How can a Doula support you?
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A Doula can offer you evidence based information. She supports you so that you can discover how to make your own informed and conscious choices for pregnancy, birth and after birth (post-partum). |
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A Doula offers non judgemental support. She knows your wishes, your fears and your strenghts. She can help you and your partner prepare for birth by; looking deeply into all the physiological and emotional aspects of pregnancy and birth and your relationship with them, by exploring your wishes for birth with the support of a birthplan, by practicing to mindfully cope with pain and intense sensations during labor, and by helping to prepare for the post partum period to ease the transition into parenthood. |
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A Doula offers continuous emotional and physical support during one or all of the phases of pregancy, birth and after birth. She can be continiously present (in-person or by phone availability) during your labour regardless the duration and place. She can play a crucial role in helping a partner become involved in the birth to the exend he/she feels comfortable. |
As a Doula, I do not:
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Make decisions for you or give second opinions.
A doula does not make decisions for clients or intervenes in their medical care. She provides informational and emotional support, while respecting a women´s decisions. |
Perform any medical tasks.
A Doula is a non medical childbirth professional. Doulas do not replace midwifes, nurses or other medical staff. Doulas do not perform clinical or medical tasks like taking blood pressure, or temperature, monitoring fetal heart rate or doing vaginal examination. They are there to comfort the mother through continious emotional and physical support. |
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´Birth is a key life experience that the mother will remember for the rest of her life´ `My intention is for every mother and family to have the best birth experience possible, given the cirumstances of the moment, and to support them every step of the way`- Liz As a Doula I am available to offer pregnant women and families emotional, physical, non judgemental, mindful support during the phases of pregnancy, birth and after birth. To companion women by holding space for this journey to unfold in it's own unique way within every women and family, surrounded by trust, care and love. I you would like to read more about my personal journey, my professional background and trainings, click here. - - - - - - - Doula Services My intention is for every session to follow it´s natural flow related to questions and wishes of the pregnant women/couple and prepared themes. If welcomed by the women every session will include the following offers: * an awareness exercise to facilitate a growing connection with the body, the baby, the breath, the present moment. (coming from my mindfulness background :) * light body work like a head, face, hand, feet or belly massage with the intention for you to relax, to let go, to feel nourished, to experience body connection, to experience baby connection, to feel present, to feel cared for, to calm down, to breath and to enjoy. Themes that could be covered during the sessions are: - Fysiology of pregnancy and birth - Hormonal landscape of pregancy and birth - Conscious informed decision making - Dreams, wishes, and joys - Difficulties, worries, fears, stress, emotions - Partner / relationship connection (communication, emotions, sexuality, difficulties, exercises) - Preparation of a birth plan - Hospital birth preparation - Home birth preparation - Body & mind preparation for birth (strechtes, perineum massage, pelvic work, body awareness, breath excersises) - Couple preparation for birth (movements, postures, massages techniques, breath excersises, feeling of touch) - Consciously working with pain, difference between pain and suffering - Preparation for post partum period - and much more Post partum care could include: - Mother (emotional) support - Questions and concerns - Processing of the birth experience - Basic breastfeeding support - Baby care support / Family care support If wished for by the family the post partum care can be extended over a longer period of time and for a longer duration per visit as support to the mother, family and household. Max. 3 hours per day, several days per week, several weeks. The post partum extra service could include: * Support (emotional) for the mother (and family) * Recovery support for the mother * Support in baby care * Support in family care and light house hold Please contact me for more info. Doula Service Packages: Depending on the womens and families wishes, needs and budget we can create a service offer specifically aimed at your personal situation. Some examples: * free introducion meeting - 5 pre birth sessions (2-3 hrs)/ 2 post partum sessions (1 hour) / on call 24hrs from wk 37-42 / birth support in person * free