Birth Doula (Varied) Patient Care & Support - Abingdon, VA - 33299

Birth Doula (Varied) Patient Care & SupportThis is a grant funded position that will serve as PRN. This position could serve during daytime hours, evening hours, and weekends as needed. A birth doula will provide physical, emotional, and informational support to women during the birth process. The birthing doula will provide a warm handoff to a postpartum doula post-delivery to provide guidance and community resource referrals to families regarding maternal self-care, lactation, and other issues pertinent to healthy parenting through the first six weeks postpartum. As the birthing doula accompanies a woman in labor, her primary responsibility is to be present in every sense. A doula provides continuous care. A doula provides culturally appropriate emotional support to the laboring woman, helping her to cope with labor in her own way. The doula lays aside any preconceived ideas she may have and supports the mother in the way that the mother chooses to labor. The doula also supports the father and others who are present, helping them to participate in the birth experience. The doula may help with breathing techniques, relaxing touch or visualization. The doula does not give medical advice or perform any medical tasks. Their job is to not make medical decisions for a client. The doula's responsibility is to maintain professional relationships with others caring for the mother, such as her family, as well as health care providers.