Welcome to Birthing by Choice Doula Services!

It is a joy for me to offer Doula services in Augusta, Georgia and the surrounding areas. While pregnancy can be an exciting time, the thought of the impending birth of a baby can often times bring feelings of uncertainty and anxiety. It is my hope to serve women in a way that removes these feelings, and educates them on the reality that they have a choice on what kind of birth experience they will have.

Benefits of a Doula

I believe that birth is a natural and empowering experience and that God has created women to be able to birth their babies, in most cases, without the need of medical interventions.

From the recent Cochrane Review of continuous labor support (2011): Modern obstetric care frequently subjects women to institutional routines, which may have adverse effects on the progress of labor. Supportive care during labor may involve emotional support, comfort measures, information and advocacy. These may enhance physiologic labor processes as well as women’s feelings of control and competence, and thus reduce the need for obstetric intervention. The review of studies included 21 trials, from 15 countries, involving more than 15,000 women in a wide range of settings and circumstances.

Women who receive continuous labor support:

• are less likely to give birth by cesarean
• are less likely to give birth by vacuum or forceps
• are less likely to use pain medications
• have shorter labors
• are less likely to request epidurals or other pain medications
  (have a decreased perception of pain)
• less likely to feel a loss of control
• have babies that are less likely to have low 5-minute Apgar scores
• have greater maternal satisfaction

* We conclude that all women should have continuous support during labor. Continuous support from a person who is present solely to provide support, is not a member of the woman’s social network, is experienced in providing labor support, and has at least a modest amount of training, appears to be most beneficial.

In addition, a woman cared for by a doula postpartum:

• has greater self-confidence
• is more likely to breastfeed successfully
• is less likely to have postpartum depression
• has a higher sensitivity to the needs of her baby
• adapts to new family dynamics better

*Continuous support for women during childbirth. Hodnett ED, Gates S, Hofmeyr GJ, Sakala C, Weston J. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2011, Issue 2.

As a Doula, I am knowledgeable in the natural birthing process, as well as the common medical interventions used today. I have a passion to share what I know with expecting mothers so that they will have the opportunity to have the best birth experience possible. I provide informational, emotional, and physical support before, during, and after labor and delivery. I look forward to serving you and your family through a beautiful and miraculous birth!