Finding Your Way in Labour
Photographs by Heather Armstrong www.heatherphoto.ca
Labour Support
Just as every woman is unique, so too are each woman's expectations and preferences for her labour, and for her labour support. Examples of labour support include:
Emotional Support
* Encouragement, reassurance
* Breathing, positive sound, visualizations, affirmations
* Being a calm presence with faith in your abilities
* Emotional support for your partner
* Companionship, nurturing
* Respecting your need for time by yourself and with your birth partner, and encouraging others to do the same
Physical Support
* Suggestions for positions and movements to reduce discomfort, to increase the effectiveness of labour, and/or to re-position your baby
* Assistance with natural pain relief such as counter-pressure, massage, heat-packs, bath/shower, calming touch, rhythmic movement, breathing, sound
* Provision of simple homeopathic and herbal remedies and aromatherapy oils
* Suggestions for ways your birth partner can support you
* Creating a safe, calm and comfortable birth space
* Protection from outside distractions and disturbances (holding the space)
* Taking care of practical tasks to support your labour, so your birth partner can focus on you
Informational Support and Advocacy
* Supporting you to feel confident and assertive in communicating your needs and preferences
* Assisting you to seek information and options
* Helping you to interpret information and advice so you can make informed choices about your care, and that of your baby
Heather’s Labour Support Package
As a professional labour doula, Heather will meet you and your partner for a free consultation to discuss the role of the doula and encourage you to ask questions. Once you have chosen her as your doula, she will book one or two prenatal visits during the last trimester. During these visits, you will discuss your birth plan or desires for your birth and she will provide any perinatal information that you may need in order to feel prepared for your upcoming birth. Heather will also introduce you and your partner to comfort measures for a healthy, active labour.
Once you are in labour, Heather will come to your home (or meet you at the hospital) when you feel the need for extra support. She will stay with you throughout your labour and birth providing information, suggestions and comfort measures to ease your labour. In the event of a caesarean section, Heather will support you and your partner before surgery and assist you with bonding and breastfeeding in the recovery room. She will remain with you until you are comfortable and settled with your new baby, usually an hour or two following the birth.
Heather will visit you 2 more times following birth and provide you with a birth story from the doula's perspective as a keepsake.
The fee for this labour support package is $700.00
Flexible payment plans available.
For further information or to book your free consultation, please call Heather at:
(250) 889-6009 or email her at:
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