What exactly is a Doula?

doula:

a woman experienced in childbirth who provides advice, information, emotional support, and physical comfort to a mother before, during, and just after childbirth

——— Basically a pregnant girl’s best friend/wedding planner for birth!

Research shows that women who have a birth doula are…

• less likely to use pain medication

• less likely to have a cesarean birth

• more likely to rate their childbirth experience positively

• more likely to feel in control during the process

Your doula experience

Prenatal Visit

The first bit of our time together is in a prenatal visit where we get to know one another even better. This is a heart to heart time to tell me everything…your hopes, fears, wishes for birth…we do this together! You describe your ideal birth: what support during labor you’d like from your partner, how I can help your partner be fully involved, likes and dislikes, what you need from me during this journey, birth and pregnancy history, etc. I take detailed notes so that I can be fully prepared to be the doula you need me to be when you’re in the thick of it. I explain how I can assist during labor, give you bunches of helpful local resources, and even guide you in creating a birth “plan”. However, a wise mamma and doula remember to hold “plans” loosely and ride the waves of labor and flow along! In your written birth plan, which can be as detailed as you composing it all yourself or simply checking the boxes of a pre-made birth plan, is expressed everything you want and don’t want while in labor/shortly after birth, and anything you’d like the staff to know at a glance. Through these visits, I hope you leave confident in your ability to birth and that I will support you wherever the waves flow. From hospital to home birth, from cesarean, to high interventions to a totally natural/non-medicated vaginal birth, I am here by your side every step of the way.

During Labor

Its go time! Depend on me to be by your side within 2 hours of your call and fully invest myself into your labor and birth. I follow your lead in this sacred space - speaking when it will encourage you or simply being the calm and quiet support when you need that. Women have given birth for centuries, and YOU too are fully equipped to deliver your baby! YOU are the focus of my attention. My job and joy is to comfort and assist you… and sometimes that means staying up into the late hours helping you find your controlled breath, applying pressure where it aches, using essential oils to invigorate or relax you, meeting each wave of contractions with you… Often, it’s trying out different positions and movements to help baby descend smoothly. You can trust me to be there - for you and your partner. We do this journey together, first step to the end…which is really just the beginning!

POSTPARTUM VISIT

You have a new little baby. :) *happy sighs… You did it and now you’re finally holding your baby in your arms. We will meet at a coffee shop (usually within two weeks of the birth) for our last visit and goodbyes, process the joys and struggles of the birth with you, and of course give you a sweet parting gift. I am so proud of you, Sister! May the Lord bless you in the days to come!

Birth Doula Package

(Payment plans available on an individual basis. Let’s make this work for you! I also accept HSA and FSA cards.

• Free/no-strings-attached consultation

• 1 birth planning visit, reviewing the following: your history and experiences in pregnancy and birth, what to expect from me, what to expect during labor and birth, birth planning outline, explanation of comfort measures/techniques, letter of agreement signing, and anything you’d like to share with me about this exciting steppingstone of life!

• Text support at any time, after hiring me

• Constant, present care within two hours from the time you call me to assist you in labor until about 1 - 2 hours after delivery

• Packet of local area resources to make your transition to parenting outside the womb as smooth as possible! Support is key in all phases of life :)

• 1 Postpartum visit at a coffee shop to give you a gift and process the birth with you (A virtual postpartum visit is an option as well. Should you choose this option, I will mail the gift to you!)

• The joy of knowing that 2% of the doula fee goes to saving babies through PreBorn!’s amazing mission

• Total fee - $1,050 (This includes the $200 non-refundable retainer fee, which is due the date of hire, the remainder of which is due by 30 weeks of pregnancy)