WHAT’S A DOULA?

The word “doula” comes from the ancient Greek meaning “a woman who serves” and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the mother before, during, and just after birth; or who provides education, emotional, and practical support during the postpartum period.

Studies have shown that when doulas attend births, labors are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier, and they breastfeed more easily.

An infographic highlighting the importance of expert care in labor, emphasizing support from nurses, managing technology, and record-keeping. It notes women's expectations for support and suggests a partner or doula if nurses cannot provide ongoing contraction support.
Infographic titled 'Who Says Three's a Crowd? Bring the Labor Support You'll Need!' compares how a partner and doula can help during labor. The partner's roles include providing comfort, communicating needs, relaxing, and understanding the birth plan. The doula's roles include resource for prenatal and postpartum periods, helping find comfortable positions, providing support for breastfeeding, suggesting pain relief techniques, informing about labor, answering questions, giving tips to reduce stress, and supporting the mother during labor.

Numerous Clinical Studies have found 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

Research shows 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

Infographic showing statistics related to pregnancy, including a 12% increase in spontaneous vaginal births, 9% drop in pain medication use, 31% drop in Pitocin use, 28% fewer cesareans, 34% fewer negative birth experiences, higher APGAR scores, increased breastfeeding, and 40 minutes shorter labor, with illustrations of a baby, medication syringe, Pitocin bottle, cesarean incision, a woman meditating, and a clock.

Let’s talk about your birth plan and get to know each other over a complimentary consultation

My services include myself and a backup skilled doula if I become unexpectedly unavailable. I offer ONE in person meet & greet in the comfort of your home to go over your birth plan and support your preparation for baby. You will have unlimited active labor support, as well as phone support during early labor and in home support in the late phase of early labor as you prep to move to the location you are birthing. I also offer one immediate postpartum in home meeting after baby is born to support your transition home.

Any additional postpartum support would be a separate contract and it would be a self-pay contract. Please let us know if you want more information about additional postpartum support, which is done in 4 hour daytime sessions.

Birth Doula Investment: Starting at $1,000.

*If you have an FSA/HSA, I can provide an invoice for reimbursement

A smiling woman with light brown, shoulder-length hair, wearing a sleeveless, mauve-colored athletic top, sitting against a plain white wall.
Infographic titled 'Lowering Cesarean Rates: The Doula Difference' listing ways a professional doula can help lower cesarean risks, including supporting provider and birth location choices, creating a supportive environment, providing labor support, reducing medication needs, encouraging proper birth positioning, and advocating for the best care. The DONA International logo is at the bottom.

Prenatal Care

The below is a list of suggestions and links to classes as well as what is included in my offerings

  • Birth plan counseling for an easier, more fluid birthing experience

  • Helping you to have the most satisfying birth possible, as YOU define it

  • Training in visualization and relaxation techniques

  • Suggestions for a more comfortable pregnancy and birth with body balancing exercises

  • Providing educational materials and referrals

  • Phone/text support and non-medical advice throughout pregnancy and immediate postpartum

  • Childbirth education, breastfeeding and other prep classes (Link to recommended in Hopkins and S. Mpls)

Labor and Birth

  • 24/7 on-call support from 37 weeks until birth *after 10pm only in emergency or if you believe labor has started

  • Advocacy: learn the right questions to ask to make informed decisions about the care plan

  • Massage, comforting touch, and other alternative pain relief measures during labor

  • Continuous support throughout labor and birth and immediate postpartum

  • Labor and birth positioning suggestions for comfort and labor progress

  • Providing an environment such that the partner is able to focus on the birth experience and can direct their attention to loving and supporting the birthing mother

  • Assisting the partner and family members as needed

  • Guaranteed backup doulas

Postpartum Care

  • Next day phone check in

  • Additional wellness visit within the first two weeks after the birth

  • Postpartum check-ins via text/phone up to 6 weeks after birth

A BIRTH DOULA DOES NOT...

  • Perform clinical tasks, such as fetal heart tone checks or vaginal exams

    • The Doula is not there for medical reasons, other than to provide support

  • Make decisions for you

    • The Doula will help get the information necessary for parents to make an informed decision; the one that is right for you

  • Speak to the medical staff instead of the parents regarding matters where decisions are being made

    • The Doula will discuss your concerns with you and the staff and suggest options, but you or your partner will ultimately speak on your behalf to the medical staff about your decisions

  • Replace the partner during labor

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