My Services

So, you're thinking this doula thing sounds pretty good, but you want to know exactly what I would do if you hired me. My services consist of the following (please note that this is the minimum- there may be and often are more than two prenatal visits- it all depends on the desires of the family):

Prenatal Visit #1

This first visit will be a time to really get to know each other, for me to listen to your dreams, fears, questions, and expectations for your birth. This is the best time for us to decide whether we are a good fit, for us to "co-interview" each other. It's very important that we all feel comfortable. I will help you work out a birth plan if that is something you feel is valuable, which can be distributed to the staff at the hospital when we arrive, so they will know your preferences and desires. I can also clear up any questions you may have about what I will be doing, or any other concerns you may have about anything relating to your birth.

Prenatal Visit #2

The second prenatal visit will primarily be an opportunity for us to continue to get to know each other and feel comfortable with one another. If we've worked on a birth plan, we'll now go over the finalized version, making sure we discuss everything in it and what is most important to you so I will be familiar with it once labour begins. We can go over some of the things I might do to help you- everything from relieving pain and getting you comfortable for a nap to shooing out unwanted family members if you suddenly realize that room is just a bit too crowded! And again, most importantly, we can use this time to address any fears or concerns you may have, and for me to answer any questions.

Phone/Email Contact

From the moment you hire me you are free to call and email me whenever you feel the need, and if I am not home or available at the moment you contact me, I will get back to you as soon as I can. When you hire me you also have the benefit of my being on-call from a month before your due date until you go into labour, which means that I will always be available to contact, 24/7, from that time until the birth itself.

Labour and Birth

Once you go into labour, as soon as you feel that you need to you can give me a call and we can discuss when and where you'd like me to meet you. I am happy to be your doula at either a home or hospital birth, and I have experience with both. If you choose a hospital birth I will still come to your home if you wish, to be with you during the earlier stages of labour, before it's necessary to go to the hospital. Or I can meet you at the hospital itself for the labour and birth- it is your choice and will depend on how far labour has progressed when you call and how much you desire my support to begin at that time.

Immediate Postpartum

I will stay with you for at least an hour after the birth to share in the joy of your new baby, and I can answer any questions you may have about anything that happened during the birth. I also respect the need for a new family to be alone together, and I know that no one is as hungry as a woman who has just given birth! I can find some much-needed food for you while you get to know the newest addition to your family. When everyone is ready, I will quietly leave you alone with your new baby.

Postpartum Visit

I will call you, usually 1-2 weeks after the birth, to set up a postpartum visit. This is where we meet and I can admire your baby and share my experience of the birth, filling in any blanks you may have or answering any questions that may have come up. This is a chance both for us to share in what we experienced together, and to say goodbye- at least until your next baby!