• Sacred Beginnings
  • Doula servicing Long Island, Queens, Brooklyn-NY
  • Amanda Goldenberg
    Trained Doula (DONA)
  • Picture  (I have a great picture for there)
  • What is a doula
    The word, “doula,” comes from the Greek word for the most important female slave or servant in an ancient Greek household, the woman who probably helped the lady of the house through her childbearing. The word has come to refer to “a woman experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the mother before, during and just after childbirth.” (Klaus, Kennell and Klaus, Mothering the Mother)
    A doula is a professionally trained woman who supports a laboring woman and her partner physically, emotionally and by giving them bedside childbirth education. She is there to help with comfort measures through all or most of labor. She helps the partner play the role he wants to play…as involved or not…she will guide him in ways to support the mom, or she will take over if he needs a break or to step back so he can participate to the extent that he wishes. A doula is just the extra hands, the eyes to look into, and the faith of another woman next to a laboring mom. Centuries ago, when a woman went into labor, she was surrounded by her mother, her mother in law, her sisters, cousins and friends. A doula carries the knowledge of a sisterhood. It can be very powerful and empowering.
    A doula does not perform any clinical acts. She doesn’t interact with the hospital staff directly or make decisions for the mom.