Pittsburgh Doula Service   HOME /  BENEFITS OF A DOULA  /  OUR DOULAS  /  OUR SERVICES  /  EDUCATION  /   Contact "Heart & Hands" 724.327.6063
Pittsburgh Doula

SAVE THE DATE
March 28, 2009 featuring
“A Day with Ina May Gaskin”

Pittsburg Doula
Founder & Coordinator
Jan S. Mallak 2LAS, ICCE-CD,
CD-PCD(DONA), CPD(CAPPA)
724-327-6063

"Doula" comes from the Greek word for the female servant in ancient times who assisted the lady of the household through her childbearing and beyond.
Today, it refers to "a woman experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the mother before, during and after childbirth" (The Doula Book by Klaus, Kennell & Klaus). The doula movement is simply bringing back the age old custom of women being in service to other women.

"Heart & Hands” Doula Service is the oldest and largest doula service in western PA. We are also the only group to offer 3 kinds of doulas, different levels of doulas, a variety of educational classes and other birth related services (such as a Professional Advisory Board, Belly Casting, Blessing Way Consulting). Our 16 Pittsburgh doulas provide support to area women and their families before, during and after the birth.


Some important facts about our doulas


They are all trained by Jan Mallak, a DONA and CAPPA approved doula trainer

They all continue their education by attending annual in-services and conferences

They all maintain their professional memberships

They all abide by their code of ethics and standards of practice


9 doulas are both birth and pp doulas, 4 are solely
   birth doulas and 3 are solely pp doulas

4 of our doulas are Certified Childbirth Educators

3 of our doulas are La Leche League Leaders

2 of our doulas are Registered Nurses

2 of our doulas are the only Certified Postpartum Doulas in W PA

Their ages span 3 decades


They are all married (to wonderfully supportive husbands!)

Active doulas have given birth and have breastfed

The number of children they have collectively is 44

2 of our doulas are grandmothers with a total of 11 grandchildren for the group

Their combined years of experience in the baby business is over 135 years!