Taking Root Birth & Wellness
Supporting Birthers and Families through Pregnancy, Birth, and Postpartum
My name is Dillon Harvey-Williams and I am a Labor and Postpartum Doula as well as a Placenta Specialist. I provide physical and emotional support, empowerment, and information to nurture families through birth and into those first sweet days. I offer services to birthing people and families across Northeast Arkansas and look forward to supporting you through your pregnancy, during labor and after childbirth.
click here to read client testimonials!
What is a Doula?
A doula is a professional labor and/or postpartum support person. In essence, the role of a doula is to mother the mother/birther, to care for them in whatever non-medical way they need to help ensure they feels safe, heard, and empowered in their birthing experience. This can be in the form of verbal reassurance, counter pressure or massage, information on options/interventions, continuous presence, help with position changes, advocating for the mother's wishes, emotional support, helping the partner be more involved, and so much more. Labor doulas help educate and prepare you for childbirth, help you feel confident and comfortable with your changing body, and teach you comfort measures and techniques for a smoother labor. Postpartum doulas help with the new baby transition by being a resource for evidence based information about newborn care, breastfeeding, nutrition, and self care, as well as assisting with cleaning, cooking, errands, or anything that will help ease the transition and make the home as stress-free as possible. Research has shown that doulas greatly improve birth outcomes in the following ways:
- 25% decrease in the risk of Cesarean
- 8% increase in the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth
- 10% decrease in the use of any medications for pain relief
- Shorter labors by 41 minutes on average
- 38% decrease in the baby’s risk of a low five minute Apgar score
- 31% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience
LABOR SUPPORT
Includes:
2-4 in person prenatal visits, depending on your preference/needs.
Access to free lending library of pregnancy books, information & resources
Unlimited text/call support during pregnancy
24 hour on-call availability starting at 37 weeks
Continuous labor/birth support
Can take pictures of your labor & birth if desired
Two postpartum visits
25% discount on Postpartum Packages and placenta services!
For more information click here
POSTPARTUM SUPPORT
Includes:
2-5 hour sessions of:
Light Housekeeping
Sibling Care
Infant Care
Pet Care
Running Errands
Preparing small/simple meals (ie. crockpot, microwave, etc)
Breastfeeding Support
Emotional Support
Information & Resources
Available by the hour or as a 20 hour, 40 hour, & 60 hour package
For more information click here
PLACENTA ENCAPSULATION/PRINTS/KEEPSAKES
Includes:
Your very own dried, encapsulated placenta supplements, placenta art, and/or cord keepsake
I will come to your place of birth to pick up placenta
I can process it in your home if you'd like for an extra fee
Typical yield is 80-200 capsules
For more information click here
History of Doulas
An Ancient Tradition of Support
The word doula means "woman's servant" in Ancient Greek and indeed doulas have been supporting birthing people since ancient times. Before obstetrics became a profession, birthing people were attended by skilled midwives and typically female family members and friends who acted as doulas, ensuring that the birther's non-medical needs were met. With the rise of medicalized hospital births in the last century, this ancient knowledge was lost until around the 1970s when the role of doula rose again. Today, thousands of birthers and their partners are able to receive the continuous support and reassurance that they need during one of life's most transformative experiences.