What is a Doula?

Anthropologist Dana Raphael in her book, The Tender Gift, originally coined the word doula. In this book, the author wrote about the supportive person always on hand to nurture, support, and protect the new mother during her transition into motherhood. This person frees the new mother from her responsibilities so she can rest and concentrate on breastfeeding her baby successfully. She mothers the mother.

Today, the doula's relationship with the mother and her family often begins during pregnancy, and continues throughout labor and delivery and for several weeks postpartum.

 Tenth Month Doula Services, Inc. has been nurturing new and expectant families in Broward, Dade and Palm Beach counties since 1994.  Though we are now located in Citrus County, we still offer referrals to the best doulas in South Florida. 

We also now offer services and referrals in Citrus, Marion, and Hernando counties. Please email  or call us at (352) 527-3550 for information.

 It is our goal to empower women and families with the knowledge, confidence and skills necessary to begin the most important job in the world?parenting! We feel that with the proper support, encouragement and education, families can make informed decisions regarding the birth and care of their baby.

 Our doulas and the doulas we refer to are trained professionals who offer guidance, emotional support and practical assistance. Doulas are part coach, part mentor, and part friend to the expectant family. Doulas offer a listening ear, a guiding voice and an extra pair of hands to the new mother and her family.

Labor Support
In six clinical trials the impressive results with the presence of a doula clearly show the benefits of enlisting doula support during labor and delivery. There were 50% fewer cesarean-sections, 25% reduction in the length of labor, 30% less pain medication, 40% decrease in Pitocin (artificial hormone to stimulate contractions) use, 40% reduction in forceps use, and 60% fewer requests for epidural anesthesia. The doula is a big help to the expectant father, who might not always know exactly how to comfort his partner during labor. The doula allows the partner to concentrate on loving and supporting the mother, while he is also supported in his role.
 

Postpartum Home Care
When new mothers have support at home in the early weeks after delivery, the risk of postpartum depression diminishes, and the chance of breastfeeding successfully increases. Healing from birth, and learning to take care of a newborn baby might otherwise be overwhelming. Most families are miles apart, friends and neighbors are working, and, typically, the new Dad is back to work within a short period of time. The wise women of the family are unavailable to teach the new mother about breastfeeding and baby care, help with other siblings, and to take care of the household chores. The doula takes care of all these things. With the support of a doula, the transition from pregnancy to motherhood is more manageable.
 

 Contact information:

 
 Betsy Schwartz
Tenth Month Doula Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 641114 Beverly Hills, FL 34464
Telephone: (352) 527-3550

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