Du La, Shannon Kaupp and Rachel Schwartzman are experienced professional birth assistants or “doulas”. A doula provides parents-to-be with physical, emotional and informational support throughout pregnancy, labour, birth and post-partum. A doula recognizes birth as an important life experience that will have a lifelong impact on the health of both the mother and child. Her main role is to assist parents-to-be identify what they define as a positive birth experience and help them achieve this.
The doula is not a substitute, but rather a supplement to the essential role played by the mother’s partner, allowing both mother and partner to participate in the birth at a level at which they are both comfortable.
Evidence for the benefit of doula assistance during births has been validated by a number of research studies. Findings include a significant decrease in the rate of intervention (e.g., epidural or oxytocin administration or use of forceps) and an overall more positive experience of the birth.
As naturopathic doctors, Du, Shannon and Rachel work to optimize a mother’s health in months approaching pregnancy and minimize discomfort and stress at the time of birth. They believe that the least intervention and highest quality of emotional support to the mother during the time of birth is optimal for the lifelong health of both the child and mother. Du, Shannon and Rachel may also use naturopathic therapies (such as homeopathy, botanical medicines, acupuncture and acupressure, massage) to assist a woman in the birth experience.
Du has attended over 80 births with midwives, obstetricians and family doctors in home and hospital settings. She has experience with natural births, water births, vaginal and cesearean births, and VBAC (vaginal birth after cesearean) births. She has a daughter, who was birthed at home with the support of midwives and her "doula" husband. She is currently expecting, and planning another home birth.
Shannon has attended over 50 births with midwives, obstetricians and family doctors in home and hospital settings. She has experience with natural births, water births, vaginal and cesearean births, multiple births and VBAC (vaginal birth after cesearean) births. She currently teaches naturopathic doctors and students a comprehensive course on doula support. She has two children, birthed at home with the support of midwives, a doula and her partner.
Rachel has attended over 50 births with midwives and obstetricians in home and hospital settings, and has preceptored with a midwife in a Mennonite community. She has experience with natural births, water births, vaginal and cesearean births and VBAC (vaginal birth after cesearean) births. She has two children, birthed at home with the support of midwives, a doula and her partner. She is currently expecting, and planning another home birth.
Doula services* include:
- One, 15-minute complimentary "meet and greet"
- Two, 60-minute prenatal appointments
- Attendance at time of birth
- One to two, 60-minute postnatal appointments
*Ongoing naturopathic care is also available.
Useful resources:
- Agreement for Doula Services by Du La ND Doula
- Agreement for Doula Services by Shannon Kaupp ND Doula
- Agreement for Doula Services by Rachel Schwartzman ND Doula
- Preparing A Birth Plan
- Labour And Birth Preparation Checklist For Birth Partner
- Recommended Reading For Expecting Parents
- Vaccinations: Making an Informed Choice