Doula

Experienced, Professional, and Compassionate

AMANDA SUTHERLAND BIRTH DOULA

A “doula” is “a woman who serves” (Greek).  Today, a birth doula is a trained professional who helps expectant mothers achieve a more empowered and satisfying labor and birth. Becoming a doula chose me while i was studying prenatal massage in 2007 at IPSB Culver City.  The instructor, Val Guin, and her assistants were also doula’s and their sweet availability and devotion to their clients resonated with me.  It was wonderfully empowering for both client and doula. I trained with D.O.N.A. In 2007 and have attended many births since then, both in hospitals and clients’ homes. I love being of service as a doula.  The work is a natural addition to my bodywork and somatic experiencing practice, and a natural progression from my years working with families and children as a preschool teacher and nanny in Topanga, California. In addition to having the personal and consistent care you get from a doula, studies have shown that when doulas attend a birth, labors are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they breastfeed more easily. More info is available here.

How a Birth Doula Helps You

  • Understands the physiology and technical details of labor and birth
  • Understands and attends to the emotional and physical needs of a woman in labor
  • Assists the woman in preparing for and carrying out her plans for birth
  • Stays with the woman throughout the labor and birth
  • Is well versed in techniques for progressing the birth process, and in some cases, naturally inducing labor
  • Provides an educated and objective viewpoint, helping the birthing family make informed decisions
  • Facilitates healthy communication between the laboring couple and all care providers as your advocate, not your voice
  • Enables and encourages the woman’s partner to participate at their comfort level

How The Process Works

  1. Initial phone call to determine if we’re a good match
  2. In-person meeting and interview to make a final decision if you’d like to invite me to attend your birth and be at your service throughout
  3. Second in-person meeting to review / create / revise your birth plan, and go over any further details important to you and your partner
  4. Attending your labor and the birth of your baby
  5. Follow up postnatal visit, typically within the first 6 months

My services include one massage which can be pre or postnatal, at your choosing.