20. What to Know About Childbirth Support from Doulas with Terria Saunders

A Doula is a trained and experienced professional who provides emotional, physical, and informational support to individuals and their families during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. The word "Doula" comes from ancient Greek, meaning "a woman who serves."In this episode of Our Womanity, Dr. Rachel Pope is joined by Terria Saunders, a Perinatal Doula, founder of Beauty N Birthing and Mommy Meet Up. Terria is a wife and mother of four children two of which are a set of twins! She enjoys laughter, drives, cozy clothes, and supporting women through their motherhood journeys. Terria’s goal is for every mother to go into motherhood with as much education as possible regarding birth, and support during the process and after. She believes that “no mom should walk this journey alone.” Terria discusses the crucial role doulas play in prenatal care, including emotional support, education, and advocacy for mothers. She highlights the importance of building a strong rapport and trust between the doula, health care provider, and the expecting mother.Featured in this episode: What is a Doula? The benefits of having a doula during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. How a Doula differs from a midwife or other healthcare providers. The different roles Doulas play in the childbirth journey. How doulas can help mothers navigate medical interventions and communicate their preferences to healthcare providers.It's important to note that doulas do not provide medical care or perform clinical tasks like checking vital signs or delivering babies. Instead, they complement the care provided by healthcare professionals, such as obstetricians, midwives, and nurses, by focusing on the emotional and non-medical aspects of childbirth.If you enjoyed this episode of Womanity, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review. Your feedback helps us continue to bring you engaging and empowering content.Want more from Our Womanity?Submit your questions on anything and everything women's health-related and we will answer them in one of our episodes.