What is a Doula?
“The word doula is a Greek word meaning women’s servant. Women have been serving others in childbirth for many centuries and have proven that support from another woman has a positive impact on the labor process.
A doula is a professional trained in childbirth who provides emotional, physical, and educational support to a mother who is expecting, is experiencing labor, or has recently given birth. The doula’s purpose is to help women have a safe, memorable, and empowering birthing experience.
Studies have shown that having a doula as a member of the birth team decreases the overall cesarean rate by 50%, the length of labor by 25%, the use of oxytocin by 40%, and requests for an epidural by 60%.”
About Lauren:
I completed my DONA International doula program in 2019. I am also a Dean’s List Biology graduate of the University of Washington. I have been a Nationally Registered EMT for 4 years. I currently work as a registered Medical Assistant at Mile High OB/GYN. I am First Aid, CPR and BLS certified.
I am a strong advocate for women’s rights. I have spent days, months and years marching towards a future of equal opportunity for all women. I have spent recent months having conversations with women about the world we live in; about what we need and what we want. I am a deeply compassionate and empathetic person. I can not be witness of another woman’s struggle without feeling it deeply as part of my own struggle.
There is a lack of medical and emotional resources for pregnant women and it is women, and their babies, who suffer from this lack. Too many women, especially based on race and economic class, still die in childbirth, have major complications or have birth experiences that are disappointing or traumatic. Childbirth should be prepared for equally emotionally and physically. Each mother should have the knowledge of her body, her needs, and her resources, to make the best decisions for herself and her baby. The entire process should be an exercise in empowerment and beauty- a celebration of not who we are as women and mothers, but also all that we are capable of creating.
My dream is to support this celebration in whatever way possible. I am truly at your service. The combination of my medical background, my personality and my experience will aid you in an educated exploration. I will aid you in the process of developing the confidence to understand what you need and want and ask for those things un-apologetically. I wish to be the support you need, the support my mother would have wanted, the support I hope my grand-daughter will have.