Doula
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The word doula is a Greek word meaning women’s servant. Women have been serving others in childbirth for many centuries and have proven that support from another woman has a positive impact on the labor process.
A birth doula is a professional support person trained in the needs of the family during pregnancy and childbirth. The doula offers non-judgmental support, guidance, evidence-based education and practical hands-on support during childbirth including comfort measures. Doula originates from the Greek word meaning woman servant. A birth doula recognizes the profound impact of childbirth on the mother.
Many studies have shown that having a Doula reduces incidences of Cesarean birth, use of anesthesia, shortens labour and provides mums with positive reflection and good memories of their experience.
As a Professional Certified Birth Doula I am trained in 5 Core Competencies:
- Physiology of Childbirth
- Common Interventions and Evidence Based Care
- Comfort Measures for Childbirth
- Breastfeeding
- Communicating with Medical Care Providers and Clients Utilizing Emotional Intelligence
What is a doula?
The doula is a professional trained in childbirth who provides emotional, physical, and educational support to a mother who is expecting, is experiencing labor, or has recently given birth. Our purpose is to help women have a safe, memorable, and empowering birthing experience.
Most often a doula relates to the birth doula or labor support companion. However, I also work as an antepartum doulas and a postpartum doulas.
Numerous studies have documented the benefits of having a doula present during labor. A recent Cochrane Review, Continuous Support for Women During Childbirth, showed a very high number of positive birth outcomes when a doula was present. With a doula, women were less likely to need pain-relief medications administered and less likely to have a cesarean birth. Women also reported having a more positive childbirth experience.
Other studies have shown that having a doula as a member of the birth team decreases the overall cesarean rate by 50%, the length of labor by 25%, the use of oxytocin by 40%, and requests for an epidural by 60%.
Doulas use the power of touch and massage to reduce stress and anxiety during labor. According to physicians Marshal Klaus and John Kennell, massage helps stimulate the production of natural oxytocin. The pituitary gland secretes natural oxytocin to the bloodstream (causing uterine contractions) and to the brain (resulting in feelings of well-being and drowsiness, along with a higher pain threshold).
Historically it was thought that intravenous oxytocin does not cross from the bloodstream into the brain in substantial amounts and, therefore, does not provide the same psychological benefits as natural oxytocin. However, more recent studies indicate that oxytocin administered nasally and/or intravenously may cross from the bloodstream into the brain. Nonetheless, doulas can help mothers experience the benefits of oxytocin naturally without the use of medication.
What Does a Doula Do?
Doulas can perform different roles, depending on your needs.
- Labor or birth doulas provide continuous care during labor.
- Antepartum doulas support women who are put on bed rest to prevent preterm labor. They help with household tasks and childcare.
- Postpartum doulas support the new mom during the first few weeks after birth. They help with care and feeding of the baby and household tasks.
How I Will Work With You
As a doula I include the components listed below. I also provide a basic childbirth course to help prepare expecting mothers.
Before childbirth:
- Meet with you during your second or third trimester to get acquainted
- Teach you relaxation and breathing skills
- Answer your questions about the birthing process
- Help you understand labor and delivery procedures and possible complications
- Help you develop a birth plan
During labor I:
- Use aroma therapy oils
- Use reiki energy as a 4th level master reiki to help calm and reduce pain
- Use a kansa wand for calming
- Use a yoga ball for calming through movement
- Stay with you constantly to provide comfort and support
- Use massage and touch to help you relax and rest
- Help you get into comfortable positions
- Help you get adequate nutrition and fluids
- Help communicate your preferences to the medical staff
- Involve and reassure the dad-to-be
After delivery:
- Provide support and encouragement to both you and dad after bringing your baby home
- Teach both of you how to care for your new baby
- Assist with breastfeeding education
- Support dad and other siblings and teach them how to help you
- Make sure you get plenty of rest, eat regularly, stay hydrated, and are comfortable
HypnoBirthing®
What is HypnoBirthing®? HypnoBirthing® is a tried and proven method that guides and prepares a woman in giving birth in a peaceful and extraordinarily beautiful manner. It is a program a that considers the psychological, as well as the physical, well-being of the mother, her birth partner, and the newborn, independent of context, whether that be in the quiet of a home, a hospital, or a birth center.
The HypnoBirthing® program is built around an educational process that includes special breathing, relaxation, visualization, meditative practice, attention to nutrition and positive body toning. Most importantly it fosters an air of mutual respect for the birthing family, as well as the health-care provider in a traditional health-care system or an alternative setting.
The HypnoBirthing® Premise
For most of their lives, women have been inundated with the negative stories of other women’s birth experiences. Everyone, from their mothers, sisters, aunts, cousins, friends, and even strangers, wants to tell them the horrors of giving birth. They have been conditioned to believe that excruciating pain is associated with labor; and because of this, women today hold an unprecedented fear of giving birth. This extreme fear causes their bodies to become tense, and that tension prohibits their bodies from easily performing a normal physiological function. The result is exactly what they feared most–long, painful birthing or unnecessary intervention.
