Your Lifetime of Love doulas are there for you starting as soon as you need us during your pregnancy. We are available to our clients on the phone or over email to answer questions with evidence based information and to provide you with non-judgmental support in the decisions you make.
At prenatal meetings we discuss your concerns, preferences and wishes for your birth experience. We can inform you about choices in childbirth, and teach you about different pain management and relaxation techniques.
At Lifetime of Love we support all types of births - whether you are delivering in a hospital or at home, with midwives or OBs. Our support is unconditional and unwavering and we stand with you in your choices for a non-medicated, medicated or caesarean birth. We are on call to our clients 24/7 which means that your doula is ready to be by your side for your birth and support you no matter what time of day or night.
Our support continues even after your baby has arrived. We remain with you to facilitate immediate skin to skin and the first breastfeed if requested, and we will help you get "settled in" with your baby.
As a part of our birth doula services we offer additional postpartum care to our clients after baby is born. In the coming days, weeks and months, our role transitions seamlessly to postpartum and infant care doula to assist you in your recovery, infant feeding, establishing schedules, keeping up with household tasks, and so much more (read more about how a postpartum and infant care doula can benefit your growing family here).
INCLUDES:
Shared care team
24 hr on call services
Access to labour line
Regular check ins w/ your doulas
Pregnancy & parenting resources
One on one private customized prenatal
Access to our Continuing Education Series
Support during labour & birth
Immediate postpartum support after birth
POSTPARTUM CARE:
1 follow up phone call or email "check in"
ADD ON & SAVE: All of our cients save $100 on HypnoBirthing® classes
INCLUDES:
Shared care team
24 hr on call services
Access to labour line
Regular check ins w/ your doulas
Pregnancy & parenting resources
One on one private customized prenatal
Access to our Continuing Education Series
Support during labour & birth
Immediate postpartum support after birth
IN HOME POSTPARTUM CARE:
3 hours of daytime support
THE FOLLOWING SPECIALTY PRENATAL CLASSES ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS PACKAGE:
Prenatal Birth Planning Class & App
Online Infant CPR & Choking Class
Infant Feeding & Lactation Education Class
ADD ON & SAVE: All of our cients save $100 on HypnoBirthing® classes
INCLUDES:
Shared care team
24 hr on call services
Access to labour line
Regular check ins w/ your doulas
Pregnancy & parenting resources
One on one private customized prenatal
Access to our Continuing Education Series
Support during labour & birth
Immediate postpartum support after birth
IN HOME POSTPARTUM CARE:
9 hours of daytime support
THE FOLLOWING SPECIALTY PRENATAL CLASSES ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS PACKAGE:
Prenatal Birth Planning Class & App
Online Infant CPR & Choking Class
Infant Feeding & Lactation Education Class
ADD ON & SAVE: All of our cients save $100 on HypnoBirthing® classes
INCLUDES:
Shared care team
24 hr on call services
Access to labour line
Regular check ins w/ your doulas
Pregnancy & parenting resources
One on one private customized prenatal
Access to our Continuing Education Series
Support during labour & birth
Immediate postpartum support after birth
IN HOME POSTPARTUM CARE:
20 hours of daytime & nightime support
THE FOLLOWING SPECIALTY PRENATAL CLASSES ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS PACKAGE:
Prenatal Birth Planning Class & App
Online Infant CPR & Choking Class
Infant Feeding & Lactation Education Class
ADD ON & SAVE: All of our cients save $100 on HypnoBirthing® classes
INCLUDES:
Shared care team
24 hr on call services
Access to labour line
Regular check ins w/ your doulas
Pregnancy & parenting resources
One on one private customized prenatal
Access to our Continuing Education Series
Support during labour & birth
(up to 6 hours virtual - phone/video)
POSTPARTUM CARE:
1 follow up phone call or email "check in"
ADD ON & SAVE: All of our cients save $100 on HypnoBirthing® classes
A postpartum doula's job is to make this time in your life easier, less stressful and more enjoyable.
