East Hawai’i Doula Services

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What is a DOula?

A doula is a non-medical assistant who provides physical, emotional and informed choice support in prenatal care, during childbirth and during the postpartum period. A birth doula is a continuous care provider for labor in many settings, and can provide support for a mother during transport from home to hospital or birth center. A postpartum doula may begin care in the home (nutritious cooking for the mother, breastfeeding support, newborn care assistance, maternal-child bonding support, errands, light housekeeping) the next day after the birth, providing services through the first six weeks postpartum. In some cases, doula care can last several months or even to a year postpartum – especially in cases when mothers are suffering from postpartum depression, or for families with children with special needs requiring longer care, or in multiple infant homes.

Local Doulas

Laura Acasio @ laura.acasio@gmail.com

  • Birth Doula

  • Postpartum Doula

  • Lactation Counselor

  • Childbirth Educator

Jenny Spangenberg @ lovinghandsdoulaservice@gmail.com

  • Certified Labor Doula

  • Certified Postpartum Doula

  • Certified Lactation Support & Educator

  • Evidence Based Birth Instructor

Katy Benjamin @ Big Island Yoga Therapy

  • Birth Doula

  • Bereavement & Perinatal Loss Doula

  • Postpartum Doula

  • Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT) and pre/post-natal yoga services

Danielle Pacific @ Danielle Pacific

  • Birth Doula

  • Bereavement & Perinatal Loss Doula

  • Death Doula

  • Licensed Massage Therapist

Davina Pastrama @ douladavina@gmail.com

  • Birth Doula

  • Placenta encapsulation

  • Nutritional coaching

  • Traditional Chinese Medicine

Kait Sweeney @ Big Island Birth Doula

  • Birth Doula

  • Licensed Massage Therapist

Crystal Faith @ Crystal Faith Wellness

  • Birth Doula

  • Postpartum Doula

  • Yoga Therapist

Benefits of Doula Care

Countless scientific trials examining doula care demonstrate remarkably improved physical and psychological outcomes for both mother and baby. Doulas have a positive impact on the well-being of the entire family:

  1. Physical Support

Position ideas for comfort and labor progression cross over with hands-on comfort measures like comforting touch, counter pressure, breathing techniques and other “doula magic” for families. A doula’s skilled hands and positioning tools can often help a malpositioned baby find its way through the pelvis and into the birthing parent’s arms.

2. Emotional Support

Doulas help families to feel supported, easing the emotional experience of birth and also helping to create a space where the hormones of labor can work at their best. Whether a birth is completely unmedicated or medically very complex, every family can benefit from nurturing and connection at this tender, incredible time in their lives.

3. Partner Support

Whether it’s a romantic partner, a friend or another family member like the baby’s grandma, the birth partner’s experience matters in birth. Our doulas are there to support every birth partner in being as involved as they’d like with the birth. Physical and emotional support make a huge difference for everyone involved.

4. Evidence-Based Information and Advocacy

Doulas are trained to help families connect with evidence-based resources so they can ask great questions and make informed decisions about their births. Doulas serve as a bridge of communication between women and their providers, lifting them up to help them find their voices and advocate for the very best care.