 Over her years of teaching pregnancy yoga Brynne has learned the amazing physical and emotional benefits yoga has for women during and post pregnancy. Inspired by her students and wanting to assist them not only on the mat but also through their birthing experience. Brynne studied under Katherine Julia to become a certified CAPPA labor doula.
What is a Labor Doula?
A doula is a person who attends the birthing family before, during and just after the birth of the baby. The doula is trained to provide various forms of non-medical and non-midwifery support (physical and emotional) in the childbirth process. A labor doula provides support during labor whether it is a home or hospital birth. The doula serves as an advocate, labor coach, and information source to give the mother and her partner the added comfort of additional support throughout the entire labor.
What does a Doula do?
The following is a general description of what you might expect from a CAPPA certified labor doula. Typically, doulas meet with the parents in the second or third trimester of the pregnancy to get acquainted and to learn about prior birth experiences and the history of this pregnancy. She may help you develop a birth plan, teach relaxation, visualization, and breathing skills useful for labor. Most importantly, the doula will provide comfort, support, and information about birth options.
A doula can help the woman to determine prelabor from true labor and early labor from active labor. At a point determined by the woman in labor, the doula will come to her and assist her by:
- Helping her to rest and relax
- Providing support for the woman's partner
- Encouraging nutrition and fluids in early labor
- Assisting her in using a variety of helpful positions and comfort measures
- Constantly focus on the comfort of both the woman and her partner
- Helping the environment to be one in which the woman feels secure and confident
- Providing her with information on birth options
A doula works cooperatively with the health care team. In the event of a complication, a doula can be a great help in understanding what is happening and what options the family may have. The doula may also help with the initial breastfeeding and in preserving the privacy of the new family during the first hour after birth.
If you are pregnant or planning your pregnancy and would like to interview Brynne as a potential labor doula please fill out the below form.
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