Comfort Birth

I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICES FROM early JULY - early SEPTEMBER 2008

I am currently still a doula, and teaching classes but will be out of town.

Thank you for your business, and congrats on your little blessings!!!

Michael C. Robertson CD(CBI), HCHI
Based In and providing services within a 1 hour radius of Norwich, Connecticut

Doula is a Greek word for “woman’s servant.” A birth doula is a supportive companion professionally trained to provide labor support. Her role is to give physical, emotional, and informational support to women and partners during labor and birth.

A doula provides continuous support. This support begins when your labor starts (or at whatever point the mother requests her presence) through birth, and for approximately 2 hours following the birth. I offer help and advice on comfort measures such as breathing, relaxation, movement, positioning, and massage. I also assists families with gathering information about the course of labor and their options. My most critical role is providing continuous emotional reassurance and comfort.

I attend home births and hospital births; medicated births and un-medicated births. I can be the primary support for the mother, or can be an additional member of her existing labor support team.

I specialize in non-medical skills, and do not perform clinical tasks, or diagnose medical conditions. I do not make decisions for my clients. My goal is to provide the support and information needed to help the birthing mother have a safe and satisfying birth as the mother defines it.

Decrease medical intervention in labor:

Reduces need for cesarean by 50%

Reduces length of labor by 25%

Reduces use of oxytocin by 40%

Reduces pain medication use by 30%

Reduces the need for forceps by 40%

Reduces epidural requests by 60%

6 weeks after birth, mothers who had doulas were:

Less anxious and depressed

Had more confidence with baby

More satisfied w/ partner’s role during labor (71% vs 30%)

More likely to be breastfeeding (52% vs. 29%)