Your Twin Cities Birth Doula
With you every step of the way
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Doula Services
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About Emily
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Testimonials
Meet your doula.
Emily is a DONA certified birth doula serving the Minneapolis / St. Paul metro area and has been practicing since 2019. She recognized her desire to be a doula after serving a close friend in two of her births. She realized how important this position was to the mother and her family. As a doula, Emily finds it truly rewarding to encourage a woman through this emotional, physical and spiritual process.
What is a doula?
The term Doula comes from a Greek word meaning “to serve”. A doula’s role fits perfectly into the modern childbirth scheme where health care providers cannot be 100% present to care for a woman’s emotional and physical needs during childbirth. Studies show that a doula’s presence has numerous positive health benefits for both mother and baby.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Doulas are professional birth coaches who provide families with physical, emotional, informational, and in some cases spiritual support during the prenatal, birth, and postpartum periods. They are trained to provide evidence-based resources so families can ask great questions and make informed decisions about their births. Doulas can also serve as a bridge of communication between women and their providers, helping to advocate for the very best care.
“Countless scientific trials examining doula care demonstrate remarkably improved physical and psychological outcomes for both mother and baby. Doulas have a positive impact on the well-being of the entire family.” - DONA International
Clinical research data has shown the following benefits of birthing with a doula:
Clinical benefits: reduced use of Pitocin, fewer requests for pain medicine, reduced likelihood to need forceps or vacuum, reduced likelihood of Cesarean birth, and better Apgar scores for baby.
Emotional benefits: greater satisfaction with overall birth experience, more positive long-term memories, improved postpartum mental health, increased confidence, decreased anxiety, and family bonding support for partners and siblings.
Physical benefits: increased movement, improved relaxation, comfort and reassurance, and lactation support.
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Doulas provide physical, emotional, and informational support. However, they are not trained medical providers nor do they hold a medical license, and thus, there are limits on what they can and cannot do. Doulas are intended to work in tandem with an expectant mother, partner, and medical team to provide the best experience for a family expecting a baby. Performing clinical tasks and making medical recommendations and decisions are reserved roles for the expectant mother’s medical team.
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For some, having a third person involved in the birthing process may raise a concern that doulas will come between the parents. On the contrary, just as doulas see to the comfort, hydration, nutrition, and calm of laboring and new mothers, they also see to these same needs for birth partners. Doulas make a fantastic addition to an expectant family’s birthing team.
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While many imagine the role of a doula to be focused on the birthing process, doulas can be an excellent postpartum and breastfeeding resource as well, providing support and education after the the baby is born.
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Please reach out to Emily with any more questions you may have about the role or capabilities of a doula.
Benefits of Hiring a Doula
