Doula Support in Denver
While it is never too early or too late to find doula support for your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, your chances of having your top choice of doula available for your due date are best if you begin searching in your first or second trimester.
Why hire a doula? Studies show that when parents have a doula as part of their birth team, they have:
- 50% decrease in cesarean births
- 15% increase in spontaneous births
- 60% decrease in epidural requests
- 40% decrease in the use of pitocin
- 30% decrease in the use of forceps
- 57% decrease in rates of postpartum depression and anxiety
- Overall, a 25% decrease in the length of labor!
*Source American Pregnancy Association
What is a birth doula?
A birth doula takes care of a laboring person, helping both emotionally and physically, throughout labor and childbirth. They provide comfort techniques, information, options, and support. Giving birth to a baby is so much more than just a physical process; it engages people in a transformational experience. It is a key life event that is full of meaning and emotion.
Doulas Are Not Just For The Pregnant Parent:
A doula does not take the place of the partner, spouse, or non-birthing parent; a doula strives to get them more involved in the labor and birth while relieving the pressure for them to know exactly what to do.
A doula offers many benefits to the partner as well:
- Increase in partner’s confidence levels and decrease in stress
- Alleviation of anxiety by serving as a resource for answering questions, offering suggestions and encouragement
- Facilitating greater participation in the birth by the partner
- Filling in for the partner when they need to take a break
- The emotional relief that comes with knowing you are not alone in the supportive role
- Allowing someone to accompany the baby during first medical assessments while knowing the birthing parent is also being supported
What is a Postpartum Doula?
A postpartum doula is a non-medical support person to be there for your transition to life at home with your newborn. Postpartum doulas provide physical, emotional and practical support throughout the fourth trimester; this support can include but is not limited to:
- physical recovery support
- newborn care and education
- lactation support
- home support (cleaning dishes, bottles and pump parts, laundry, meal and snack prep, etc).
Some postpartum doulas provide overnight support, whereas some are available only during daytime hours. Postpartum doulas are not there to just hold the baby, though of course they can take care of your newborn while you take care of your own needs; they are there to support the entire home and family.
Meet the Doulas
Belly Bliss offers a free monthly Meet The Doulas event. This is a great opportunity to find out more about what a doula does, how they can help you, and ask questions. This event starts with an overview of the information above, followed by a Q&A and an oppportunity to mingle with the Belly Bliss Doulas.
Alyssa Cowdrey
Iva Mendoza
Puja Mehta
Lindsay Scott
Rebecca Peterson
Amy McHugh
Amanda Gonzales
