Elaine Montgomery

Create

Your Ideal Birth

WHETHER YOU JUST GOT PREGNANT OR YOU'RE AT YOUR DUE DATE,
IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO HIRE A DOULA!

"Doula"

Literally the word doula, which comes from the Greek, means a woman caregiver of another woman. In the past, "doula" referred to a woman slave meant to anticipate the needs of the women she served, and thus was considered demeaning. But the term has been reclaimed and a doula is now considered an invaluable part of any birth tearm.

What is a doula?

Doulas - also called Childbirth Assistants, Labor Support Professionals, Birth Assistants, or Birth Companions - provide emotional, physical and informational support during pregnancy, labor, birth and the immediate postpartum.

What is a doula not?

A doula is not a replacement for a partner. Instead she also supports the partner, thus enhancing the love and encouragement given the laboring woman.
A doula is also not a primary caregiver, and thus does not perform any medical procedures or make any clinical decisions.

elmont doula services

You can expect the following to be available, customized to your needs:
  • Initial consultation by phone, email or in person at no cost or obligation
  • Prenatal visits (usually two) in your home or other comfortable space
  • Telephone support throughout pregnancy and immediate postpartum
  • Information package and suggested reading list, customized to your interests
  • Lending library of childbirth videos and books
  • Assistance with preparation of a Birth Plan that works
  • Suggestions for packing your "birth bag"
  • Referrals to other pregnancy services
  • On call guarantee 24/7 from two weeks before due date (with every effort to make an earlier birth)
  • Private prenatal classes, if desired
  • Accompaniment to meet with doctor or midwife
  • Continuous presence and support at your labor
  • Photographs of labor and birth
  • Assistance with initiation of breastfeeding
  • Postpartum visit at your convenience
  • A written record of the birth in the form of a Birth Story

    • Fees:
    • The initial consultation by phone, email or in person is free.
    • A retainer of 50% will be paid once you have hired me, with the balance due at the birth.

    Sample Birth Stories

    Baby Timothy
    Rockyview Hospital

    The birth of a child is a miracle and each effort to bring a child into the world no less miraculous.Read More

    Baby Arthur
    Foothills Hospital

    The birth of Arthur was for me, the doula, a truly reaffirming experience. Read More

    Benefits of having a doula

    Research has demonstrated numerous benefits of doula care:

    • BETTER BIRTH OUTCOMES
      Fewer requests for pain meds
      Lower complication rate
      Reduced cesarean rate
      Reduced use of epidural or other meds
      Reduced use of artificial oxytocin to speed labor
      Reduced duration of labor
      Reduced use of forceps or vacuum
    • BETTER INFANT OUTCOMES
      Shorter hospital stays
      Fewer admisions to nursery
      Increased bonding
      Increased breastfeeding success
    • BETTER MATERNAL OUTCOMES
      Greater satisfaction with birth
      More positive assessments of their babies
      Reduced incidence of infection
      Reduced levels of anxiety
      Increased perception of security
      Increased perception of control
      Reduced incidence of bleeding/hemorrhage
      Reduced incidence of postpartum depression
    • BETTER HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
      Reduction in cost to system
      Increased patient satisfaction
      Increased provider satisfaction

    Why hire a doula???

    "In order to help my clients have the most positive birth possible, I advise all of my patients to hire a doula, even though as a midwife I provide a lot of labor support myself. It takes a lot of hands to help a woman bring her baby into the world!"
    Kat Montgomery, BC Registered Midwife, owner Pomegranate Community Midwives (Vancouver)

    Even if you have a wonderful, caring partner, doctor or midwife, will he or she:

    • Come to your home and labor with you until it's time to go the hospital or birthing centre, or call the midwife? ... and then stay with you until after the baby is born?
    • Provide prenatal visits in your home?
    • Bring a birth ball or other tools to make your labor easier?
    • Provide massage based on the knowledge of what most laboring women find comforting?
    • Provide relaxation and focusing techniques?
    • Suggest positions for comfort, to enhance dilation, to ease back labor and/or help with pushing?
    • Offer you hot/cold packs?
    • Bring you (and your partner) drinks, snacks, ice chips?
    • Stay by your side so that your partner can take a break when needed?
    • Mop your brow with a cool cloth?
    • Stay by your head providing encouragement while you ar ein transition and when the baby is being born?
    • Take notes during labor and provide you with a written record of the birth?
    • Take photographs of you, your partner, your baby, and other members of the birth team before, during and after birth?
    • Help you with breastfeeding?
    • Visit you at home afterwards to review the birth and see your beautiful new baby?

    The benefits of continuous labor support have been recognized by numerous obstetrical, midwifery and health organizations, including the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada, and the World Health Organization.