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What is a Doula?
The word "doula" comes from the Greek language, meaning "female helper or a woman who serves". Today the term"doula" refers to a professionally trained, non-medical birth support person. Doulas can assist with births at home, in a hospital or at a birth center. Years ago, giving birth at home in the care of skilled midwives, surrounded by female family members was the norm and new mothers were surrounded with support and guidance. However, as birth has shifted in the last century, women have become estranged from the birth process, and family members often feel like they do not have sufficient knowledge nor the confidence to guide the new mother. Due to this shift, in 1969 we saw the word doula first used in its new definition to support mamas. Modern doulas adapt to serve in a variety of roles in the ever changing pregnancy and birthing landscape.
Doulas & Midwives:
whats the difference?
Doulas are non-medical professionals who provide emotional, physical, and informational support before, during, and after childbirth. They do not perform medical procedures or offer medical care. Doulas focus on providing continuous support to the birthing person and their partner throughout labor. They offer comfort measures, such as massage and positioning, and provide information to help the birthing person make informed decisions.
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Midwives are trained medical professionals who provide prenatal care, manage labor and delivery, and offer postpartum care. They have medical training and can perform clinical tasks such as monitoring the baby's heart rate, administering medications, and handling emergencies. Midwives are responsible for managing the clinical aspects of labor and delivery. They monitor the health of both the birthing person and the baby, make medical decisions, and handle any complications that may arise during childbirth.
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​While their roles and responsibilities differ, both doulas and midwives contribute to a supportive and informed birth experience. Both professionals aim to support and respect the individual needs and preferences of the birthing person. They work to create a positive and empowering birth experience by listening to the birthing person's wishes and offering personalized care and guidance. Having both a Doula and a Midwife on your birthing team are essential to ensuring you get the best holistic care possible in your birth space!
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My Story
I’m Kindra Westerfield, I wanted to take a little time to introduce myself. I am a military spouse raising three adventurous kids! You will always catch me with my emotional support water bottle or a Chai in hand. Entering motherhood connected me to my intuition, confidence, and strength in ways I could have never imagined. My pregnancies and postpartum periods shined a light on the many ways our medical system falls short for new parents. My first birth was full of interventions; which, with better education, could have been prevented. This experience led me to wonder if there wasn’t a better way to birth. ​For my next birth, I knew I wanted to do things differently and was lead to a Doula and wonderful midwives who provided me with evidence-based education and the support that I needed in order to have a wonderful birth experience - despite the complications that came.
I knew in those early years of mothering that one day I wanted to be able to support other mamas as they grew their families. Now, in my work as a doula, I look forward to providing you with education, support and resources so that you can navigate in the changing the winds of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum - just like a dandelion thrives wherever it lands. I want you to feel seen and heard; your experience in birth matters and with care and support, it can be a beautiful gentle transformation.