Full Service Birth Doula Services

I love serving families as they prepare to welcome a new baby into their lives.  As your birth doula you can expect the following services from me.

• An average of 2 prenatal visits, more if necessary

Our visits will be a time for us to get to know one another. During our visits I will ask you to share with me your goals for birth. We will prepare a birth plan and a postpartum plan. I will answer your questions about labor, birth and the postpartum period, as well as any questions about caring for your new baby. I will provide you with basic childbirth preparation and guide you to the latest in evidence based information allowing you to be more knowledgeable so you can make informed decisions about your maternity care, labor, birth, postpartum healing and newborn procedures.  If you're interested we can also venture into some belly mapping!   I warn you though that I've just begun offering this service and my artwork isn't the best (but I'm learning and have made huge improvements!)!

I have numerous handouts that will be available to you with all kinds of information suited to your individual situation, complete with a folder to put it all in. I will help you develop a birth plan to have available for your birth team to know your wishes. I can also help you prepare as a family to welcome your new little addition, answering questions about cloth diapering, baby wearing, breastfeeding, etc.

I prefer the baby’s father be involved in at least one prenatal meeting so we can meet and I can answer any questions he may have about my role in the birth of his baby or about childbirth in general. Your husband knows you better than anyone and I understand the fundamentals of birth, so together we make a great team. I want to help both of you feel prepared for this new stage in your lives.

• 24/7 On Call Availability

I am always available to answer your questions. At our signing I give you a magnet with four phone numbers to reach me at. As I also have my cell phone with me when I'm on call you will probably never need to call the other three numbers. I provide them to you just in case. These numbers are my home number, husband's cell number, and my back-up doula's number.

• Continuous emotional and physical support throughout labor, birth, and postpartum for up to 2 hours after birth.

Studies have found many benefits of having continuous support from a birth doula, trained and experienced in childbirth. A doula is not there to replace the baby’s father, rather to help him to support you. As your birth doula I help prepare you prenatally, protect your space for you to birth, encourage your husband to participate at his comfort level, provide physical and emotional encouragement and encourage communication with your birthing team by providing you with information and confidence to be an advocate for your personalized birth plan. I can also assist with the initiation of breastfeeding.

• Access to my lending library

I have an extensive collection of books to choose from; all the current favorites! You receive a list of what I have available to you at our preliminary meeting in your folder.

• 1-2 Postpartum home visits, depending on mother's wishes

At the first visit we will talk about your birth experience, trouble-shoot breastfeeding basics as necessary and discuss how you are adjusting as a family. You may have concerns about umbilical care and/or newborn basics. I do my best to help you however you need. I also provide you with a batch of homemade lactation cookies, and the recipe, to help encourage good nutrition and an abundant milk supply.

At our second visit, we discuss anything you wish; diapering (cloth or disposal), babywearing, childcare basics, sleeping questions, etc. This meeting is completely open to anything you need to talk about or have questions about.