Hello and welcome!
I’m Liz (she/her), a full spectrum doula in San Francisco. My goal is for every person to feel empowered in their reproductive health journey – through abortion, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
Doula FAQs
What is a birth doula?
A doula is a companion who is trained in birth and who is dedicated to providing continuous in-person support to you throughout your labor. Doulas provide unbiased guidance when helping you figure out your unique wants and needs for birth, and can provide suggestions, information, and a listening ear with the goal of meeting your distinct needs.
Why have a doula for birth?
The use of a doula is an evidence-based decision. Research shows that laboring with a doula is associated with the following outcomes:
- Lower rates of cesarean birth
- Lower rates of Pitocin usage
- Less likely to need pain medication (epidural, fentanyl, etc.)
- Higher rates of satisfaction towards birth experience
- Reduction in overall labor time
- Higher APGAR scores in the newborn
What’s the difference between a doula and a midwife?
A doula does not assess, diagnose, or treat any medical conditions. This means a doula cannot assess fetal heart tones, check cervical dilation, or administer any medication; instead, we focus on educating, empowering, and nurturing you through your birth experience by way of emotional, informational, and hands-on support.
Midwives, on the other hand, are medical practitioners that provide the primary medical care during pregnancy and birth for people with low-risk pregnancies. They monitor you and your baby’s physical and emotional wellbeing during pregnancy and birth, and they can perform medical assessments and diagnose any abnormalities, as well as deliver your baby.
Does a doula take the place of a partner/friend in labor?
Not at all! Many clients want their partner, mother, sibling, friend, or other person (or a combination) to be with them throughout labor, and doulas are welcoming of your entire birth team. Doulas hold a unique role in your birth team, and depending on your birth companion’s comfort level we can model comfort measure techniques, help involve them in the birth, and act as a tag-team. A doula brings knowledge of birth, but a support person brings knowledge of you!
Mount Sutro Doula Services 