**About DONA International: The world’s premier doula organization.
the oldest, largest and most respected doula association in the world. Our founders are among the foremost experts on doula care, and DONA International certification is a widely respected measure of quality and professionalism. We are an international, non-profit organization of doulas that strives to have every doula trained / educated to provide the highest quality / standards for birth and/or postpartum support to birthing women and their families. To that end, we promote continuing education for doulas and provide a strong communication link among doulas and between doulas, families and the medical birthing community.
We are an amazing community with a shared passion for families that reaches around the world. DONA International doulas and the families they serve are in more than 20 countries.
**According to Birth Arts International the use of a postpartum doula for mothers can:
• Increase chance of breastfeeding successfully
• Increase earlier bonding with mother and the whole family unit
• Lessen chance of infant dehydration and hospitalization with health difficulties due to educated care
• Reduce amount of maternal postpartum depression, shorten duration and assist mother with coping if depression does occur
• Lessen maternal exhaustion, frustration, trepidation and anxiety during early weeks
• Reduce unnecessary calls to pediatricians
• Help partner get back to work sooner with less anxiety
• Increase understanding of newborn emotional and physical needs and behavior
• Offer more care choices and tools for dealing with relations and others
