• By the 25th day, your baby's heart began to beat.
• By the 10th -12th week, you could hear it on a doppler monitor.
• At birth everyone listened for it . . . and now you are heart to heart, listening to each other's heartsounds.

Many experts say babies need the first three months of life, "the fourth trimester," to give their brain and central nervous system time to mature.  (Karp) In addition, our 21st century culture frequently cannot effectively support the emotional, psychological, physical and social needs of the new mother during this time.  Doulas help families regain what has been lost so that mom and baby flourish.