What is a Doula?

In nearly every culture throughout history, women have been surrounded and cared for by other women during childbirth. It is an ancient tradition. Artistic representations of birth throughout the world usually include at least two other women, surrounding and supporting the birthing woman. One of these women is the midwife, who is responsible for the safe passage of the mother and baby; the other woman or women are behind or beside the mother, holding and comforting her.

An Antepartum Doula supports your ability to rest during pregnancy and allow your baby to develop and grow safely in the womb as long as he/she needs for a safe arrival into the world. This care is often used for mothers directed to rest in bed.

A Birth Doula provides non-clinical support to a woman and her partner during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum progressions. Her services include emotional & physical support, practical assistance, and information.

A Postpartum Doula "mothers the new mother" by nurturing her and the family after the birth of a baby. She uses her experience and wisdom to guide parents as they adjust to their new life. She answers questions and assists with breastfeeding, newborn care, and relative postpartum adjustments such as light housekeeping, older sibling care, and meals.

* A doula is well versed on the physiology of a woman and medical interventions; however, she does not perform clinical tasks.

The word Doula (doo-lah) comes from ancient Greece referring to a valued servant in an ancient temple who would care for a specific deity or goddess. The word Doula has evolved over time to refer to a woman who is educated through training and/or experience in the art of labor support and the special needs of the birthing family, or "woman helping woman."

The Labyrinth

Labyrinths have existed for over 4,000 years, and they have been an integral part of cultures including Native American, Greek, Celtic, and Mayan. They are geometric forms that define a sacred place for reflecting, meditating, prayer, and comfort.

There are many labyrinth designs consisting of different numbers of circuits. Seven and eleven circuits are among the most famous, though they are found in many shapes and sizes. Labyrinths can be made in sand, cornmeal, flour, painted, and similar materials. They are often built outdoors using bricks, stones, plants, or other natural materials. It creates a pathway for prayer and meditation.

Often people think that labyrinths are like a mazes, but they are not. There are no tricks or dead ends; a labyrinth has one path leading in to the center and one path leading the way out.

Why would I walk a labyrinth?
A labyrinth is walked to clear the mind, or reflect on a question or concern. The effect of reducing mental activity and heightening awareness makes it ideal for meditation. The labyrinth symbolizes a journey.

How do I walk a labyrinth?
There is no one right way to walk a labyrinth, just as there is no one right way to birth. Each person's experience is unique. It can be a pleasant walk, playful, serious, or healing and profound. Attention to the senses, the sights, feels, and sounds, make the journey an experience. The labyrinth may be walked alone, with a partner, or with a group of people. When walking towards the center, some people hold their palms facing down, releasing tension, concern, and worries.

What do I do when I reach the center of the labyrinth?
Reflect, pray, and/or meditate when reaching the center. When exiting the labyrinth, some hold their palms up to signify receiving peace, energy, and insight.

I will walk with you

What colors might you see on the labyrinth journey through pregnancy, birth, and the first moments of motherhood? There are paths and turns, no dead ends. I will walk with you to help you have a birth experience that you envision for yourself. Many questions. Many options. One mother. One birth. How will you remember it?

Orange combines the energy of red and the happiness of yellow. It is associated with joy, sunshine, and the tropics. Orange represents enthusiasm, fascination, happiness, creativity, determination, attraction, success, encouragement, and stimulation.

Green is the color of nature. It symbolizes growth, harmony, freshness, and fertility. Green has strong emotional correspondence with safety.

Yellow is the color of sunshine. It's associated with joy, happiness, intellect, and energy.

Blue is the color of the sky and sea. It is often associated with depth and stability. It symbolizes trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence, intelligence, faith, truth, and heaven.

Purple combines the stability of blue and the energy of red. Purple is associated with royalty. It symbolizes power, nobility, luxury, and ambition. It conveys wealth and extravagance. Purple is associated with wisdom, dignity, independence, creativity, mystery, and magic.

Red is associated with energy, strength, power, determination as well as passion, desire, and love.

White is associated with light, goodness, innocence, purity, and virginity. It is considered to be the color of perfection.