Your Lifetime of Love postpartum & infant care doulas will be there as a support system for your individual family needs, helping you establish the coping skills necessary for your new role as a parent. Postpartum support looks different for every family.
you decide if you use your hours in the day, night or combination of both
daytime minimum shift length of 4 hours
overnight minimum shift length of 8 hours
support to be used within 4 weeks of start date
INCLUDED: complimentary attendance to our Breastfeeding Basics group prenatal class scheduled during your pregnancy
PLUS: Complimentary attendance to one (1) of our prenatal Continuing Education series classes scheduled during your pregnancy
you decide if you use your hours in the day, night or combination of both
daytime minimum shift length of 4 hours
overnight minimum shift length of 8 hours
support to be used within 2 months of start date
INCLUDED: complimentary attendance to our Breastfeeding Basics group prenatal class scheduled during your pregnancy
PLUS: Complimentary attendance to TWO of our prenatal Continuing education series classes scheduled during your pregnancy
you decide if you use your hours in the day, night or combination of both
daytime minimum shift length of 4 hours
overnight minimum shift length of 8 hours
support to be used within 3 months of start date
INCLUDED: complimentary attendance to a Breastfeeding Basics group prenatal class scheduled during your pregnancy
PLUS: Complimentary attendance to THREE of our prenatal Continuing education series classes scheduled during your pregnancy
you decide if you use your hours in the day, night or combination of both
daytime minimum shift length of 4 hours
overnight minimum shift length of 8 hours
support to be used within 6 months of start date
INCLUDED: complimentary attendance to a Breastfeeding Basics group prenatal class scheduled during your pregnancy
PLUS: complimentary attendance ALL of our prenatal Continuing Education series scheduled during your pregnancy
They say the days are long - but the nights are even longer, and we know how important it is for new parents to get the maximum amount of sleep that they possibly can, and also how important it is for partners to get enough sleep to function at work the next day.
The reassuring presence of a postpartum doula during the night can help ease many of the anxieties parents have. Night time care means that someone will be there for you when you and your baby need it the most.
Our culture has led families to believe that there are only two ways to deal with parental sleep deprivation & getting their babies to sleep more: using a variation of a "cry it out" method or suffering through this period until their baby learns to sleep on their own.
But this simply isn't true.
Our Sleep Coaching services tackle sleep challenges through the lens of infant & child development, as well as attachment theory - basically, the science of sleep! Our holistic approach to "sleep training" explores the root causes of the sleep disruptions, and exploring lifestyle and routine adjustments so that everyone can get more sleep. We will take into account your baby's unique temperament, their age and stage in their development and from there, tailor our packages to your individual needs and goals with a wide array of sleep strategies to support your child in feeling safe and loved during the process.
We know your child is unique, so unlike traditional sleep trainers and the "one size fits all" approach to mainstream sleep training, we create a Custom Sleep Support Package that's right for you and your little one. You will receive sleep support that focuses on attachment, infant and maternal/parental health as well as developmentally appropriate sleep strategies.
Our goal is to help you feel more confident, to help you learn to trust your intuition and ensure better sleep for the whole family.
The result is a gentle and effective service offered in a compassionate and professional manner.
Our sleep support packages are for babies of all ages and focus on sleep hygiene and sleep shaping, while keeping current infant mental health practices at the forefront of our support.
Your baby is here and suddenly everything you thought you knew (or didn’t know) about sleep is being lost in the haze of sleep deprivation. During the two hour consult, our Holistic Sleep Coach will help normalize and demystify infant sleep while providing reassurance and easy to follow suggestions for setting up solid sleep routines. You will be encouraged to trust your own intuition, honour your baby’s unique sleep temperament and balance the sleep needs of your entire family. Based on current infant mental health guidelines, this package will provide quick wins for your family’s sleep without any formal sleep coaching.
Your child is over 6 months now and you are getting sick and (even more!) tired of people asking if they are a “good” sleeper. This two hour consult will help you address your most pressing sleep concerns and provide tailored strategies to improve sleep for your child. Our Holistic Sleep Coach will help you tackle quick wins first such as sleep hygiene, overtiredness, schedules and routines, nutrition, attachment based play strategies and more. Depending on your family’s needs and your child’s sleep temperament, we will suggest practical and easy to follow plans to improve bedtime battles, reduce night wake ups, eliminate early risings, and more. All of our approaches are supportive and attachment based and do not involve leaving your child alone to cry.
