Johanna loves babies and birth. Since she was a young girl, she gravitated to pregnant women and loved to play “have a baby” with the “sometimes willing” neighborhood kids. She gave birth to two children at home with the help of licensed midwives and became a licensed midwife herself in 2004. She transitioned to doula work in 2023 and provides hospital labor support during select times of the year.

A doula provides many of the personalized advantages that a midwife does, minus the clinical tasks. Examples of these include:

• Offering comfort measures such as breathing techniques, relaxation methods, massage, and positioning suggestions to ease labor.

• Providing evidence-based information to help mothers make informed decisions about their pregnancy and birth.

• Acting as an advocate for the mother’s wishes, improving communication between the mother and the medical staff.

• Offering reassurance and encouragement, reducing anxiety, and promoting a positive birth experience.

• Supporting the partner or family members by guiding them on how to assist effectively.

• Assisting with early postpartum care, including breastfeeding support and emotional adjustment.