|
Hiring a doula to provide labour support (and often prenatal preparation and help after the birth as well) is an option that many women find attractive. There are many doulas and doula practices in the Edmonton area.
Doula is a Greek word which has come to mean:
"A woman experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the mother before, during and just after childbirth." A doula: - Recognizes birth as a key life experience that the mother will remember all her life.
- Stays by the side of the labouring woman throughout labour and delivery.
- Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of the woman in labour.
- Assists a woman and her partner is preparing for and carrying out her plans for birth.
- Provides emotional support, physical guidance and comfort techniques, an objective viewpoint, and information to aid in decision making.
- Facilitates communication between the labouring woman, her partner, and the other care providers.
- Complements the care provided by her partner, other family members and friends
Many organizations offer doula training and certification. The largest and original organization is Doulas of North America (DONA). DONA was founded in 1992 by Penny Simkin, Annie Kennedy, Drs Marshall & Phyllis Klaus, and Dr. John Kennell after they finished a large research study which showed the value and importance of a doula. Other certifying bodies include CAPPA (Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association), Birth Works (TM), and Birthing From Within (TM). Most trainings include a weekend course with follow-up homework and hands-on experience for those who want to become certified. Anyone can act as labour support, as many friends and relatives have done, however the training prepares doulas to offer quality emotional, physical, and educational support to women and their families during childbirth and postpartum. Certification is a further step that some doulas follow if they are planning to continue working as a professional doula. In some areas, there are hospital volunteer-doula programs, but so far doulas are not regulated by governments anywhere in North America. Following are links to the websites of some local doulas. ASAC does not endorse any particular doula, and strongly recommends that you interview a doula before engaging their services. If you need help or suggestions preparing for an interview, please contact ASAC at 780-425-7993. For the names of more doulas, contact the Doula Association of Edmonton. Edmonton and Northern Alberta Doulas! If you would like a listing on this page, please contact the
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
.Karen is a certified birth doula with DONA International, and owner of New Beginnings Doula Service. She works with the Terra Association supporting teen parents, and was voted doula of the year for 2006. Karen is a member of DONA International, the Canadian Doula Association, the Doula Association of Edmonton, and ASAC. Karen is an experienced doula, and has been attending births since 1983. She works in all Edmonton and area hospitals including Wetaskiwin, Stony Plain (midwifery program), and St. Albert. Karen has experience with natural unmedicated birth, birth complications, caesarean sections, VBAC births, and water births. Karen is happily married with five children - three sons and two daughters ranging in age from 22 - 12 years old. Karen had all of her children with absolutely no drugs or interventions of any kind. Karen has a solid belief that women can birth their babies naturally - with the right preparation. Heather Beaudoin is a DONA International certified birth doula working in Edmonton, AB. She provides expectant women/couples with physical support, emotional continuity and birth information to foster a satisfying birth experiences. In addition she leads small group prenatal sessions. Phone (780)901-9096 or e-mail
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
any time during your pregnancy for a free, no obligation, consultation. Suzanne Moquin is a U of A graduate with a BA and a B Ed. She and her husband have 2 children, ages 14 & 10. She is DONA's Birth Doula Trainer living in Edmonton, Alberta. She has been a Certified Doula for 8 years, and is also a Childbirth Educator, teaching small group private prenatal classes. Excellent feedback received! She is well known and respected in all of the Edmonton Area hospitals, and is a Doula Representative for the Regional Women's Health Program Council. Her experiences with birth include: home birth, unmedicated hospital birth, epidural births, VBAC's and caesarean births. Suzanne can be reached at 780.440.6105 or
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
. Nurturing Touch Doula Services has proudly been nurturing families through pregnancy, labour and the postpartum period since 1998. We are pleased to be offering our services in Calgary and the surrounding area. Doula Amy MacQuarrie -- Helping women achieve their goals and have the best birth possible. Another way to help women realize what they are already capable of. Doula Connections (Edmonton) Doula Connections is a group of DONA-trained and certified doulas and CAPPA childbirth educators dedicated to improving the birth experience of pregnant women and their families in Edmonton and surrounding areas. Contact Monica Lipscombe CD(DONA)CCCE at 780-459-4357 or email at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
Resources