You have a million questions about sleep but are not sure where to turn. Google and parenting message boards have got you even more confused than ever. During this mini consult, our Holistic Sleep Coach will put your mind at ease by providing evidence based and specific suggestions to improve your child’s sleep. They will be a sounding board for any of your concerns or challenges and will help you feel confident with supporting your child’s sleep needs.
Sleep Assessment for your Child
2 Hour Virtual Consultation
Customized Sleep Strategy Package
1 x 20 minute phone call during the first week to support strategies
2 email follow ups within the first two weeks to check in and offer additional resources and support as needed
ADD ON TIME & SUPPORT TO THIS PACKAGE:
unlimited email support for 1 month
4 x 20 min phone calls within 1 month
Sleep Assessment for your Child
2 Hour Virtual Consultation
Customized Sleep Strategy Package
1 x 20 minute phone call during the first week to support strategies
2 email follow ups within the first two weeks to check in and offer additional resources and support as needed
ADD ON TIME & SUPPORT TO THIS PACKAGE:
unlimited email support for 1 month
4 x 20 min phone calls within 1 month
Sleep Assessment for your Child
1 Hour Virtual Consultation
Notes from the session
We are dedicated to your babywearing success! The benefit of a private consultation is an individual assessment of your baby carrier and baby carrying needs. You will leave feeling confident and ready to use your baby carrier safely and with ease!
Whether you plan to give birth in the water, or just use water as a form of hydrotherapy for coping with labour, we are thrilled to offer local families under midwifery care the option of having a professional birth pool for their home birth experience. Our professional birth pools come with everything you need to set up (labouring or birthing in a pool/tub) during their labour and birth (more on that later).
Help reduce pain and the use of medications for pain relief
Help the baby get into better position in the pelvis
Shorten the length of labour
Lead to more freedom in movement and higher satisfiction in how the birth went for the birthing person
Lessen the use of artificial oxytocin to progress labour
Result in a higher rate of normal vaginal birth (no forceps or vacuums)
Result in less tearing or need for episiotomy
Lower the risk of caesearan birth
(Source and more information: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/waterbirth/)
You can also read more about what the Association of Ontario Midwives have to say about water birth here.
WHAT IS A DOULA?
WHAT KIND OF TRAINING DOES A DOULA HAVE?
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A DOULA? WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH SAY?
WHAT IS THE BIRTHING PHILOSOPHY OF LIFETIME OF LOVE DOULAS?
DOES A DOULA REPLACE MY PARTNER?
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DOULA AND A MIDWIFE? IF I HAVE A MIDWIFE DO I STILL NEED A DOULA?
WHAT IS YOUR “ON CALL” PERIOD?
WHAT IS A “SHARED CARE MODEL”, WHY DO YOU USE IT, AND HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM HIRING A SOLO DOULA?
DO DOULAS ATTEND BIRTHS IN HOSPITALS AS WELL AS HOME BIRTHS?
I HAVE AN OBGYN [OB] DO I STILL NEED A DOULA?
WILL A DOULA STILL SUPPORT ME IF I WANT AN EPIDURAL? DO I STILL NEED A DOULA IF I PLAN ON GETTING AN EPIDURAL?
WHAT IF I HAVE A PLANNED OR AN EMERGENCY CAESAREAN BIRTH, HOW WILL A DOULA HELP ME?
WHAT IS A DOULA?
WHAT KIND OF TRAINING DOES A DOULA HAVE?
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A DOULA? WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH SAY?
WHAT IS THE BIRTHING PHILOSOPHY OF LIFETIME OF LOVE DOULAS?
DOES A DOULA REPLACE MY PARTNER?
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DOULA AND A MIDWIFE? IF I HAVE A MIDWIFE DO I STILL NEED A DOULA?
WHAT IS YOUR “ON CALL” PERIOD?
WHAT IS A “SHARED CARE MODEL”, WHY DO YOU USE IT, AND HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM HIRING A SOLO DOULA?
DO DOULAS ATTEND BIRTHS IN HOSPITALS AS WELL AS HOME BIRTHS?
I HAVE AN OBGYN [OB] DO I STILL NEED A DOULA?
