As a doula, I am humbled by the opportunity to support your birth. The highlight of my work is watching a woman channel the strength from within as she navigates the birth process. Within my practice, I have ten principles that I uphold whenever I serve a family:

• All mothers deserve to be supported during the labor process. This means that I will encourage you to think carefully about the members of your birth team to ensure they support your birth goals.

• All mothers deserve to be heard as they are developing their birth plan. This means that I will listen to your wants and needs without any bias or judgment.

• All mothers should be informed that birth is a normal and natural process. This means I will remind me of how perfectly your body was designed for childbirth.

• All mothers have the right to choose how and where they give birth. This means I respect your choices whether you give birth at a hospital, birthing center, or in the comfort of your home under the supervision of a midwife.

• All mothers have a right to change their mind about how they give birth. This means I will still honor and support you if you opt to change your birth plan at any point, e.g. choosing to go from non-medicated to medicated or vice versa. I want you to be clear about your birth goals, but also want you to be kind to yourself if your birth plan must change.

• All mothers deserve a birth experience that is uniquely them. This means that I will support you if you have specific requests for the birth process, such as dim lighting.

• All mothers deserve to have their cultural and/or religious customs respected by anyone who is supporting their birth. This means that I will encourage you to share with me, if you feel comfortable, information about any cultural and/or religious customs that may enhance your birth process.

• All mothers deserve to be informed of various topics related to prenatal care, labor, and postpartum care. This means that I will ensure you have access to resources, tools, and literature before and after you give birth so you remain well-informed.

• All mothers deserve to feel confident as they enter this next season in their lives. This means that I will encourage you to feel empowered by the process during our consultations and thereafter. I trust your ability to birth your baby and will ensure you do as well.

• All mothers deserve access to the tools and resources that allow them to perform self-care. This means that I will encourage you to take the actions that will ensure you are physically and emotionally at your best.

Interested in working with Aila Birth Village? Contact me via my contact form or send me an email at hello@ailabirthvillage.com to get started!