The prospect of giving birth can be a scary thing for first-time expectant mothers.

There are so many changes and so many questions that go along with being pregnant that having a support group of women who have experienced it would be ideal to quell those fears.

However in today’s world, often times having a baby is treated like a routine procedure, not a sacred experience, and support is based on the availability of medical practitioners and loved ones.

Rosary Perez, a first-time mother of newborn Emma, found herself in this position when she was pregnant. New to Toronto from New Orleans and with her family living in her native Honduras, at seven months along, her fears and questions were mounting.

“I felt at a loss, knowing no one and having no support system,” she said. “In Latin America you’re surrounded by family, your mother, your aunts and sisters, and I didn’t have any of that here so I felt like I needed somebody who could help me with things like labour and expectations.”

She was put her in contact with certified birth doula, Kelly Maslen. Also a registered holistic nutritionist and personal chef, Maslen combines her skills to help mothers and their families before and after the baby is born, providing them with tools to live the healthiest life possible.

Different than a midwife, doulas aren’t medically trained but are present before, during and after the baby is born.

“A doula is purely a caregiver, a woman who is there for the mother on a consistent basis,” Maslen said.

While each woman has unique needs, the common denominator for a doula is to create a positive birth experience and to give support and information about childbirth, for example, by showing them helpful massage, birthing positions and nutritional tips for optimum health.

Besides the labour pain, Maslen said a common fear for women is not knowing what or how much to eat, or what exercises are okay for them to do.

“It’s about getting psychologically, emotionally and nutritionally prepared so they feel confident and healthy and prepared to give birth,” Maslen said.

Getting a little depressed towards the end of her pregnancy, Perez said she was experiencing fear and anxiety about what to expect. Maslen said one of the reasons she became doula was because of the realization that women are under-educated about child birth and scared of the unknown.

“It really helped me manage my anxieties,” Perez said. “As it is, I’m an anxious person and being alone here, being that is was a first-time pregnancy, it really helped me feel like I had a little bit more control because I had realistic expectations.”

Maslen meets with the expectant parents and discusses their expectations and fears and answers any questions they may have. Then, they formulate a birthing plan so moms can be as prepared as possible, giving them peace of mind, so they can focus on a healthy pregnancy and giving birth.

Perez said after her initial visit, Maslen was a helpful, constant support because she was available to her 24 hours a day.

“There were things that were happening and when I called my health care provider they didn’t call me back…it was Kelly who returned the call immediately and it really helped me at that point,” Perez said.

Doulas are also present in the delivery room, working along side medical professionals, but thirty years ago, Maslen said doulas were turned out of hospitals. Today there’s a resurgence of interest because women are more informed and want to make healthy choices, and for the most part, doctors are okay with a doula’s presence.

“There’s an interesting balance between doctors that love us and feel we’re absolutely necessary and then some doctors aren’t and don’t understand what we do or why we’re there,” Maslen said.

Perez said she found it helpful and comforting to have both available in the delivery room. She said women generally bond with others, especially during something like pregnancy and childbirth, so this bond she formed with Maslen was invaluable.

“It was important for me to have somebody I already knew, that I had spoken with and bonded to before the experience because everybody else there was more or less a complete stranger,” Perez said.

Maslen said being there for the partner is also important. Often times, guys are freaked out and don’t know what to do, for example, if their partner is in labour for 24 hours.

“We educate the dads and tell them how they can help, physically as well with massage and support… so we assist them, we don’t interfere but we help coordinate them so they become closer and help each other,” Maslen said.

Having a child is one of the most life-changing moments in a person’s life and Maslen said she hopes that her services help to bring the celebration and personal aspect back to being pregnant and giving birth.

Perez said Maslen was a great support for her, and now a friend, would recommend having a doula to anyone.