I have a passion for helping women during one of, if not, the most important experiences in their life: giving birth. This help doesn’t start on the day she goes into labour and calls me to her side. It starts the moment she decides she wants a doula by her side. The moment she meets me and decides I am the right fit. The doula she wants by her side, because she has found out after our free consultation that I can support her birth wishes. She knows I am the birth support person she wants to join the rest of her birth team. And from that moment on, one of my goals is to educate her in all aspects of childbirth.

I want her to know about the different birth options available to her. I want her to know about the pros and cons of having a drug free labour vs. a medicated one, and learn different labour coping techniques, so that when the time comes, she can use the ones that best work for her. I want her to explore her fears, doubts and concerns, so that I can help her to overcome them. I want to make sure she believes in her body, and realizes that her body was not only designed to do this most wonderful task. Therefore, her body knows how to give birth. I want her to understand that birth is hard, but it is not something she cannot do.

I want her to have the best support in order to have the best birth experience possible; I want to work alongside the rest of her birth team in order to make sure she will be labouring in a safe, calming and loving environment and that each of us will treat her like the goddess she is. This is why, I strongly believe that in order for a new mother to have the best birth experience, it is important to take a few things into consideration:

1- It is crucial to be fully aware of the mother-to-be’s desires and respect them. Know what she wants and acknowledge the fact that she knows her body and she has made a birth plan, and she expect her birth team to support it all the way. Consequently, respecting her wishes is very important to me.

2- It is also vital that she prepares as much as she can for the task ahead. Birth is like running a marathon. In the same way an athlete prepares to run, so should she.  Reading all the related literature that is suggested to her, so she can educate herself about the childbirth process, taking prenatal classes, writing a birth plan, learning different labour coping techniques: relaxation, meditation, breathing techniques, hipnobirthing affirmations all of which I teach her during my prenatal visits, doing yoga and so on, she will be better prepare for whatever comes her way.

3-During labour, a woman should be able to focus on what she is doing without being distracted. Distractions slow down the labour process. Therefore, I try to make sure she is able to concentrate without being disturbed. I remind her during my prenatal visits, she just needs by her side those people who will be helping her, and who understand how important it is for her to focus on getting the work done. The least she is bothered with medical procedures and interventions, the better she is able to cope, and the faster the labour will progress.

4- Unique support
Offering authentic and honest guidance and supporting her by sharing my knowledge rather than imposing my point of view, the more likely she is to find the right way to cope. I make sure, she knows, I strongly believe in her ability to give birth, and understand, I am by her side to hold her, so in moments she feels she can’t go on anymore I can encourage her to move forward. Since I believe in her ability to give birth, I remind her she is strong and she can go on, because her body has been designed to do this most wonderful work, and I am there to support her all the way.

This is how I look forward to helping a new mother-to-be every time, she chooses me as her birth doula. And every time I am chosen, I know it is a privilege and an honour which has been given to me and for that I am always thankful to her and to the Almighty.