Vermont Born: Books

Birthing From Within by Pam England
Labyrinth of Birth by Pam England
Wise Woman Herbal Childbearing Year by Susun S. Weed
The Complete Book of Pregnancy & Childbirth by Sheila Kitzinger
The Thinking Womans's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer
The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin

What is a doula?

A Birth-Doula is a woman who is passionate about birth and understands that it is a powerful and life changing moment to be revered, not feared. A doula provides compassionate physical, emotional, and informational support at births for both birthing moms AND their partners. A Doula plays a non medical supportive role for families as women have done for generations weaving her birth knowledge, compassion, intuition and love into birth to assist a mom or couple with creating their desired birth experience.

Emotional support begins prior to the birth while doula, mom and partner get to know one another and discuss birth values and fears, needs and desires. While attending the birth a doula stays grounded and present during all transitions helping to keep couple focused and centered.
Much of the informational support happens before to the birth but continues during (and after) the birth - the birth doula aids and support couples in gathering information to make informed decisions as new parents. Your doula is your resource and aid as she helps to facilities clear communication between families and health care providers.
Physical support is primarily a service of the birth. Your doula will help you with comfort measures both directly and in cooperation with partner. Physical support is any comfort measures which aid in keeping mom, and partner, comfortable but focused on the work at hand and can include: aromatherapy, massage, herbal relief, movement and positioning during labor and birth.

Doula work can also continue after the birth as doulas provide additional support to families after baby arrives...includes breastfeeding support, comfort measures, nutrition information or simply providing the space to focus on being a new family.

Vermont Born

Pages

Books

My Blog List

Blog Archive