BIRTH DOULA SERVICE
The way you give birth matters. Ina May Gaskin, an American midwife, says it best:
“ Whenever and however you intend to give birth, your experience will impact your emotions, your mind, your body and your spirit for the rest of your life.”
Empirical research indicates that the support of a doula increases your opportunity for better birth outcomes and a positive birth experience. You are less likely to need medical interventions such as pain medication, an epidural, or a cesarean section. Birthing safer and happier, you are more likely to birth the way you want in a way that you will remember.
As your doula, I provide support throughout pregnancy, labor, birth, and immediately postpartum. I serve as a complement to your existing birth team, whether it be your partner, family or friends. I aim to bridge gaps in communication and ease the transition from pregnancy to birth. My goal is to help you have a safe, memorable, positive, and empowering birth experience.
I do this through five areas of support: emotional, physical, educational, spiritual, and interpersonal. Each area of support is tailored to meet your needs and those of your family. Every individual is unique; my support is adaptable to what works best for you.
The Birth Service provides a total of five visits, including continuous support throughout labor and delivery.
The initial consult is a time for me to answer questions you may have about my services as well as allow us the opportunity to get to know each other. More than a simple interview, but a glimpse into how we may work together through your journey to parenthood. You deserve to feel comfortable with every person on your birth team, and I encourage potential clients to not settle for less.
Upon contract signing, we schedule a time to meet at your home to go over helpful information and skills for your upcoming birth. This includes developing a Birth Vision, pain relief methods, concerns you may have, and preparing your postpartum plans.
Your next prenatal visit can include: helping you set up a nursery, cooking prep, attending a prenatal appointment with your care provider, or connecting you with additional resources like local childbirth education classes.
The day of your labor and birth I provide you continuous support. I typically meet families at the facility they are going to be birthing at, whether it be hospital, birth center, or home once their labor has progressed to contractions at 10 minutes apart. Once I am with you, I am there through the entire labor and birth until 1 to 2 hours postpartum.
My final visit as your Birth Doula is an in person postpartum visit within the first 3 days after birth. This can take place at home or even at the hospital in the event of an extended stay. We check in and see how you are feeling, address any concerns, and make sure you are set up with the resources to guide you through the first few weeks with your newborn.
Included with the service is unlimited contact via cellphone, email, or text during business hours (8 AM - to 8PM).
Below are some options of additional birth support:
In home (early) labor support when your contractions are still 15 to 20 minutes apart to help you use your pain relief methods prior to leaving for your birth location or arrival of midwife. I, among many birth professionals, encourage you to wait to go to your birth location until contractions are five minutes apart depending on the distance you need to travel. This is to help reduce your chances of medical interventions. Early labor can be challenging, and you may prefer having your doula there sooner rather than later.
Any supplementary prenatal visits if you wanted me to accompany you to another prenatal appointment or help your “nesting” before baby arrives.
Any further postpartum visits within the first week. However, if you find you might like more than one additional postpartum visit; I would encourage you to check out my Postpartum Doula Services.