Services

What is a Birth Doula?

Unsure what doulas do? Did you know there are several kinds of doulas? In addition to Birth Doulas, there are Postpartum doulas and End-of-Life doulas. All doulas perform their roles in the same way - by focusing on the physical and emotional needs of their clients with customized care and compassion. Birth doulas guide birthing people through the labor and delivery process in a number of ways before, during, and after the birth. 

• Doula support starts before baby’s birth: Well before the delivery date, a doula will consult with you on a birth plan. Now more than ever, you have multiple choices about where to have your baby: in a hospital, a birth center, or in the comfort of your home.  You may want to have as natural a birth as possible, or you may be open to many medical interventions as part of your care. You and your doula can go over procedures (c-section, etc…) that could occur so you are well prepared for any outcome and confident in making decisions.

• Doulas are hands-on throughout your labor: Doulas provide a physical presence if you need someone to lean on or into. They may help move you into a more comfortable position, and coaching on breathing tips to ease your labor pains. Doulas help remind the birthing person of the goals of their birth plan while providing non-judgemental advice if the plan needs to be adjusted. 

• Doulas provide support for the birth support person, as well: During the labor and delivery process, doulas assist in non-medical ways while the doctors and nurses do their work. Your doula is highly in-tune with you and may often anticipate your needs, helping ease nerves and discomfort. Knowing the medical team and doula are doing everything to ensure a safe and comfortable birth gives your partner the ability to focus 100% on supporting you. 

• Support continues even after the baby’s arrival: After your baby is delivered, the doula will help you and the baby with the first successful latch for breast/chestfeeding. Your doula will continue to coach on positions for comfort while feeding and sleeping. Even after the birth, you will get an in-home visit to see how you are recovering and how your baby is thriving.

Standard birth doula services include:

• Initial consultation

• Two (or more, depending on length of pregnancy) visits to outline a birth preference plan and discuss any other questions you have

• On-call starting at 38 weeks of your pregnancy

• Available for texts, emails, and phone calls

• Physical support during your birth at hospital, home or birthing center

• A postpartum visit about 1-2 weeks after returning home (for hospital birth) or 1-2 weeks after baby is born (for home birth)

• Local and evidence-based resources tailored for your family

$1,200

What is a Bereavement Doula?

As a bereavement doula (also called a grief or loss doula) I provide emotional, physical, and informational support to people and families experiencing the loss of a pregnancy (for any reason, at any time during a pregnancy), or infant. My role during this experience is similar to a birth. But I specialize in supporting families through grief and mourning.

Emotional Support

• • Hold space for grief and listen without judgement.

  • Help families navigate the complexities of labor and birth in a hospital setting.

  • Provide support during medical procedures.

  • Offer comfort through presence, reassurance, validation of feelings.

Physical Support

• • Assist with immediate postpartum care, if necessary. 

  • Provide physical comfort measures (helping with natural pain management, self care reminders).

  • Offer support to partners and other family members. 

Informational Support 

• • Explain medical procedures and options during labor and delivery during pregnancy loss.

  • Guide families through funeral or memorial planning.

  • Provide resources for grief counseling, support groups, mental health services for pregnant person and family members.

Advocacy

• • Help communicate with healthcare providers and advocate for client's wishes.

  • Empower pregnant people and their support people to make decisions (even if it means asking for more time), especially in high-stress medical situations.

Long-Term Support

• Follow up with individuals and families after the loss for continued care. 

• Offer guidance about lactation procedures and milk bank donation if the birthing person chooses.

• Help honor the memory of the baby if desired.

• Offer support during milestones like anniversaries, due dates and/or holidays.

These services are offered on donation basis. 

Lamaze certified classes coming soon!

Benefits of Birth Education

• Gives you confidence: You have researched your pregnancy from A to Z and are overwhelmed. Taking a class or consulting with a childbirth expert can help build confidence in your body’s ability to give birth. I am trained to provide birth education and resources to empower you to make the best decisions for your birth.

• Your partner will learn how to support you: You feel a deep connection with your partner, and they want to learn about the childbirth process with you. Once they do, they can support you on the big day with more awareness of how to make you comfortable and confident that they are helping meet your needs.  

• Know how to manage labor: Learn about comfort techniques including massage, guided meditation, breathing, and a variety of body positions to reduce discomfort, and medical pain relief options.

• Saves valuable time with more informed choices: Birth education makes you more critical of all your options and helps you narrow them down. Getting evidence-based information makes you feel good about your decisions. Knowing they are rooted in quality health and medical care saves you time so you can focus on yourself and your relationships. 

Are you anxious about caring for your newborn? Are you wondering what steps to take to make breast/chestfeeding successful? 

We are devoted to creating a supportive environment where you have the best training to make nursing a breeze. I can counsel you on the following topics:

• Newborn positioning

• Correct latching

• Feeding schedules

• Milk supply

• Pump supplies and options

• Pumping routines

• Milk storage

• Nutrition and chest skin care

• Chest pain, blockages or infections

Contact me for details. If you are having trouble with breastfeeding, let's schedule an in-home meeting.