULA : A woman trained and experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to a woman during labor, birth, and the immediate postpartum period.

POSTPARTUM DOULA: A woman trained to care for new families in the first weeks after birth, providing household help, advice with newborn care and infant feeding, and emotional support.

Fifteen studies showed the following effects of doula support:

Effects on Birth Outcomes:

• Shorter labors
• Fewer complications
• Fewer Cesareans
• Less need for oxytocin
• Less need for forceps or vacuum extraction
• Less requests for pain medication and epidurals

Effects on the Mother:

• Greater satisfaction with their birth experience.
• More positive assessments of their babies.
• Less postpartum depression.

Effects on the Baby:

• Babies have shorter hospital stays with fewer admissions to special care nurseries.
• Babies breastfeed more easily.
• Mothers are affectionate to their babies postpartum.
  
  The Doula’s Contribution to Modern Maternity Care

Click here for a list of questions to ask a perspective Doula: Doula Questions

Click here for a list of Frequently Asked Questions about Doulas: Doula FAQ