What do Birth Sisters do?

• Develop a unique “sister-like” relationship throughout the perinatal period that allows her to impact the mother’s lifestyle choices and the health status of mother and baby.
  
  
• Have prenatal home visits that focus on creating a relationship, identifying needs and providing childbirth and parenting education.
  
  
• Assess whether the mother is lacking essential resources: housing, food, and baby care items. Refer mother to resources, if needed. 
  
  
• Offer physical and emotional comfort, translation and advocacy for the mother during labor.
  
  
• Facilitate communication between the mother and provider which promotes safety and satisfaction during labor and birth.
  
  
• Go to Postpartum home visits and provide assistance in the transition to motherhood, help around the house so that the mother can rest; education on breast feeding, parenting and infant care; and making connections to needed medical and social services.
  
• Play an important role in supporting the positive childbearing traditions of the mother’s culture.