Here is a little more information about our Doula Meet+Greet…

What is a doula? (From Evidence-Based Birth)
According to DONA International, a doula is a professional who is trained in childbirth and provides continuous support to a mother before, during, and just after birth (postpartum douluas are not covered in this article). Doula comes from a Greek word that means “a woman who serves” or “handmaiden.”

Why hire a doula? (From DONA International)

Numerous clinical studies have found that a doula’s presence at birth

• tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications
• reduces negative feelings about one’s childbirth experience
• reduces the need for pitocin (a labor-inducing drug), forceps or vacuum extraction and cesareans
• reduces the mother’s request for pain medication and/or epidurals

Research shows parents who receive support can:

• Feel more secure and cared for
• Are more successful in adapting to new family dynamics
• Have greater success with breastfeeding
• Have greater self-confidence
• Have less postpartum depression
• Have lower incidence of abuse

DOULA MEET+GREET

If you and your partner have talked about hiring a doula and don’t know where to even begin, the Doula Meet+Greet is a great place to start and get more information!  It is also the perfect opportunity for families who want to interview doulas and don’t know where they are going to find the time between work and other commitments to get some interviews done.

We have several doulas attending the Bradley Day Family Festival.  Five of them are going to participate in the Doula Meet+Greet…here is how will work:

Time: 11:30 – 12:30

Format: Round Robin – 10 minutes per doula/couple

Location: McClellan Library Entrance (it looks like castle!)

If you want to be one of the couples who gets to take advantage of this incredible opportunity, you will sign up at the registration table when you arrive at the event.  You will receive a folder with contact sheets for all the doulas, plus a list of suggested interview questions.  You can tailor the questions for your own needs, or come up with your own.  The key is that you will have some of the Phoenix area’s best doulas right across the table from you!!

At 11:30, each couple will be seated with one doula.  Every ten minutes, time will be called and you will move on to the next doula in the rotation.  At the end of the hour, you will have had the opportunity to meet and greet five doulas, and you will have a better idea about the type of person you want to hire to support you through your journey of pregnancy and birth.

All the doulas will be at the Doula booth before and after the Meet+Greet session if you want to get to know them a little better.  If you cannot make it to the Doula Meet+Greet, you can still pick up contact information for all the doulas before and after the Meet+Greet at the information table that will be under their canopy.

If you have any questions regarding the Doula Meet+Greet, please email azbradleyday{at}gmail{dot}com.  We look forward to seeing you at the Bradley Day Family Festival.