WILL A DOULA STILL SUPPORT ME IF I WANT AN EPIDURAL? DO I STILL NEED A DOULA IF I PLAN ON GETTING AN EPIDURAL?
WHAT IF I HAVE A PLANNED OR AN EMERGENCY CAESAREAN BIRTH, HOW WILL A DOULA HELP ME?
WHAT IS A DOULA?
A doula is a professional support person trained to provide non-judgemental emotional, physical and informational support to families and individuals during their pregnancy, birth, and postnatal period.
Lifetime of Love Birth Doulas provide email, text, phone and Ssupport from the moment you hire us in your pregnancy. Your birth doula offers you support for your birth as soon as you need her and will provide continuous support throughout the entire birth process, as well as immediately after the birth. She can assist with skin-to-skin care, baby’s first feed (breastfeeding or bottle), and ensuring that you settle in after the birth before she leaves.
As a part of our birth doula services, our support also includes postpartum follow ups (depending on your purchased package) to check in on how you are recovering from birth, how infant feeding and care is going, and to answer any questions you may have pertaining to your birth experience or the challenges of parenting a newborn.
Our Postpartum & Infant Care Doulas (also known as Postnatal Doulas) provide on-going support for families after the birth of their baby. A postpartum doula helps with both your physical and emotional recovery from birth, as well as assisting with newborn care and completing household tasks such as light housework and meal preparation. Another important aspect of postpartum care includes offering in home parent companionship, help with establishing coping skills and offering practical advice on adjusting to life with a newborn.
WHAT IS A DOULA?
WHAT KIND OF TRAINING DOES A DOULA HAVE?
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A DOULA? WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH SAY?
WHAT IS THE BIRTHING PHILOSOPHY OF LIFETIME OF LOVE DOULAS?
DOES A DOULA REPLACE MY PARTNER?
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DOULA AND A MIDWIFE? IF I HAVE A MIDWIFE DO I STILL NEED A DOULA?
WHAT IS YOUR “ON CALL” PERIOD?
WHAT IS A “SHARED CARE MODEL”, WHY DO YOU USE IT, AND HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM HIRING A SOLO DOULA?
DO DOULAS ATTEND BIRTHS IN HOSPITALS AS WELL AS HOME BIRTHS?
I HAVE AN OBGYN [OB] DO I STILL NEED A DOULA?
WILL A DOULA STILL SUPPORT ME IF I WANT AN EPIDURAL? DO I STILL NEED A DOULA IF I PLAN ON GETTING AN EPIDURAL?
WHAT IF I HAVE A PLANNED OR AN EMERGENCY CAESAREAN BIRTH, HOW WILL A DOULA HELP ME?
WHAT KIND OF TRAINING DOES A DOULA HAVE?
Though there are many certifying bodies within the industry, typically (and traditionally), doulas are trained to provide non-judgemental support with an in depth understanding of normal physiological birth, common interventions, medicated and non-medicated births, caesarean births, natural pain management techniques, birth choices, families’ rights, breastfeeding and bottle feeding support. Many doulas are also trained in a number of comfort measures such as massage, acupressure and counter-pressure techniques. It should not be overlooked that doulas are also a source of emotional and information support for the whole family.
We are proud to have doulas on our team with diverse and extensive training. Our doulas have trained with many multidisciplinary certifying bodies and continue to keep up with their education through the ongoing process of continuing education. Our training comes from excellent organizations such as DONA International, ProDoula, CAPPA, StillBirthDay, Childbirth International, The HypnoBirthing® Institute, INFACT Canada, Attachment Parenting International, and BEBO MIA.
All of our doulas are also members in good standing with the Association of Ontario Doulas and are certified in Standard First Aid & Infant CPR (Level C CPR & AED).
WHAT IS A DOULA?
WHAT KIND OF TRAINING DOES A DOULA HAVE?
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A DOULA? WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH SAY?
WHAT IS THE BIRTHING PHILOSOPHY OF LIFETIME OF LOVE DOULAS?
DOES A DOULA REPLACE MY PARTNER?
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DOULA AND A MIDWIFE? IF I HAVE A MIDWIFE DO I STILL NEED A DOULA?
WHAT IS YOUR “ON CALL” PERIOD?
