Kari Verheul
Doula Care
Birth & Postpartum Support
Welcome!
My name is Kari and I am a Certified Birth and Postpartum Doula serving the Truro, New Glasgow and Amherst areas in Nova Scotia, Canada.
If you are interested in learning more about what a doula does, then please scroll down. This website will share so much helpful information and help you make an informed choice about hiring a doula.
You can find out more about me and my services by clicking on the sections in the top right.
What is a Doula?
According to DONA International...
"A Doula is a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to a mother before, during and shortly after childbirth to help her achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible."
(DONA International, 2022)
Birth Satisfaction
Doulas recognize that birth is a key life experience that birthing women will remember for the rest of their lives.
Top 3 things that birthing women testify to be the reason for a positive birth experience:
1. Knowing you are listened to
2. Being part of the decision making
3. Having an incredible support team with continuous care
Doulas can help with all three of these!
Advocate
We will advocate for the mothers birth preferences/plan and help her change direction if need be. We will help you gather up the information needed for you to make the best informed decisions. We can enhance communication and understanding between mom/partner and medical staff. We are not your voice, we would never want to take that from you. We will never make a decision for our clients or speak to medical staff on your behalf.
Positive Things Happen
The research demonstrates that it is dramatically beneficial when there is an experience labour coach, offering continuous support. It provides emotional and physical benefits for mothers and health bonuses for their babies. A significant reduction in the length of labor, a major drop in C-sections, less medical intervention, a substantial drop in mother's need for pain medication, shorter hospital stays, and fewer complications overall. There’s also value in having a third person who is not emotionally connected nor has an ongoing relationship with Mom like the partner does. When mom is experiencing pain, fear, or any danger to her or her baby, a Doula is able to stay calm, be objective, skillfully help her cope with labor, and be a reassuring presence for mom and partner.
Photo taken by Maddy Putnam
Continuous emotional
support and physical
comfort techniques
In the comfort of your own home, a Doula provides physical comfort techniques (such as relaxation, deep breathing, massage, and Rebozo) that the partner and Doula can assist mom in during labor. A lot of pressure can be on the partner as they may be expected to be the perfect support, coach and cheerleader. How is that possible when they have never experienced birth before? A Doula can help put tools in your partner‘s toolbox so they feel confident and ready to support you in the best ways possible.
Myths About Doulas
Myth: Doulas only support “at home” births.
FALSE
Why? It’s your birth, you decide where, we follow and support you.
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Myth: Doulas only take on clients who want a non-medical birth with no pain meds and no medical intervention.
FALSE
Why? It’s your birth, you decide, we support you.
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Myth: Doulas are the same as midwives.
FALSE
Why? Doulas are not medically trained
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Myth: Doulas work for the hospital.
FALSE
Why? Doulas are hired by you therefore they work for you. We don’t go home at 7pm , there is no shift change, only continuous support!
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Birth is not only about making babies. Birth is about making mothers… Strong, competent, capable mothers, who trust themselves and know their inner strength.
Barbara Katz Rothman
Click on this link to view the DONA International website.
DONA International is the world’s first, largest and leading doula certifying organization. When our founders created DONA in 1992, they professionalized the role of the doula. Since then, we have certified more than 12,000 DONA International doulas in more than 50 countries!
Want to learn more about doulas?
How to Contact Me
Want to learn more about having a doula at your birth or for postpartum care?
Use the contact information below to reach out.
