As said by DONA International, “a doula is a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to their client before, during, and shortly after childbirth to help them achieve the healthiest and most satisfying experience possible.” But let’s talk about what that means. It means community, compassion, and service. When hiring a doula you are adding one more person to your village to help serve you in the ways that mean the most to you during this wonderful transition of adding a new life to your family. Doula’s not only have a positive impact for the mom but for the whole family. During your pregnancy and labor your healthcare professionals are focused on keeping mom and baby healthy and safe, by adding a doula to your birth team you are adding a person that focuses specifically on supporting mom and dad. Helping mom and dad on ways to manage labor in whatever way best fits your needs. These needs can include comfort measures, breathing techniques, emotional support for mom and dad, and evidence-based information to know your rights, answer any questions, or concerns.

Pre/Post natal yoga and why it helps?

There is no surprise that yoga is amazing for your health by itself but during pregnancy and postpartum it offers unique benefits many might not know. Starting with prenatal yoga, it can help to relieve aches and pains, improve your sleep, and increase your energy levels. On top of these benefits, it can also help to prepare your body for labor and childbirth. Prenatal yoga targets specific muscles in your body that are directly associated with labor, these areas being the feet, the legs, the pelvis, and the abdomen. By targeting these areas we are not only making these areas stronger but expanding them to help provide more room for baby to grow and descend during labor. An added benefit of this is the matter of breath work to help relax the mind and the body that can help you undergo not only stress during pregnancy but help aid in managing labor. Postnatal yoga primarily focus on the pelvis and the abdomen that have been stretched and undergone a lot of stress, it can help to heal and repair these areas. On top of helping the body to physically heal, we are also helping the body to emotionally heal. One of the biggest emotional symptoms to occur after pregnancy is postpartum depression. Studies have shown that postnatal yoga can help alleviate these symptoms, help you bond with baby, and increase your energy levels. As always with any form of physical activity you should always consult with your doctor prior to engaging, and you should not engage in any postnatal yoga until 6-8 weeks after you have given birth.