introduction meeting - 3 pre birth sessions (2-3 hrs) / 2 post partum sessions (1 hour) / on call 24hrs from wk 37-42 / birth support by phone availability * free introduction meeting - 5 pre birth sessions (2-3 hrs)/ 2 post partum sessions (1 hour) Please contact me to gather information on the exchange fee´s for the different packages and offers. EXTRA OFFERS: MINDFUL BIRTHING 8 week Training Besides Doula, I am also a professional Mindfulness trainer. Coming from that profession I can offer you an 8 week Mindful Birthing preparation training. This training would have 8 sessions (1 per week, containing exercises and theory) of about 2 hours, a weekly schedule of home practices (partly audio), and comes with a manual. It has the intention to share with you the practice of mindfulness, in which you learn to pay attention in a different way and combine that with the preparing for birth and parenting. You will get to know your own mind better and start to recognize your reactivity patterns and from that will also learn to work with the mind to work with the difference phases of pregnancy and of labor and the experience of intense sensations or pain, the challenges of early parenting, the stress of everyday life as a parent, etc. (see more on mindfulness here). The home practices are an important part of this training and asks about 30 /45 min. time of your day, 6 days per week. It will contain body scan practices, sitting meditation practices, stretches/yoga for childbirth, walking practices, etc. To receive the most out of this training, it really asks your commitment, also outside of our meetings, to practice and learn a new skill. You can see this training as a ´stand-alone´offer. The training is also very suitable to join as a couple, with your birth partner. You might like to add 1 or 2 extra doula sessions separately on for example, couple preparation for birth (movements, postures, massage, touch), birth plan preparation, and other topics which are not covered in the mindful birthing program. Post partum doula support is also added separately Celebration Circles I can facilitate pregnancy ceremony circle´s to be organised for the mother with close (women) friends and / or family. There are many ways to personalize these circles or ceremonies according to the intention and wishes of the organiser. For example to celebrate the pregancy, to welcome the newborn, to honour the mother, to prepare for birth with close female friends, etc. Contact me for more information. Contact me for any questions or more information on my offers. Doula Liz Elisabeth Tiesinga +351 967254052 (tm & telegram) + 00 31 645520602 (whatsapp) hello@doula-liz.eu I live near Carrapateira, Aljezur and can provide my services in the South West coast of the Algarve and Alentejo area and ONLINE. I speak Dutch, English, basic Portugese and - German. |
Testimonials
My husband and I would thoroughly recommend Liz and her Doula classes to any expecting parents and mothers. At the start of our sessions (pregnant with baby number 3) I was very fearful and nervous to be going through labour again and how I would deal with the contractions and labour pains. By the end of our sessions I feel so relieved and empowered in this pregnancy and so prepared for this birth. The information Liz gave me/us, together with the breathing practices and exercises, labour is no longer something I am nervous about, but I'm calm and confident. I have the 'toolbox' to go through it in the most prepared way possible. Thank you Liz, your knowledge, kindness and calm approach throughout our sessions were amazing!! ~Jemma, Pedro and baby on the way~ --------- During our journey of having our first baby, Liz´s energy was one of full presence. She has this amazing, natural, caring nature. You constantly feel fully supported & listened to. Never once do you feel like she tries to push any of her ideas on you, instead she feels like this wonderful guide that helps you make sense of what you truly want for your birth and empowers you to the fullest. We can´t recommend her enough. ~ Shaini, Antonio, baby Yazmin ~ --------- ´I am so grateful that I met Liz. She accompanied me during my pregnancy. The greatest gift she gave me was the organization of a women circle with my friends in the last month of my pregnancy. It was magical!!! My friends and I celebrated my pregnancy, the power of nature, the baby and my body. I felt absolutely energized for the birth and had wonderful last weeks of pregnancy in which the memories of my Pregancy Circle were present every day. And they were also there during the birth where it helped me to stay focused on the positive and trust me and my babies body. Again, I am so grateful that I had Liz by my side and I can highly recommend her´. ---- Carla Silveira Founder of Materlua Doula training with 15 years of Doula experience `I believe you always have been a Doula, you were only here to be remembered of that´. ---- Rita Leite Purdente Trainer with Materlua and Doula ´I recognize in you a profound wisdom and the ability to secure and ground/hold space in transformational processes´. ----- |
