Birth is an important event in a woman's life. Perhaps as much or more so than her wedding day. Yet it is an event shrouded in mystery and depicted in terrifyingly graphic detail by women and in the media every day. 

"I think I began to fear childbirth almost as soon as I could understand what it was. I would hear women's horror stories that always seemed to have a fish tale quality to them, and I would question whether or not this was a club I wanted to join one day."

ROBIN JOHNSON, Janet Schwegel's Adventures in Natural Childbirth

Is birth something to fear? Not if one is prepared. There are countless resources to help a woman and her partner navigate through pregnancy and birth, but it can often be difficult to know where to start. This is where a doula becomes an important asset for a pregnant woman. 

What is a doula? 
A doula is an individual, usually a woman, who has extensive knowledge of the birth process. She uses this knowledge to help a woman know all of her options in birth, prepare and plan for birth, and then remains by her side throughout the birth assisting her in creating a birth experience that she is happy with. The doula is NOT a medical professional, rather she is an informational, emotional, and physical support to a woman through her individual birth experience. During and after the birth, the doula assists the woman in getting clear information of the full range of risks, benefits, and alternatives of a proposed treatment from nurses, midwives, and doctors in order to make her own decisions. If a woman then decides to refuse a treatment offered, the doula supports that decision without question. 

What difference does a doula make? 
Medical studies have shown that having a doula present provides the following benefits:
50% reduction in cesarean rate
60% reduction in epidural requests
40% reduction in the use of pitocin
25% shorter labor
30% reduction in use of analgesia
40% reduction in use of forceps
(Mothering the Mother, Klaus, Kennell, & Klaus, 1993)