 A doula is a non-medical professional who supports mamas and their families through the childbearing year. She educates, accompanies, and empowers the mamas through their pregnancy and early parenthood. A doula is not a doctor, not a midwife, not a nurse. A doula should however, be able to work alongside with healthcare professionals for the benefit of the mother. The healthcare staff has the very important job of making sure mom and baby are in good physiological health. They monitor and chart a mother's progress. They often get a pretty bad rap in the media for being pushy and ignorant to the wishes of their patients. Some of this is true, there are days when I have come across some staff members whom I have felt overstepped their bounds, took too many decisions without proper education of the patient. I would like to stress that this is only a part of the healthcare world. There are wonderful medical staff members out there. We have met and I would like to thank you on behalf of mothers. My job, as a doula, is to keep mom educated and give her the confidence to speak up, ask questions, demand better. Your job as a mama is to be present, be engaged, and make informed decisions for your family. I pledge, as a birth doula, to foster a warm and professional relationship with healthcare professionals. My goal is to maintain an open and honest dialogue which is home to respect for each other and for the family which we are all serving. The main goal is to support and lift up this mother and family as they move through a most momentous day. I want hospitals to be a welcoming place for mothers. Birth centres within these hospitals should be filled with strength and family. A mother should not be afraid, she should be supported. I employ all those working with mothers to work together and care for the mother.
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