What is a Birth Doula?

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• A Birth Doula is a trained and experienced lay person dedicated to supporting and reassuring a birthing person and their families through pregnancy, birth and the immediate postpartum time. They are not a medical professional and do not provide medical care.

• They are trained and experienced in techniques to support you mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually throughout the antenatal time.

• The Doula understands how this support can help you to connect with your own inner confidence and courage.

• The trust developed between you and your Doula is unique.

• They will help you to make your own informed choices by signposting you to evidence based information and research. This is your birth and you are in control of the choices that you need to make. Your Doula will support your informed choices in favour of advising you.

• Your Doula will advocate for your choices in the medical environment, so that you can focus on your birth.

• The Doula knows how important it is to keep the birth environment quiet and undisturbed, so that the birth hormones can flow in a way that encourages natural birth. In this way, you can fully tune into your intuition, strength and power.

• After the amazing journey to meet your baby, your Doula will encourage you to take your time with skin to skin contact, to connect with your new child and enjoy your first moments together, undisturbed.

• They are here for you and will provide dedicated, continuous support for you according to your needs.

• Most of all, your Doula wants you to feel cared for, listened to, well informed, respected and loved.

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To find out more, head on over to The Scottish Doula Network.