What is a birth doula?

It can be hard to answer this question accurately because a good doula transforms herself into exactly what an expecting parent needs, and that will be a little different for everyone. A very basic description is that a doula is a skilled professional trained to provide you with education during pregnancy and continuous mental, physical, and emotional support during labor. In the weeks after the baby is born a birth doula will still check in and make sure you’re coping well with your new role, answer questions, and connect you with resources in the community if necessary, like lactation consultants and therapists.

What is a postpartum doula?

Postpartum support is absolutely abysmal in the United States. In other countries, new parents are surrounded by loving friends, family members, and neighbors who are committed to taking care of them for at least a few weeks after a baby is born. That support very rarely exists in our busy culture. Even if you’re lucky enough to have family and friends who WANT to take care of you, it may be difficult or impossible because of distance or work schedules. That’s where I come in! A postpartum doula “mothers the mother” and enables her to focus all of her attention on her baby and on healing. Light cleaning, childcare, preparing snacks and meals, running local errands, keeping a watchful eye on baby so mama can get a nap and a shower, and lending a compassionate and empathetic ear to help you work through those intense postpartum emotions are just some of the many things a postpartum doula can offer to families. 

What’s the difference between a doula and a midwife?

Midwives have medical training and they’re responsible for getting you and your baby through labor safely.  Doulas do not do anything medical.  Our whole focus is how you FEEL during labor.  The emotional well-being and physical comfort of you and even your partner is our sole responsibility.

What services do you provide?

Please click here for a full list of my offerings. 

Do you only attend home births?

No! I attend both home and hospital births and have no particular preference either way.  I am happy to support you wherever you feel most comfortable.  

I’m having an unassisted birth, will you still be my doula?

No. Unfortunately this carries too much liability. I believe you have the right to birth however and wherever you desire, but because of the increased risks associated with freebirthing I choose not to compromise my certification or put myself in a position where I may have to act outside of my scope of practice as a doula.

If I hire you to be my doula, will you be disappointed in me if I decide to get an epidural?

Absolutely not! If I do my job correctly, it will be clear from the beginning that I have NO personal agenda for YOUR birth. It’s my goal to educate you on the pros and cons of all the options available to you, including an epidural. If, after learning about the potential benefits and possible side effects of an epidural you decide that it’s the best option for you, I wholeheartedly support your decision!

 Do I still need a doula if I PLAN on getting an epidural?

Yes! A doula can still bring a lot of value to the birth room even for families who decide ahead of time that an epidural is right for them. In some instances, an epidural might not be available to you as soon as you desire one. It can take at least 30 minutes (often longer) from the time you ask for an epidural to the time you actually receive one. Also, as much as we’d all like to hope that they will be, epidurals aren’t always 100% effective. For this reason and many others, it can still be immensely beneficial to have a doula by your side, continuing to help you cope with contractions, comfort you, reassure your partner, and suggest helpful positions and techniques to keep labor moving along even with pain relief on board. 

Can I interview you before deciding if I want to move forward with your services?

Absolutely, and I highly recommend that you do!   It’s important that you feel comfortable with me and that our respective values align.  I offer free virtual consultations where I will happily answer all of your questions so that you can get to know me better and get a feel for my personality as well as what I can offer you.