WHAT IS A “SHARED CARE MODEL”, WHY DO YOU USE IT, AND HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM HIRING A SOLO DOULA?
DO DOULAS ATTEND BIRTHS IN HOSPITALS AS WELL AS HOME BIRTHS?
I HAVE AN OBGYN [OB] DO I STILL NEED A DOULA?
WILL A DOULA STILL SUPPORT ME IF I WANT AN EPIDURAL? DO I STILL NEED A DOULA IF I PLAN ON GETTING AN EPIDURAL?
WHAT IF I HAVE A PLANNED OR AN EMERGENCY CAESAREAN BIRTH, HOW WILL A DOULA HELP ME?
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A DOULA? WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH SAY?
Many studies have shown that having a doula at your birth (a professionally trained and unbiased support person – as opposed to or in addition to a family member) lowers birth complications and the use of unnecessary interventions. It also increases parents’ overall satisfaction with their birth experience.
Some interesting facts about Doula Support:
39% decrease in the risk of Cesarean
15% increase in the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth
10% decrease in the use of any medications for pain relief
Shorter labors by 41 minutes on average
38% decrease in the baby’s risk of a low five minute Apgar score
31% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience
Source: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/the-evidence-for-doulas/
“Doula-assisted mothers were four times less likely to have a low birth weight (LBW) baby, two times less likely to experience a birth complication involving themselves or their baby, and significantly more likely to initiate breastfeeding.”
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3647727/
WHAT IS A DOULA?
WHAT KIND OF TRAINING DOES A DOULA HAVE?
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A DOULA? WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH SAY?
WHAT IS THE BIRTHING PHILOSOPHY OF LIFETIME OF LOVE DOULAS?
DOES A DOULA REPLACE MY PARTNER?
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DOULA AND A MIDWIFE? IF I HAVE A MIDWIFE DO I STILL NEED A DOULA?
WHAT IS YOUR “ON CALL” PERIOD?
WHAT IS A “SHARED CARE MODEL”, WHY DO YOU USE IT, AND HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM HIRING A SOLO DOULA?
DO DOULAS ATTEND BIRTHS IN HOSPITALS AS WELL AS HOME BIRTHS?
I HAVE AN OBGYN [OB] DO I STILL NEED A DOULA?
WILL A DOULA STILL SUPPORT ME IF I WANT AN EPIDURAL? DO I STILL NEED A DOULA IF I PLAN ON GETTING AN EPIDURAL?
WHAT IF I HAVE A PLANNED OR AN EMERGENCY CAESAREAN BIRTH, HOW WILL A DOULA HELP ME?
DOES A DOULA REPLACE MY PARTNER?
We respect your partner’s role and their level of involvement during the birth. A doula is there to support both of you. A birth doula will also make sure that your partner is cared for and is able to eat, use the restroom, and take breaks as needed without worrying about you or feeling guilty.
WHAT IS A DOULA?
WHAT KIND OF TRAINING DOES A DOULA HAVE?
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A DOULA? WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH SAY?
WHAT IS THE BIRTHING PHILOSOPHY OF LIFETIME OF LOVE DOULAS?
DOES A DOULA REPLACE MY PARTNER?
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DOULA AND A MIDWIFE? IF I HAVE A MIDWIFE DO I STILL NEED A DOULA?
WHAT IS YOUR “ON CALL” PERIOD?
WHAT IS A “SHARED CARE MODEL”, WHY DO YOU USE IT, AND HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM HIRING A SOLO DOULA?
DO DOULAS ATTEND BIRTHS IN HOSPITALS AS WELL AS HOME BIRTHS?
I HAVE AN OBGYN [OB] DO I STILL NEED A DOULA?
WILL A DOULA STILL SUPPORT ME IF I WANT AN EPIDURAL? DO I STILL NEED A DOULA IF I PLAN ON GETTING AN EPIDURAL?
WHAT IF I HAVE A PLANNED OR AN EMERGENCY CAESAREAN BIRTH, HOW WILL A DOULA HELP ME?
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DOULA AND A MIDWIFE? IF I HAVE A MIDWIFE DO I STILL NEED A doula?
