Hundreds of women across Heanor and Ripley give birth each year, and for each it's a personal journey, unique to them. Most choose to give birth in hospital, some prefer a home birth, many will be accompanied by their partner, mother, sister or a good friend but now there's a new option available in our area which more and more woman are turning to.
Hands up if you've heard of a 'doula'.
A doula (pronounced doo-lah) is a woman who is trained to provide support to women and their families during pregnancy, childbirth and the period of time following the birth. They are there to support you, dispel your fears and anxieties, empower you, reassure you, help you (and your partner) stay calm, ease your pain, and comfort you.
Doulas are not medically trained and are not there to take the place of your midwife or doctor, but they are there for the emotional and spiritual side, helping you to feel safe and confident in yourself and your ability to give birth.
Giving birth can be a confusing and frightening time when some new mothers, especially those experiencing their first birth, feel out of control of what's happening to them. Having a doula with you can take all the confusion and fear away, as they are there for you and only you at every step and will help you make the right decisions for yourself and your own personal journey.
If you'd like more information about doulas and their work, visit http://doula.org.uk/ or call your local doula, Lisa, for an informal chat.
Lisa can be contacted on 07877 875229 or lkjchj@hotmail.co.uk
