Whether it’s your first baby or your fifth, the birth of a child brings excitement and wonder, as well as uncertainty. Bucks County doulas can provide the guidance and support parents need for this life-changing experience. 

Birth doulas offer support before, during, and after labor for expectant parents. If you’re an expectant parent, a doula can help guide your birth journey.

Read on to learn more about what doulas do and who to hire in Bucks County to support your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. 

Why Hire a Bucks County Doula?

When you embark on your pregnancy journey, you want to have as much support as possible. In addition to selecting maternity care, many women choose to hire a doula for added guidance.

A doula provides physical, emotional, and informational support throughout pregnancy and childbirth. They can also help you transition into post-childbirth life in the weeks after delivery. The next section provides some insight into what a birth doula does and how this individual can support you and your family along the way. 

What Does a Birth Doula Do? 

A birth doula is a non-medical professional who meets with, and supports a woman throughout her pregnancy. A doula is trained to help a woman establish a birth plan and educate her on the birthing process. She can also address any fears and questions her client may have along the way. The birth doula is usually present during the delivery process and may provide postpartum support to new parents as well. 

A birth doula differs from a midwife in that the latter is a medical professional who performs the delivery. A birth doula and midwife may work together to help the woman with all needs during the birth of her baby. 

Understanding Birth Doula Support

The birth doula is an important part of a pregnant woman’s life. This individual helps with all non-medical aspects of the pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum process. 

Doulas help their clients by teaching breathing techniques; providing information, encouragement and advocacy; and helping with breastfeeding questions. 

What Birth Doulas Do — And Don’t Do

Lauralee Lightwood-Mater CD (DONA) of Lightwood Maternity is a birth doula and midwife assistant. She helps pregnant women throughout the Eastern Pennsylvania and Central New Jersey regions.

“Birth doulas provide continuous physical support, like counter pressure, positional changes, help with breathing and hydration, and nourishment during labor. They offer guidance and methods for getting through the toughest parts of labor, help maintaining a positive birth environment, and help in getting partners involved,” said Lightwood-Mater.

“They also provide prenatal childbirth education, guidance on what questions to ask providers, and help navigating which resources are best and trustworthy.”

To understand what doulas don’t do, these support individuals do not perform clinical medical tasks or replace partners in the process. The doula performs many support tasks as opposed to any medical assistance.

Benefits of Hiring a Birth Doula

Research has shown that having a doula by one’s side may result in shorter labor times, less instances of medical intervention, and lower rates of C-sections. In addition, the birthing experience may be better overall for the woman. 

As for why women should hire a doula to support them during their pregnancy, Lightwood-Mater provides some insight regarding this question.

“I don’t like to tell people what they should do during pregnancy or otherwise, but families often benefit from doula support in a number of ways,” said Lightwood-Mater. “Birth tends to be wild no matter how or where it happens. A doula is a constant support throughout pregnancy, labor, and birth, on whom families can depend and trust.” 

“A doula helps you know all of your options and provides you with information and resources to make decisions for yourself and your family,” she said. “A good doula helps people feel safe, respected, and empowered throughout their pregnancy and birth.”

What Does a Postpartum Doula Do?

Brittany G., a Bucks County mom, used a postpartum doula for the “fourth trimester” of her pregnancy journey. 

“Having a postpartum doula was an incredible experience, especially since my parents live out of state,” said Brittany. “The knowledge and support I received gave me peace of mind during the early postpartum days. It allowed me the time and space to focus on my recovery, while still being present for my toddler as we adjusted to life as a family of four.”

Brittany speaks extremely highly of her postpartum doula, Mariah Martin, who is also a sleep consultant. 

“Mariah truly became part of our family during one of the most challenging transitions into second-time motherhood,” said Brittany. 

“She supported our family both day and night with endless care and compassion. She cared for our baby, and our toddler at times, too, as if they were her own. She was always just a call or text away with expert guidance. She even helped with cleaning and laundry — making rest, recovery (and sleep!) possible. I wish every mom could have a Mariah!”

Bucks County Doula Services: Local Practitioners to Consider

Choosing the right individual as your doula during your pregnancy and postpartum journey is an important decision. Here is a list of some Bucks County doulas to consider as you begin your search for this pregnancy and postpartum support professional.

Lightwood Maternity

Point Pleasant

Lauralee Lightwood-Mater of Lightwood Maternity is a DONA-certified doula. Providing birth doula services since 2018, Lightwood-Mater attends hospital and birth center births, in addition to midwife-assisted home births.   

Kerri the Doula

Lambertville, NJ, and surrounding areas, including Bucks County

Based in Lambertville, NJ, Kerri Pavlik, a.k.a., Kerri the Doula, provides doula services to Bucks County parents. As a registered nurse, certified birth doula, and certified postpartum doula, Kerri uses her experience as a postpartum nurse to provide support to new parents in the months that follow the birth. 

Mariah Martin Sleep Consultant

Yardley

Mariah Martin offers both postpartum doula support services and pediatric sleep consulting. Mariah helps with the transition from birth to the postpartum needs of baby, parents, and family. 

“Being a postpartum doula feels like something I was always meant to be,” said Martin. “ I am deeply passionate about supporting families during the fourth trimester as an overnight postpartum doula, and continuing to guide them months later as a pediatric sleep coach. It truly brings me so much joy.”

Nourished Families

Doylestown

Liz Lehmann of Nourished Families is a certified postpartum doula and lactation consultant. Liz offers a wide array of services, including daytime and overnight postpartum care, breastfeeding support, prenatal in-home or virtual breastfeeding education, and other helpful services for new parents.

Whispering Willow Care

Sellersville

Brenda Jones of Whispering Willow Care is a certified postpartum doula. Brenda offers overnight postpartum care and will tailor the services to fit the needs of each family. Her services offered include emotional wellness check-ins, breastfeeding guidance and support, newborn care education, overnight support so parents can rest easy, and light household chores. 

After the Stork

Greater Philadelphia area

After the Stork has been providing postpartum doula services to new parents in the Greater Philadelphia area since 2006. Founded by Georgette Kerr, After the Stork comprises a team of doulas. They help new parents with postpartum support, infant sleep, breastfeeding, and more. 

King of Prussia Doulas

King of Prussia; also serves Bucks County 

King of Prussia Doulas offer compassionate, caring birth and postpartum doula services. Their team of doulas tailor care for your family’s personalized needs. Some of the services offered include support during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, and assistance during the postpartum period.

Barbara Heid Doula Services

Doylestown

Barbara Heid is the founder of Barbara Heid Doula Services based in Doylestown. Barbara is a DONA-certified doula and offers both birth and postpartum doula services. At this time, per the website, Barbara is only accepting repeat clients for birth support services.

Consider Bucks County Doulas Today

Bucks County has many amazing doulas to choose from for pregnancy and postpartum support. A birth doula can help you feel comfortable during pregnancy, birth, and new parenthood. Meet with a few Bucks County doulas to find the best fit for your journey.

Lead photo courtesy of Adobe Stock.