The birth and postpartum period mark a major transition in a mother’s life and can be hard to navigate-whether she has previous experience or not!  There is so much information available about the “right” way to give birth or raise a child, and can often lead mothers to question what they should do. How do they know what to listen to and what to ignore? How do they make decisions about the care of their baby and feel confident? What options for birth should they chose? How long should they breastfeed? The answers to these questions are not the same for every family.

The need for individualized support that meets the mother where she is at and helps her navigate the changes and information so readily availably is becoming increasingly important. A birth doula or postpartum doula, like myself, can help bridge the gap by providing support to a mother with evidence-based information, advocacy, and physical and emotional support to build her confidence in the decisions she makes. Both labor support and postpartum support can make a difference in how a mother feels during this transition, leading to a more positive experience. Our goal is not to tell you how to parent, but instead help you navigate the information out there and help you decide what works best for your family.