Hello, my name is Nancy Connelly. I am a certified birth doula with DONA International (www.DONA.org). I have been certified with DONA since 2000, and have attended over 350 births. I work primarily in the San Gabriel Valley, although I am available to work anywhere between Los Angeles and Whittier. I am also a Certified Lactation Educator.
What is a doula?
A birth doula is a person trained and experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the parents-to-be, before, during and after childbirth. A doula does not replace the medical staff. Doulas attend non-medical needs during the birth process.
Did you know...
Studies have shown that a doula's presence at birth:
tend to result in shorter labors with fewer complications
reduces negative feelings about one's childbirth experience
reduces the need for labor inducing drugs
reduces the requests for pain medication
reduces the incidence of cesareans
What does a doula "do" at a birth?
A birth doula will stay with the parents throughout the labor; providing physical and emotional support. A birth doula will use different tools during labor, including massage, hip squeeze/low back counter pressure, suggestions for position changes, heat/cold packs, visualization, verbal encouragement, help with breathing, using a birth ball, facilitating communication between the laboring parents and the medical staff, providing an objective viewpoint, and reminding parents of their birth goals.
