Having a doula at your birth greatly reduces your risk of having unnecessary medical interventions.

Numerous clinical studies indicate that a doula's presence at birth:

• tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications

• reduces negative feelings about one’s childbirth experience

• reduces the need for pitocin (a labor-inducing drug), forceps or vacuum extraction and cesareans

• reduces the mother’s request for pain medication and/or epidurals

From: DONA International

Research shows that parents who receive support can:

• Feel more secure and cared for

• Are more successful in adapting to new family dynamics

• Have greater success with breastfeeding

• Have greater self-confidence

• Have less postpartum depression

• Have lower incidence of abuse

From: DONA International

Doula as LABOR COACH

Birth doulas offer information to a birther so that they are confident to make their own decisions and to speak for themself. 

Birth doulas help birthers communicate their wishes to their caregivers.

SUPPORT may include

Ideal birth drawings
Writing a birth plan
Practicing labor positions
Timing labor contractions
Doing yoga together
Relaxation
Visualization
Acupressure

Continuous support from an experienced labor companion can be dramatically beneficial.

Birth doulas provide physical, emotional, and informational support before, during, and after the birth. Doulas give a level of support different from that of a person who is immediately related to the person in labor. When an experienced doula joins a birther's support team, the birther ( and the partner, if applicable) often feels relieved. This feeling of relief enables partners (if applicable) to be much more relaxed, loving, and emotionally available than when they bear the burden of responsibility alone. A doula can guide and reassure the birther while the partner shares a connection to the birther that soothes them emotionally. These two kinds of support complement each other. All the while, the doula is supporting the birther or couple as they are born into their new family and nee roles as parents. 

Birth Doula Services Offered:

We will start with a free consultation to decide if I am the right doula for you. If we decide to move forward working together, I will meet with you (and your partner if you have one) to become comfortable with each other and to discuss your priorities, concerns, and questions about childbirth. We will design a birth plan together so we have a clear idea of how you would like to be supported during labor, birth, and your first hours with your baby. We'll talk about techniques for comfort, relaxation and how you foresee your birth supporters being involved. If there are times I might be unavailable for labor support, I will arrange for you to meet with my back-up doula. Depending upon your unique support plan, we may have more prenatal meetings. We will remain in touch by telephone for any questions, new ideas, or emotional support. When you think you are in labor, call me; I will make suggestions and give you support over the phone until we decide it is the right time for me to join you in person. I will support you and your partner, if you have one, in the ways we discussed in our prenatal visits. If there is a need to adjust your birth plan for medical reasons, I will help you make informed decisions. I will be with you throughout labor and birth; I will leave about one to two hours after birth when we feel it is the appropriate time. A week or so after birth, we will get together to celebrate, discuss our memories of your birth, and get feedback from you about my role as your doula. Depending on your unique support plan we might have more postnatal meetings arranged.

My Birth Doula Fee:

We will decide this together during the consultation (dependent upon your specific support plan)

1. The retainer fee is due by mail with signed contract prior to first prenatal visit

2. The remaining balance is due 4-6 weeks before your EDD

Support Plan Outline:

• One Prenatal visit

• Phone support 9am-8pm

• On-call 24/7 during early labor

• Continuous labor and delivery support

• Thoughtful photography

• Support for up to 1-2 hours after birth

• Breastfeeding support

• One Postnatal visit

Additional Support Options:

• Additional prenatal visits

• Prenatal birth place visit

• Visit with your caregiver

• Prenatal exercise/yoga

• Additional postnatal visits

• Postnatal exercise/yoga

• Lesson in infant massage

• Reiki pre/postnatal

Depending on your specific needs, we can add some of these options to your doula care plan at an hourly rate.