Doula Services ·How we work together ·Advantages of a Doula ·Services & Fees My role as your Doula/Birth Attendant Whether I am more hands on with massaging during contractions or taking you through a guided visualisation, my support will vary from woman to woman.  This guideline will give you a sense of what I can do for you.   I recognise childbirth as a pivotal life experience for you (and your family).  I aim to nurture, offer knowledge, physical, mental and emotional support, resources and advocacy for you through your journey to motherhood. I build a relationship with you through the continuity of care offered by pre-natal visits, attendance at the birth and post partum follow up/debrief. I believe in the importance of respecting birth as a natural process, trusting in your intuition, abilities and knowledge you have from within. I help minimise unnecessary intervention by acting as a bridge between the natural process and today’s technology by facilitating respectful communication and understanding between you and your health care providers. I assist you through the challenges and choices of preparing for and carrying out your wishes for birth and parenting. As a doula I do not: Perform clinical tasks, such as blood pressure, fetal heart checks, vaginal exams, give medical advice.  Make decisions for the woman and/or the birth team.  I will, however, help get information and offer perspective so informed choice is possible.  Natalie's Testimonial Erika is a warm, intelligent, and kind doula. Her most winning attribute is her ability to coach women through their labour and encourage them to hold to their birth plan, in so far as it is safely possible. I found Erika's support invaluable. I was in early labour for 48 hours waiting for the baby to turn around from a slightly posterier position. It was quite painful physically and emotionally. I really needed to be coached and supported during this phase by Erika. She slept beside me on the second evening when I didn't think I could go on. She was able to immediately bond with me and make me feel very conformable with her so that I could open up and share what I needed to in order to move on psychologically and allow my body to birth my child. After talking to Erika and opening up to her my waters broke and I moved into advanced labour. Erika offered advise about how to deal with each contraction and helped me to understand the importance of conserving my energy in order to hold to my birth plan. I had an extraordinary birth experience that i will never forget. I am immensely proud of what I achieved and it would not have been possible without every member of my birth support team. Erika was a key member of my birth support team and I thank her whole-heartedly. I plan to have another child and I will be asking for Erika's support again in that undertaking. Lots of love, Natalie Dyer-Rose natalie@poeticbeing.com http://www.poeticbeing.com