What is a Doula?

A birth Doula is a woman trained and experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother and her family before, during and just after childbirth.

The word “doula” (DOO-lah) is a Greek word meaning "woman servant" or Handmaiden."
The value of providing laboring women with continuous emotional support, physical comfort, and encouragement has been recognized worldwide.

Given the clear benefits and no known risks associated with intrapartum support, every effort should be made to ensure all laboring women receive support, not only from those close to them but also from specially trained caregivers. This support should include continuous presence, the provision of hands-on comfort, and encouragement.
(resource DONA.org)

Does a doula make decisions on my behalf?

A doula does not make decisions for clients or intervene in their clinical care. She provides informational and emotional support, while respecting a woman’s decisions.

Will a doula make my partner feel unnecessary?

No, a doula is supportive to both the mother and her partner, and plays a crucial role in helping a partner become involved in the birth to the extent he/she feels comfortable.

The Benefits of having a Doula:
Shorten labor by an average of 25%
Reduce the need for a Cesarean section by 50%
Reduce the use of drugs to stimulate labor by 40%
Reduce the need of various intervention by 40%

About Me

I want to THANK YOU for taking the time to review my blog.
I am a Wife, Mother, Doula and Daughter of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I married the love of my life in 1998, and together we have two wonderfully creative boys. When I was giving birth to my children I did not know what a Doula was and could have really used the support! No matter what their race, education, young, or old, single or married any women who want a Doula should have a Doula.

So this is the adventure….

I have been assisting women and their families in my church community since 2001. I then became acquainted with the term “Doula” in 2003. I began working toward my Doula certification and then became a Certified Birth Doula in February 2006. As I began this great journey of becoming a Doula, I found a passion inside my heart I never knew was there. As a Doula I educate women and their families on the pregnancy, the process of labor and birth and postpartum care. Doulas do not take the place of partners, medical staff or family members there to support mom during the birthing process. I am there as part of the team. Doulas can give an objective point of view and help the labor progress. I give suggestions on position changes, give her partner a break when needed, massaging and emotional support.

The word DOULA means woman servant in the Greek or Handmaiden. When I became a Doula, I realized this is what I was born to do.

Blessings,
Heather

Photo Gallery

Testimonies

~This was our first baby and I’d never heard of a doula before. Heather Haywood was one of our friends and I had no idea that this is what she did. I couldn't believe how much help she was! I really don’t think that Lisa, my wife, could have done it without drugs unless Heather was there to help. I’m more than certain that she will be with us on our next one unless she has something come up. Thanks so much!!

~My Doula experience was wonderful! My doula was Heather Haywood and she was amazing! She was able to calm me down and say the right things at the right time. I definitely would recommend her to anyone for Doula services. To this day, I still want to ask her for one of her famous foot rubs!

~Heather~ Thank you for all your HELP! I don’t think I could have done it without you. Everything you did for me was so Appreciated!!! I thank God that He put you in my life! Being a single mother, I knew having you as my Doula was the right way to go! Thank you again. With Much Love~ A Grateful Mother

~Heather was an absolutely invaluable partner for me and my husband during our very long and ultimately complicated induced birth. When things became very trying and more than a little scary, she helped to keep us both calm and focused, and to remember that regardless of how different this birth was from what we had planned, that the important thing was that we ended up with a healthy baby and mom, which we did. She did it all--soothing me, keeping my husband calm, keeping our family informed, advocating for our wishes with our care providers, and doing it all with patience, genuine concern, and compassion. We couldn't’t have done it without her. Thank you, Heather!

~Heather, Thank you for being so supportive to me and my partner during labor. You made me feel very strong when I had to deal with a nurse that was not supportive. I’m not sure if I could have went through with my natural labor if it wasn’t for you.

~Dear Heather, Thank you SO much for devoting your time and energy towards my pregnancy and the delivery of Brandon. Your presence took a lot of pressure off of Derek and I ! I thought we all made a GREAT birth team! It was very special to us. I’m so glad that you were our Doula! We would be happy to serve as a reference for you! Thank you again! With Love, Derek and Julie

~Hello my name is Stephanie Stevens. I just wanted to tell you about my experience with having Heather Haywood serve as my Doula. My husband Elijah is a Nurse Practitioner and he was not bought on the idea of having a Doula. By the end of our experience he saw the value of having Heather there. The support that Heather gave me through my pregnancy was awesome. She would come over and help relieve stress and pressure in my back by massage, and giving me information on anything I would have questions about. As a Christian woman it was a blessing to have Heather be of same mind spiritually through prayer when needed. When I arrived at the hospital Heather helped through breathing, walking and hot tub through the contractions. I was able to use the ball and rock and focus on my husband and daughter to come. It did come to the point where I felt I needed an epidural. Heather didn't falter and made sure that's what I wanted and supported me through it. I felt that having the epidural, I failed at being a woman who couldn't do it "naturally" but Heathers support made me realize that I did have a baby naturally with some help. Not once did I feel her support falter. My husband saw the support that heather gave me and that her presents there help ease me though it. Heather I am blessed beyond comprehension how wonderful it was to have you there. Spiritually you helped me through it and now my daughter of 3 is in this world with your help.

Thank you Doula Heather Haywood

Stephanie Stevens

~HELLO MY NAME IS VICKI ROPER. I HAD THE MOST PRECIOUS MOMENT EVER SHARED WITH HEATHER HAYWOOD! I KNEW RIGHT FROM THE START SHE WAS A WOMEN WHO HAD THIS DOULA THING ALL TOGETHER. SHE ANSWERED EVERY QUESTION I HAD, AND THEN HAD SOME OF HER OWN FOR ME. HEATHER WAS THERE FOR ME EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. SHE INCLUDED MY HUSBAND AND GAVE SOME GREAT POINTERS BEFORE AND DURING MY PREGNANCY FOR HIM TO SOOTH, RELAX, AND CALM ME. OH, DID I MENTION THAT ONLY HEATHERS TOUCH AND VOICE DID THE CALMING FOR ME! HA-HA. ALTHOUGH, EVERYTHING RAN BETTER THAN SMOOTH AND SHE MADE SURE MY BIRTH PLAN STAYED ON TRACK, I KNEW EVERYTHING THAT WAS GOING ON WITH ME AND OUR NEW BABY GIRL DANYELLA. WE WERE SO BLESSED TO HAVE SOMEONE LIKE HEATHER IN THE MIST OF OUR LIVES AT THIS TIME, BRINGING A NEW PRECIOUS BABY INTO THIS WORLD. THANK YOU, FOR ALL YOU DO, AND WHO YOU ARE, THE ROPERS!!!!!!

Contact Me

Please email me at
DoulaHaywood@twcny.rr.com