A midwife and doula’s primary roles are quite different. A midwife is trained to be your primary health care provider whose main focus is on the medical health of you and your baby. A doula’s role is non-medical. Doulas do not perform medical exams or deliver (catch) your baby. A doula is a valuable part of your birthing team, available to you any time throughout your pregnancy to answer questions. During labour, your doula offers continuous emotional, informational and physical support to both you and your partner during the entire birth helping you through every contraction while the midwife’s role is focused on the more medical aspects of birthing. In our experience, midwives and doulas make a great team! As the saying goes “a midwife takes care of you from the waist down [birth of baby, placenta, etc.] and doulas take care of you from the waist up [remember to breath, this is normal, you’ve got this]!”
"Doulas [...] are exclusively focused on providing non-clinical care. They are specialists in labour support and unlike midwives, do not have clinical obligations which could detract from their mission to continuous support to the family. Doulas are often present at a birth, quietly coaching a mother with breathing, assisting her with positioning or mobility, providing drinks, nourishment, cold cloths and encouragement throughout the process. Doulas also are often available to be physically present with families during the early labour stage, whereas midwives reserve their care for active labour. As a midwife, there have been many times that I am grateful for the presence of a doula to deliver this kind of support while I am occupied preparing necessary equipment or focusing on hands-on clinical skills necessary for a safe delivery. The type of care that doulas and midwives provide have important differences, but really can be quite complementary when used together." - Stephanie Aghajani, Midwife
WHAT IS A DOULA?
WHAT KIND OF TRAINING DOES A DOULA HAVE?
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A DOULA? WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH SAY?
WHAT IS THE BIRTHING PHILOSOPHY OF LIFETIME OF LOVE DOULAS?
DOES A DOULA REPLACE MY PARTNER?
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DOULA AND A MIDWIFE? IF I HAVE A MIDWIFE DO I STILL NEED A DOULA?
WHAT IS YOUR “ON CALL” PERIOD?
WHAT IS A “SHARED CARE MODEL”, WHY DO YOU USE IT, AND HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM HIRING A SOLO DOULA?
DO DOULAS ATTEND BIRTHS IN HOSPITALS AS WELL AS HOME BIRTHS?
I HAVE AN OBGYN [OB] DO I STILL NEED A DOULA?
WILL A DOULA STILL SUPPORT ME IF I WANT AN EPIDURAL? DO I STILL NEED A DOULA IF I PLAN ON GETTING AN EPIDURAL?
WHAT IF I HAVE A PLANNED OR AN EMERGENCY CAESAREAN BIRTH, HOW WILL A DOULA HELP ME?
WHAT IS YOUR “ON CALL” PERIOD?
The “On Call” period is the time that a doula goes on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to you in anticipation of labour. Many doulas do not offer on call services until 37 or 38 weeks gestation, however, we are available to you from the moment you hire us. In our experience, babies come when they want and that may be weeks before or after their EDD (estimated due date). You will be given a “Labour Line” number to call when you suspect that you are in labour so that you can reach your doula team immediately, day and night.
WHAT IS A DOULA?
WHAT KIND OF TRAINING DOES A DOULA HAVE?
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A DOULA? WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH SAY?
WHAT IS THE BIRTHING PHILOSOPHY OF LIFETIME OF LOVE DOULAS?
DOES A DOULA REPLACE MY PARTNER?
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DOULA AND A MIDWIFE? IF I HAVE A MIDWIFE DO I STILL NEED A DOULA?
WHAT IS YOUR “ON CALL” PERIOD?
WHAT IS A “SHARED CARE MODEL”, WHY DO YOU USE IT, AND HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM HIRING A SOLO DOULA?
DO DOULAS ATTEND BIRTHS IN HOSPITALS AS WELL AS HOME BIRTHS?
I HAVE AN OBGYN [OB] DO I STILL NEED A DOULA?
WILL A DOULA STILL SUPPORT ME IF I WANT AN EPIDURAL? DO I STILL NEED A DOULA IF I PLAN ON GETTING AN EPIDURAL?
WHAT IF I HAVE A PLANNED OR AN EMERGENCY CAESAREAN BIRTH, HOW WILL A DOULA HELP ME?
WHAT IS A “SHARED CARE MODEL”, WHY DO YOU USE IT, AND HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM HIRING A SOLO DOULA?
