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Gentle Birth Clinic
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Doula Services
"It is our bodies to which this is happening and other people should not make decisions for us,
or make us feel guilty because they would have chosen a different way."
Sheila Kitzenger
Anthropologist/Sociologist
Author of Homebirth
Doulas are professional support for laboring women. Doulas educate
women regarding their options during childbirth and then act as
advocates when presenting these choices to other members of the
woman's medical team. Doulas remain with a woman throughout her
entire labor, delivery and immediate postpartum periods.
Doulas are experienced in all areas of childbirth. They are trained
to perform a variety of non-invasive measures to assist the laboring
woman. Massage, therapeutic touch, herbal preparations, homeopathy
and accupressure are used for pain relief. Visualization, assisted
walking and movement, hydrotherapy and guided positioning shorten
and facilitate labor and delivery.
Doulas help women and their partners prepare a written birth plan.
This plan establishes, in advance, a guide for all of the medical
professionals involved in the birth. A birth plan is developed
in the third trimester of the pregnancy during two or more meetings
with the doula. Options such as food during labor, positions for
and location of the delivery, newborn care and discharge planning
for a hospital or birthing center birth are researched and discussed.
Decisions are made by the woman and her partner with the guidance
of their doula. The plan is finalized and then a written copy
is presented to the physician or midwife. During this presentation
the doula acts as an advocate for the couple. Once the plan is
approved and signed by the physician or midwife, a copy is delivered
to the delivery location so that all of the staff have an opportunity
read the plan before the birth.
The use of a doula greatly increases satisfaction with the birth experience!
Doulas improve the overall experience of women during labor and
delivery. Many physicians, midwives, and insurance companies are
realizing the benefits of utilizing doula services. Gentle
Birth Clinic offers doula services and doula services
combined with prenatal care by a licensed nurse midwife. Additional
services such as postpartum home visits on both mother and infant
can be purchased at an additional charge and billed to the insurance
company. Contact us for more information or a free consultation.
Request for additional information
Gentle Birth Clinic
Carey Ann Ryan, ARNP/CNM
2708 Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50312
515-279-9617
Fax 515-274-5599
midwife@gentlebirth.com
© 1998-2003