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Welcome to Dragonfly Doulas! Here you will find all sorts of information on doulas, birth, breastfeeding, Hypnobabies, natural birth, cesarean birth, epidurals, pain relief, water birth, surrogacy, adoption, VBACs and so much more! For a complete list of all the links and resources, click on the "resources" tab to the right. Frequently Asked Questions
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What exactly does a doula do?
A doula does what women have done for each other from the beginning of
time, she provides comfort, shares knowledge, and guides a woman in labor
towards her goals and the healthy birth of her child. In times
past, a woman would be surrounded by her extended family and friends.
She would have grown up around childbirth, breastfeeding, and childrearing.
As we moved into the modern era, birth left the home and today most women
never witness an actual birth before they give birth to their own child.
The Doula profession has risen in response to the desire for women to be
nurtured and educated during pregnancy, at birth, and immediately
afterwards. 
Does a doula take the place of my
partner? Absolutely Not! Your partner is having this baby too and
deserves support! A doula supports the entire family, making sure that
the partner is engaged to their comfort and needs. Often a doula will
spend time encouraging the partner that they are able to support you
in labor, explaining and reassuring the natural phases of labor. A
doula can also provide a respite for the partner allowing them to sleep or
eat without feeling like they are leaving you alone or unsupported.
Remember, after the birth a doula will go home and sleep, not take care of a
new baby!
Does a doula take the place of a nurse?
A doula's expertise is in the normal variations of labor
and her job is to help you with non-medical pain relief such as
walking, positioning, breathing and other ways of coping during labor.
Most doulas follow the Midwifery philosophy and
consider birth to a natural, life changing event and not a medical
event. If you are giving birth in the hospital, a nurse will most
likely be
in charge of making sure that you and your baby are medically stable.
If you are giving birth at home, a midwife will be in charge of monitoring
you and your baby. A doula does not perform any medical procedures and
makes no medical decisions regarding your care.
What if I don't want a natural
birth? Doulas support mothers who choose narcotic pain relief or
epidural in different ways than the support for natural childbirth.
Since these procedures generally require you to remain in bed and all of
them require at least an IV and fetal monitoring, the doula will shift her
focus from walking pain relief to comfort and encouraging you to rest, drink
and look to the birth of your child. Epidurals and pain relief are not
always effective and it can take a long time for a busy maternity ward to
provide them. A doula is skilled in comfort measures to help you cope
regardless of how you give you birth. A Doula's job is provide
support, education and advocacy to make sure that you have the best birth
experience.
What if I have a cesarean
section? If you have a cesarean section and do not have a partner (or
your partner is unavailable), the doula will accompany you throughout the
surgery, from the time you arrive at the hospital until your baby is in your
arms or otherwise medically stable. If you have a partner or another
support person you want in the room, your doula may not be allowed in
surgery according to the hospital's policies. However, a doula will come to the hospital and stay with you
and your support team from the time your are admitted until your baby has
been returned to you. If your vaginal labor ends with cesarean birth,
a doula will be with you until you and your baby are stable and you are out
of the recovery room. With a cesarean birth, you may need additional
support and postpartum support and we typically provide at least one
additional postpartum visit for cesarean births. If you are
planning an elective cesarean and choose not to have a doula present at the
birth, we are happy to provide antepartum and postpartum services at a
reduced fee. 
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