Most doulas work solo which can leave you wondering “what happens if my doula can’t make it to my birth?”. The solo doula has to co-ordinate with a back up doula if they are unable to attend your birth. In most cases, this is usually someone you have not met or spoken to leaving the possibility that you won't know the doula who attends your birth.
Our doula support is offered using the “Shared Care Model” which is new to the doula profession, but a model that midwives successfully use. In our company, shared care means that you will have two primary doulas that share an on-call schedule and a back-up doula who fills in as needed. Throughout the course of your pregnancy, you will have multiple opportunities to get to know your whole doula team during prenatal appointments and classes and well as through emails and phone calls. When you call the “Labour Line”, your call is directed to your team and whichever doula is on-call is the one who attends the birth. The biggest benefit of having a doula team is that you have the resources of their combined experience, training and knowledge and if you have a long birth (12 or more hours) another member of your team will relieve your tired doula and be able to provide you with fresh unwavering support.
WHAT IS A DOULA?
WHAT KIND OF TRAINING DOES A DOULA HAVE?
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A DOULA? WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH SAY?
WHAT IS THE BIRTHING PHILOSOPHY OF LIFETIME OF LOVE DOULAS?
DOES A DOULA REPLACE MY PARTNER?
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DOULA AND A MIDWIFE? IF I HAVE A MIDWIFE DO I STILL NEED A DOULA?
WHAT IS YOUR “ON CALL” PERIOD?
WHAT IS A “SHARED CARE MODEL”, WHY DO YOU USE IT, AND HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM HIRING A SOLO DOULA?
DO DOULAS ATTEND BIRTHS IN HOSPITALS AS WELL AS HOME BIRTHS?
I HAVE AN OBGYN [OB] DO I STILL NEED A DOULA?
WILL A DOULA STILL SUPPORT ME IF I WANT AN EPIDURAL? DO I STILL NEED A DOULA IF I PLAN ON GETTING AN EPIDURAL?
WHAT IF I HAVE A PLANNED OR AN EMERGENCY CAESAREAN BIRTH, HOW WILL A DOULA HELP ME?
DO DOULAS ATTEND BIRTHS IN HOSPITALS AS WELL AS HOME BIRTHS?
Absolutely!
The common misconception (thanks to comedies and stereotypes perpetuated my media) is that a doula is only for people having non-medicated home water births – but this is just not the case! While we do attend many home births, the majority of the births we attend are in fact in hospitals. Remember, we are trained to support you wherever and however you choose to give birth. Local hospitals recognize the importance of doula support and allow patients to have a doula attend the birth as one of their support people.
WHAT IS A DOULA?
WHAT KIND OF TRAINING DOES A DOULA HAVE?
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A DOULA? WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH SAY?
WHAT IS THE BIRTHING PHILOSOPHY OF LIFETIME OF LOVE DOULAS?
DOES A DOULA REPLACE MY PARTNER?
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DOULA AND A MIDWIFE? IF I HAVE A MIDWIFE DO I STILL NEED A DOULA?
WHAT IS YOUR “ON CALL” PERIOD?
WHAT IS A “SHARED CARE MODEL”, WHY DO YOU USE IT, AND HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM HIRING A SOLO DOULA?
DO DOULAS ATTEND BIRTHS IN HOSPITALS AS WELL AS HOME BIRTHS?
I HAVE AN OBGYN [OB] DO I STILL NEED A DOULA?
WILL A DOULA STILL SUPPORT ME IF I WANT AN EPIDURAL? DO I STILL NEED A DOULA IF I PLAN ON GETTING AN EPIDURAL?
WHAT IF I HAVE A PLANNED OR AN EMERGENCY CAESAREAN BIRTH, HOW WILL A DOULA HELP ME?
I HAVE AN OBGYN [OB] DO I STILL NEED A DOULA?
With more and more Obstetricians working in larger collective groups, many times the OB that is on call and attends you on birthing day is someone you may not have met or only met briefly in your pregnancy. In many cases the OB only enters the birthing room to make recommendation or when you are ready to push your baby out. An OB’s primary role is your medical health and your baby’s medical health.
