MY SERVICES
BIRTH DOULA: SIGNATURE SERVICE PACKAGE
I have shifted my practice to a very limited number of birth clients so that I can focus more on teaching and training. I highly recommend my wonderful network of doulas at Family First Birth Services.
Before Birth:
Free interview to get to know each other
On call availability, at your service from the time contract is signed.
Local referrals, and recommendations.
Birth preferences consulting.
One prenatal meeting to discuss birth options and preferences.
During Birth:
On call availability 24/7 to discuss signs of labor and provide suggestions for maximum comfort.
My attendance in labor wherever and whenever you need it.
Hands-on comfort measures, encouragement, and coping tools.
Continuous presence through the time of birth and for 1-2 hours afterwards.
Photos (if possible) of treasured moments during baby's arrival.
Qualified backup doula to provide care in the event of an extremely long labor or unexpected circumstances.
After Birth:
Assistance with baby's first feeding.
Postpartum visit to discuss healing, recovery, sleep, feeding, and family life changes.
Phone consulting availability to troubleshoot baby care and general adjusting.
Trusted referral network for after-baby wellness.
BIRTH PREP CLASSES
Available birth prep options include private, in-person meetings, or video consults via Zoom.
Guidebook included with every class! (Virtual classes include a PDF download, and in-person class attendees receive a physical copy)
Class topics covered include: Preparing for Positive Birth, Knowing Your Options, and Comfort Measures
BIRTH COACHING CONSULTS
If you're not sure about needing a doula, and don't have time to schedule a full class series, coaching consults are the perfect way to customize your birth preparation.
Consults are in person or via Zoom, and consist of 90 minutes of personalized training on a subject of your choice.
Our most-requested topics include:
Prep for Positive Birth
- Know Your Options: Common Interventions
- How to Be the Best Birth Partner
- Comfort Measures & Coping Skills
- Postpartum Planning
- All About VBAC
GUIDEBOOK FOR A POSITIVE BIRTH
This guidebook is designed to help you walk through all the questions and what-ifs as you prepare to welcome your baby.
It's way too much to do alone, so together we'll sort through the information, myths, stories, fears, and feelings about birth and parenting so you can prepare with courage and confidence.
WITH U PODCAST
My husband, David, is a marriage & family therapist with a PhD in child & family development. And I've been involved in birth work for 20 years. So with our combined experience and perspective, we focus on real relationships and family life transitions.
In our podcast, we talk about our own family experiences, and we interview others who have had an impact on us.
DOES A DOULA REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
ACOG (The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) published a committee opinion in Feb 2019 titled Approaches to Limit Intervention During Labor and Birth. Their recommendations included the following conclusion: "Evidence suggests that, in addition to regular nursing care, continuous one-to-one emotional support provided by support personnel, such as a doula, is associated with improved outcomes for women in labor. Benefits described in randomized trials include shortened labor, decreased need for analgesia, fewer operative deliveries, and fewer reports of dissatisfaction with the experience of labor."
WILL A DOULA REPLACE MY PARTNER?
Dads or birth partners tend to feel much more confident and satisfied with their coaching role when a doula is present to encourage and guide! In fact, a doula is there to support and assist the partner as well as the laboring mom. Her continuous presence will free up others in the birthing room to take a rest when needed or get a meal. She will offer suggestions for how to help the mom, and will be sensitive to the amount of involvement the birth partner is comfortable with.
Special training can be arranged to equip dads or partners to take a leading role in hands-on comfort measures.
WHAT IF I PLAN ON USING PAIN MEDS?
A common misconception is to think that doulas are only for those who desire an entirely unmedicated birth. The truth is that doulas support your vision for your birth, whatever that looks like for you. All birth scenarios can benefit greatly from the continuous, undivided support of a doula. Even with an epidural, there is need for comfort measures, specialized positioning, and informed decision-making regarding interventions. If labor results in a c-section or any unplanned outcome, a doula's emotional support can make a potentially frightening situation into one that is more positive for all involved.