Why a Doula?
Whether you need a mama, sister, friend, coach, or childbirth education, a doula can provide all of these roles in one. A doula is an integral part of a birthing team, and offers a unique support to mama. They offer a special role to care for, encourage, support, educate and offer comfort measures primarily to the mama, but also to the partner at times. A doula is a joyful servant to a mama and is there to help the mama have the best birthing experience possible.
Doulas have been serving women for thousands of years. It may be one of the oldest professions. Only recently have some of the benefits of this age-old practice been documented.
0%
Decrease in the risk of Cesarean birth0%
Increase in likelihood of spontaneous vaginal birth*0%
Decrease in the use of pain relief medications0
Minute shorter labors on average.0%
Decrease in risk of low 5 minute Apgar score0%
Decrease in risk of dissatisfying birth experience*Best results occurred when a birthing person had continuous labor support from a doula–
someone who was NOT a staff member at the hospital and who was NOT part of their social network.
Meet the Doula
Terri Schelkoph (CD)DONA, HCHD
Through the birth of my own children, I recognized the value of knowing my options, feeling educated in the decisions I was making, and being empowered to start my journey of parenthood. I understood that a new mom can pendulum swing between feeling confident and secure one moment, and self doubting and and insecure the next. I have a passion for being a mama’s biggest cheerleader, encouraging them to be who they were designed to be. As a Mama of Six, my experiences inspired me to educate, serve and encourage other mamas during the beauty and struggle of pregnancy and childbirth. Doula Mama is the name my children picked out, and it is quite fitting 🙂
I love Jesus, my husband Jon, and my children. I am passionate about helping other women have the best pregnancy, labor and delivery as possible. Outside of birth work you can find me with my nose in a good book, drinking copious amounts of coffee, homeschooling my children, enjoying sweet friendships, watching Vikings games with my husband, or serving at my wonderful church.
Additional Certifications and Trainings: Advanced VBAC trained doula through The VBAC link, and a Hypnobabies® Childbirth Hypnosis Doula and am trained in using the tens unit.