Nurses are typically unable to stay in your room throughout your entire labour (in fact in Canada nurses spend up to 75% of your birth outside of your room and have shift changes every 12 hours). Their primary role is to focus on your medical health as well as your baby’s medical health.
A birth doula, in many instances, is the only “constant”. We are there throughout your pregnancy, your entire labour experience as well as during the immediate and long-term postpartum period. We are filling a crucial gap in the maternal, parental and infant support system.
WHAT IS A DOULA?
WHAT KIND OF TRAINING DOES A DOULA HAVE?
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A DOULA? WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH SAY?
WHAT IS THE BIRTHING PHILOSOPHY OF LIFETIME OF LOVE DOULAS?
DOES A DOULA REPLACE MY PARTNER?
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DOULA AND A MIDWIFE? IF I HAVE A MIDWIFE DO I STILL NEED A DOULA?
WHAT IS YOUR “ON CALL” PERIOD?
WHAT IS A “SHARED CARE MODEL”, WHY DO YOU USE IT, AND HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM HIRING A SOLO DOULA?
DO DOULAS ATTEND BIRTHS IN HOSPITALS AS WELL AS HOME BIRTHS?
I HAVE AN OBGYN [OB] DO I STILL NEED A DOULA?
WILL A DOULA STILL SUPPORT ME IF I WANT AN EPIDURAL? DO I STILL NEED A DOULA IF I PLAN ON GETTING AN EPIDURAL?
WHAT IF I HAVE A PLANNED OR AN EMERGENCY CAESAREAN BIRTH, HOW WILL A DOULA HELP ME?
WILL A DOULA STILL SUPPORT ME IF I WANT AN EPIDURAL? DO I STILL NEED A DOULA IF I PLAN ON GETTING AN EPIDURAL?
Of course – a Lifetime of Love doula will most definitely will support you if you want an epidural! Remember, our doulas support whatever type of birth you choose.
What many people are not aware of is that even if they are planning to get an epidural in labour as a form of pain management, you still have to get through early labour. Typically, a hospital will not admit a patient until they are at least 4 centimetres dilated. Keep in mind that epidurals do not always work and can be “patchy” in their pain management. A doula can help you throughout your whole labour no matter when you get your epidural, and a doula can be particularly helpful during the “pushing” stage of labour for those choosing an epidural.
There is also still the aspect of emotional, physical and informational support that a doula continues to provide throughout the entire birth and immediate postpartum experience regardless of the epidural.
WHAT IS A DOULA?
WHAT KIND OF TRAINING DOES A DOULA HAVE?
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A DOULA? WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH SAY?
WHAT IS THE BIRTHING PHILOSOPHY OF LIFETIME OF LOVE DOULAS?
DOES A DOULA REPLACE MY PARTNER?
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DOULA AND A MIDWIFE? IF I HAVE A MIDWIFE DO I STILL NEED A DOULA?
WHAT IS YOUR “ON CALL” PERIOD?
WHAT IS A “SHARED CARE MODEL”, WHY DO YOU USE IT, AND HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM HIRING A SOLO DOULA?
DO DOULAS ATTEND BIRTHS IN HOSPITALS AS WELL AS HOME BIRTHS?
I HAVE AN OBGYN [OB] DO I STILL NEED A DOULA?
WILL A DOULA STILL SUPPORT ME IF I WANT AN EPIDURAL? DO I STILL NEED A DOULA IF I PLAN ON GETTING AN EPIDURAL?
WHAT IF I HAVE A PLANNED OR AN EMERGENCY CAESAREAN BIRTH, HOW WILL A DOULA HELP ME?
WHAT IF I HAVE A PLANNED OR AN EMERGENCY CAESAREAN BIRTH, HOW WILL A DOULA HELP ME?
Our birth doulas are trained to support you through a caesarean birth. Depending on the circumstances and the attending OB, we may be in the operating room to support you and your partner or waiting in the recovery or postpartum room. In the case of a caesarean birth, we typically remain with you longer afterwards helping you recover and if you have chosen breastfeeding for your infant feeding plans, a caesarean section can sometimes pose a few challenges in establishing breastfeeding. It is important to us that you still meet (or reassess) your goals, and we are trained to support your breastfeeding journey and make referrals if needed to the best support within your community.