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Who is a Doula Due to hormonal changes and gravitational forces pregnant women often develop specific subluxation and postural patterns. Research shows that correct alignment of the pelvis and spine contributes to a more straightforward labor with less pain and trauma for mother and child.  Who is a Doula Doulas are reliable, trustworthy The Doula’s responsibilities include providing emotional and physical support to the mother, educating her on techniques that increase comfort, and patiently answering questions and addressing concerns. Your Doula should be a good active listener and someone who can provide advice without being squeamish or overly sensitive. A successful Doula, has a natural ability to nurture and guide, are patient, forthcoming, and able to provide practical advice as well as kind words of support. Your Doula Responsibilities include: *Providing the mother with emotional, physical, moral, and educational support, especially during times when the father and other close relatives are unavailable. *Listening to the concerns and questions of the mother in a kind, non-judgemental way and offering the best possible advice. *Attending prenatal meetings to get to know the mother and establish her birth preferences and other requirements. *Remaining with the mother throughout labor and providing physical and emotional support during and after childbirth. *Visiting the home of the mother once she has been discharged and assisting with the care of the baby while the mother heals. *Providing practical support and advice to the mother after childbirth, like organizing the nursery, running errands, and assisting with breastfeeding and meal preparation. *Keeping up to date on childbirth support, birthing techniques, and pre and post-natal care by conducting research, networking with other Doulas and mothers, and attending workshops and lectures. *Assisting in whatever way possible to make the transition to motherhood easier. To be a Doula, the requirements are : Extensive childbirth experience. Relevant certification might be required. A calming and nurturing presence. The ability to answer questions and provide guidance in a non-judgemental way. A wealth of knowledge on childbirth and pre and post-natal care. The ability to remain calm, multitask and provide emotional support. Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills. What could happen to your body with pregnancy that a chiropractor Doula would be interested in: *Subluxations ( loose joints ) are the result of physical and emotional stress that build up in the neck, back and shoulders in the form of muscle tension. Prolonged muscle tension leads to irritation of the nerves that supply those muscles which causes more muscle spasm beginning a vicious cycle. Most women endure their entire pregnancy under the constant adverse affects of stress, without ever knowing there is any other way!! There is one particular subluxation pattern seen in pregnant women as the mother tends to carry her head, drooping shoulders and her whole upper body forward, decreasing the curve in her lower back. This results in the head, neck and shoulder and back pain. While not as commonplace as other patterns, according to Dr. McCullen in her paper, spinal stabilisation “This type of subluxation loose joint pattern has more severe long term consequences as the patient will be prone to protracted (long) labor, intense back pain during her labor and disordered uterine action (contractions that are inconsistent)” Spinal adjustments relieve the tension allowing the nervous system to regulate, providing more balance and energy to the mother. Chiropractors can ensure that your spine is properly aligned and subluxation-free, and regular visits while you are pregnant will diminish the chance of complications during labor.