Author: Rachel Leavitt

In my course, I teach a different way of making birth plans.  These  birth plans allow for planning as well as flexibility.  It is also not just a list of things the mom wants, but a plan for both the … Read More

The doula profession is more than performing a job and going home. It takes a level of passion to be successful at it. Any profession that involves passion and high levels of compassion, has a  risk for burnout.  Some of us … Read More

As doulas, it is important that we understand why women make the decisions they do.  Understanding how women make decisions during labor and birth helps us to move away from our own biases during birth, and move into the world … Read More

Those who use continuous support are: More likely to have a spontaneous vaginal birth. Less likely to have intrapartum analgesia. Less likely to report dissatisfaction. More likely to have a shorter labor. Less likely to have c-sections. Less likely to … Read More

Some women seem to be surrounded by pregnant mothers on every side. For others though, the challenge of knowing someone who is pregnant is one of the biggest obstacles to becoming a doula. Our students can be found throughout the … Read More

It has been my experience that the stages model of labor is not based on good theory or research and does not accurately describe how labor truly works.

Among many relaxation techniques employed to soothe the mind and body, music is an age-old mixture of genius and comfort for the senses. Whether the music is a simple folk song being strummed on a guitar around a campfire, or a heart-thrilling orchestral Bach suite, the wonderful mind-calming … Read More

The morning when my client’s water broke, her midwife called me to let me know some basic information, including when she had gotten there and what the plan was.  We discussed the emotional and labor support needs. Then I came … Read More

The biggest news from ACOG’s latest Committee Opinion, was that women should have access to continuous labor support, professionally called a doula.  This does not surprise many who have been following the trail of research since the 1990’s.  They cite … Read More

One of our students prepared a birth plan for a client who would be dealing with anemia (a deficiency of red blood cells typically resulting in weariness) during her labor. With our student’s permission we are reproducing her plan on … Read More