We found the perfect doula

We get a lot of questions about what a doula is or why we’d hire one.  This is from the Doula of North America website: The word "doula" comes from the ancient Greek meaning "a woman who serves" and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period. Studies have shown that when doulas attend birth, labors are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they breastfeeding more easily.

We'll meet with our doula, Amy, 2 times before the birth for 2 hour sessions. We are actually taking a pregnancy class at Natural Resources too and she is the instructor, so we’ll have even more face to face time with her. She’ll know both of us well so that she can help Em in labor and help Chris help Em too. She’ll know a lot about our birth plan and give us practical advice to stick by that. At the hospital the midwifes and doctors are stretched thin helping out all of the laboring women. Amy, however, will be in our room with us the whole time.

She's been a doula at over 100 births, so it's a huge relief to know that Amy will there with us.