People who are drawn to HypnoBirthing® have long been searching for a way to give birth confidently and as calmly, safely, and gently as possible, whether they have chosen to birth in a hospital, a birthing center, or at home. Until HypnoBirthing®, this kind of birthing almost seemed unattainable for the general population.
Through a very simple program of self-hypnosis and education, healthy, low-risk women, as well as women who need medical assistance because of special circumstances, learn to dismiss fear-based stories, misinformation, and birthing myths; and they are helped to see birth as normal. They learn to trust that their bodies know how to bring their babies into the world in the calm and gentle way that Nature intended.
What is a HypnoBirthing® Childbirth Educator?
As a HypnoBirthing® Childbirth Educators I am a highly qualified birthing professionals who is dedicated to the principles and philosophy of HypnoBirthing® and mother-directed birthing.
HypnoBirthing® Classes are taught in a format of five, 2 1/2-hour classes. If you are very near to your birthing time, occasionally your Practitioner can make special arrangements for individual classes with you.
Controlled breathing
As the HypnoBirthing Midwife, I will share two such breathing techniques. In the first, you breathe deeply in through the nose and out through the nose. Breathe in to the count of four and out to the count of seven.
The second technique is similar. You follow the same deep-breath pattern, but you lengthen the inhale to the count of seven and keep the exhale to the count of seven. Breathing in this way is supposed to help trigger your parasympathetic nervous system, giving you some calming vibes.
A focus on positive thoughts and words
Focusing on positive thoughts and words is another useful technique.Instead of using the word “contraction” to describe the tightenings during labor, you might say “surge” or “wave” for a more positive spin. Another example is replacing “rupture” of the membranes with the word “release.”
Guided visualization
Other techniques include guided visualization, where you might picture something like a flower opening to help relax your body, and using music and meditation to further relaxation.
Through using these techniques, the idea is that you may give birth in a state similar to daydreaming. You may:
- be fully aware of what’s happening to you and able to come and go out of hypnosis as you please
- become more relaxed, keeping your body out of the fight-or-flight mode that can be induced by the unfamiliar environment of a birth room
- be more able to manage pain and stress hormones by the release of endorphins
By controlling pain and stress hormones, the body may let go and submit fully to the task ahead.
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My Doula Work
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Relationships Matter
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Anat is simply an angel brought down straight from heaven to earth!
We hired Anat as a Doula for my wife's first child birth, and let me tell you, both my... read more
Michael R.
8/09/2023 Anat has helped me prepare for birth in a meaningful way. She helped me understand the process, the complications and challenges I may face as I enter the journey for... read more Dor A.
6/12/2023 Anat was our Doula in our baby Aria birth.
I can't reflect enough as to how her presence and energy was essential at my wife's labor.
We have no family here in... read more 
Simon B.
4/03/2023 - Three months ago I had no idea what is a Doula
My wife told me that she needs some help as we are expecting twins and she needed someone to teach... read more 
Liroy Z.
3/19/2023 We hired Anat as our doula for the birth of our second child. After a terrible experience with the delivery of our first baby 2 years ago, we knew we... read more Roy H.
3/19/2023 Highly recommend for ANAT and i will take her service for the next journey
She was always available for me
She didn't sleep over 24 hours sitting next to me... read more Daily M.
1/08/2023 - From 1-10 Anat deserve 100 ,
Not sure what we would do without her .
She helped us all the way from meeting us and teaching us what to expect ,... read more Tamir D.
1/05/2023 Where do I even begin? Anat is truly a rare soul, a kind and giving woman who made my delivery experience the most positive I could ever wish for. I... read more 
Lior H.
12/01/2022 Anat helped us to be the most prepared for the upcoming labor. She's an amazing person, very patient with explaining every part of the process and what will it looks... read more 
Idan G.
5/18/2022 - We decided to use Anat after warm recommendations from friends who used her before.
At first i was skeptical and didn't really understand why a doula is needed when giving birth... read more 
Emil S.
10/03/2021 I highly recommend Anat as a doula. She did a great job getting us prepared for the birth of our first baby and was a great support. During my labor... read more 
Maytar S.
7/07/2020 After realizing that I wanted a natural birth, a friend in the birthing world referred me to Anat. I spoke with a few doulas over the phone but after meeting... read more Emma A.
5/12/2020 - I wanted to give a natural birth without an epidural so I decided to find a Doula. I asked my doctor and he recommended me about Anat.
We met to see... read more 
Lian L.
4/22/2020 Anat is caring and understanding, and truly advocates for her clients. She thoroughly explains the stages of pregnancy and prepares you for the birthing process. She welcomes meeting with both... read more 
Peta-Gay G.
4/20/2020 I met Anat few years ago as a baby yoga instructor while I babysat my cousin. She had something about her that drew everyone and made a whole room feel... read more 
Lauren G.
2/16/2020 - On behalf of my wife:
Words cannot express my gratitude and love towards Anat.
I could not have gone through this experience without her.
She showed up at my house as... read more Itai M.
2/16/2020
