Elizabeth Morrison, Certified Birth Doula(DONA) Certified Happiest Baby on the Block Educator

Greenport, New York

(631)477-5914

elizabeth@mothermedoula.com

Mothering the Mother (and Father) Starts Healthier and Happier Families-Birthing From Within

‘Mothering the mother’ is a nice way of saying that doulas meet the needs of birthing moms and dads.

Some of the most common needs that women giving birth may have are:

1. •Information about what is happening to her and what to expect next
   

2. •Privacy
   

3. •Control of what happens to them and the opportunity to share decision making
   

4. •Security of knowing who will be with them
   

5. •Eating and drinking as tolerated
   

6. •Freedom of movement and choice of the most comfortable positions for pushing
   

7. •Choice of doctor or midwife and continuous support persons
   

Common needs of partners supporting laboring women may be:

1. •To feel competent and helpful
   

2. •Reminders- because he’s not sure if he’ll remember everything taught in the childbirth classes
   

3. •Reassurance that the mom and baby are safe and cared for.
   

4. •Support from someone who has done this before so he’s not ‘first in line’
   

How can I help you have the birth that you want?

As your doula, my job is to anticipate your needs and fulfill them to the best of my ability. This may not seem like an important part of childbirth- but it is. Childbirth is not only a physical event it is very emotional, too. The day you give birth will be forever etched in your memory. When your needs are met, you are more able to focus and to concentrate on your work -which is giving birth to your baby. This makes your transition to motherhood easier because if your needs are met, you will be better able to meet your baby’s needs, too. On the other hand, if your basic needs go unmet, you may become fearful or unable to relax and labor may stall.  Many times labor stalls when a women feels anxious and fearful, and often a request for pain medications may be simply a request for encouragement, information or support.

For partners, the reassurance and respect given to him make sure he gets off to a good start as father and he is able to be the protecter of his new family.

“ ...we were so thankful that Liz was with us.  She was a good moral support and a great advocate for my care.  She had a watchful eye on the nursing staff to make sure they were respecting our wishes and following our birth plan.”

                                                            -Joanne Glover

I offer support to women and their partners beginning during pregnancy and culminating with labor and the birth of your baby. During labor and birth, I offer non-drug techniques to ease labor discomfort, facilitate labor progress, and avoid complications and unnecessary medical interventions. I do massage, acupressure, encouragement, hot or cold compresses, and I personalize my approach to suit every mothers individual needs.

My presence is equally important for women who experience medicated births as well. Since the situation can change quickly, women who choose epidurals need even more support from a trained doula.

I do all I can to ensure that the staff follows your birth plan and I facilitate discussion with your doctor or midwife to ensure that any diversion from your plan is understood agreed upon by you.

See My Doula Services Page for more.

Research proves that hiring a doula is great for moms, dads and babies:

Having a doula decreases medical intervention in labor*:

•Reduce the need for cesarean by 50%

•Reduce the length of labor by 25%

•Reduce the use of Pitocin by 40%

•Reduce pain medication use by 30%

•Reduce the need for forceps by 40%

•Reduce epidural requests by 60%

6 weeks after birth, mothers who had doulas were:

•Less anxious and depressed

•More confident with their baby

•More satisfied with their partner (71% vs 30%)

•More likely to be breastfeeding (52% vs. 29%)

*These statistics appear in “A Doula Makes the Difference” by Nugent in Mothering Magazine, March-April 1998. **Study cited in “The Doula” by Klaus in Childbirth Instructor Magazine, Spring 1995.

The day a woman gives birth is one of the most important days of her life. It is a day she will remember clearly for the rest of her life. She does not just have a baby she becomes a mother. Her partner becomes a father. Having a doula is an easy way to ensure that you are getting the best start as a new family.

It has been my pleasure to be with women giving birth. I make sure the needs of new mothers are met and their wishes are heard. I assist families in creating birth experiences that they can feel good about.

I am located on the East End of Long Island and serve all of Suffolk County.

I look forward to showing you how I can make your pregnancy and birth experience safe and wonderful.

Please call or email to me set up a consultation and receive a free copy of Journey into Motherhood while supplies last!

It is well known that doulas are a unique and vital part of the birth team. Here’s what others say about doulas..

“A doulas primary job is to assist a woman to have the best possible birth experience, as she defines it. A doulas primary responsibility is to the mother

- not the doctor or midwife, nursing staff, hospital administration, not even her partner or family.

Doulas take on the mothers values and make them our own and help her to be understood.”

- Penny Simkin, DONA co-founder

“I couldn’t and wouldn’t practice obstetrics today without doulas. They give me the confidence of knowing the laboring mother is not frightened or alone, and is always in the capable hands of a professional labor assistant. The quality and continuity of care should not be regarded as a ‘fringe benefit,’ ‘an extra,’ but as an essential and irreplaceable part of the birthing experience.”

Harlan Ellis, M.D. quoted in Special Women by Polly Perez

“ If a doula were a drug, it would be unethical not to use it.”

                                                                        - Dr. John Kennell

Please view what the real experts- mothers- have said on my Happy Parents page.