Gentle Spirit Doula & Childbirth Ed Services

Grand Junction, CO

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Gentle Spirit Doula & Childbirth Education Services, by Sara M Rutkowski

 

                   What is a Doula? 

            Doula is Greek for

           Woman's Servant

A Doula is a professional labor and child birth assistant.

I am here to help you.  I want you to have the best birth experience as possible. 

A Doula does not replace the father but enhances him.

As a Doula, I accompany women in labor to help ensure a safe and satisfying birth experience. I draw on knowledge and experience to provide emotional support, physical comfort and, as needed, help you and your partner to communicate with the staff to make sure that you have the information you need to make informed decisions in labor. I can provide reassurance and perspective to you and your partner, make suggestions for labor progress, and help with relaxation, massage, and positioning and other techniques for comfort. I am independent and self-employed.

As a Doula I DO NOT:

-Speak on your behalf to medical health care providers and/or other clinicians. I will support and advocate all decisions made by you, but I will not make decisions on your behalf.

-Provide you with medical advice pertaining to yourself or your baby.

-Offer any kind of Medical advice or treatment at all

How Can A Doula Help?

A Doula is great for:

-Helping 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 focuses on the comfort of 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 healthcare team.  In the event of complications a Doula can be great help in understanding what is happening and what options the family may have.  The Doula may also help with the initial breast-feeding and in preserving the privacy of the new family during the first hour after birth.  A Doula does not offer any medical advice.

Do I Need a Doula?

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 Do I Need a Doula?

Even if you have a wonderful, caring partner, Doctor or midwife, will he / she:

  • Come to your home and labor with you until it's time to go to the hospital or birthing center and then stay with you until the baby is born?      Yes   No
  • Provide massage?      Yes   No
  • Provide prenatal visits in your home?      Yes   No
  • Suggest or know of positions to ease back labor and help with pushing?      Yes   No
  • Do the double hip squeeze or provide counter pressure?      Yes   No
  • Stay by your head providing encouragement while you are in transition and when the baby is being born?      Yes   No
  • Offer you cold/hot packs?      Yes   No
  • Mop your brow with a cool cloth?      Yes   No
  • Take notes during labor and provide you with a written record of the birth?      Yes   No
  • Take photographs of you and your partner with your new baby?      Yes   No
  • Help you with breast-feeding?      Yes   No


If the answer to any of these questions is "NO" -- you need (and deserve) a doula!

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For God has not given us the Spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love and of sel fcontrol.  II Timonthy 1:7