Westside Doula

Committed to helping you find easy passage into the world of pregnancy, labor, delivery and new parenthood.

Welcome!

At Westside Doula, We Believe that:

A Doula Is

A doula is a woman who loves birth, loves laboring women, and is dedicated to bringing about a positive and meaningful birth in others.  A doula digs birth.

A woman's job during labor is to focus her mind and body on birthing her child.  Her partner's job is to love and support her unconditionally.  A doula's job is to support that partnership and offer her experience and expertise to the laboring couple. 

A doula can help minimize the fear that can be present during labor.  She can offer suggestions, motivation and encouragement.

Her primary job is labor support. Part of that occurs during labor, and part of that occurs before labor. The stronger the relationship you and your partner build with your doula, the better she can serve you during labor.

Her secondary job is a resource consultant.  She should be able to help you find the services you need in your community.  You should feel comfortable asking your doula about anything birth related, and she will help you find the resources you are looking for.

A doula knows that if a woman feels empowered and knowledgeable about her birth then she is more likely to look back on the experience favorably.  A positive impression of birth is beneficial to both mother and child.

A Doula Is Not

A doula is not a doctor, nurse or otherwise a medical practitioner.

A Westside Doula Will:

• Meet with mom and partner at least twice before birth;
• Help establish a birth plan;
• Be available for phone consultations before labor;
• Stay by your side during labor (as needed);
• Stay by your side during birth;
• Help you get to the hospital, if you choose a hospital birth;
• Be available to meet with the new family a month after birth to review and dicuss how the labor and deliver went.

One wonderful aspect of incorporating a doula into your labor and delivery, is her knowledge of local resources.  Are you looking for a good lactation consultant?  Acupuncturist that specializes in pre-natal women? Pre-natal yoga?  Your doula should be able to help you find and utilize the resources within your community and find smooth entrance into the world of new parenthood. 

Westside Doula is committed to helping you navigate your pregnancy and birth.  We aim to be a sounding board to discuss the many decisions that you will face throughout your pregnancy, labor, and birth.

Best of all, we will come to you.  All of our meetings will be in the comfort of your own home, at your favorite cafe or in our Culver City office.

Please fill out the form with any questions or concerns and we will contact you shortly. Thank you for your interest in Westside Doula.

My personal pet peeve is when a doctor says "All we want from the birth is a healthy baby."  Its like saying all we want out of life is the ability to breath. Call me demanding, but I also want a woman to be respected, heard, cared for, and believed in. Add to that the ability and encouragement to move freely, made decisions for herself and her family, and be treated like the adult woman she is, and we're basically talking heresy.

Also, the word, "LET" makes me hold my breath and count to five.  Our ability to choose what works and doesn't work for us is what empowers us to birth gently.  I work under the (radical) assumption that the women I work with are responsible for their own bodies--and can handle the weight of the choices that they make.  Crazy, I know.

I assume that no one wants a healthier baby than you.  Not the doctor.  Not your partner.  Not the grandma-to be.  You.  My job is to be help you, as I can, so that you can make the decisions that best work for you and your family. 

Serving the Los Angeles beach communities, and any place identified as "Westside." 

Think the 2nd Superivisorial district and the bottom bit of the 3rd.

Or in the vicinity of Santa Monica, Culver City, West LA, Venice, Inglewood, Baldwin Hills, Palms, Cheviot Hills, MDR, Playa Del Rey, or places near the beach.

Photo Credit:  Romy Suskin

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