services

Services

Free Consultation

I offer a consultation, free of charge, to any woman or family wishing to meet me and hear about my services. I love getting to meet new families, and I believe it's a necessary part of choosing a doula. You need to make sure I'm a good fit for what your family desires!

Phone & Email Support

After you hire me as your doula, I'm just a quick phone call/text/email away. While I am not your primary care provider, and I may redirect you to your provider if your question is out of my scope, I do welcome any of your questions or concerns. (Ie. My back is killing me - do you have any suggestions for exercises? I'm nervous about birth - do you have suggestions for working through this tension? I think my water just broke - what do I do now? My contractions are 20 minutes apart - how can I get labor moving along more quickly?)

2 Prenatal Visits

I like to meet with my expectant mothers (husbands/partners encouraged to attend as well!) twice before birth - once around 30 weeks and again around 36 weeks. In these meetings, we get to discuss your desires for the birth of your child - your birth plan, the plan for your newborn, your excitement, your fears, and exercises/stretching/routines that can help get mom and baby in optimal position for the smoothest birth possible. Together, we make a plan for what your ideal birth will include!

During labor

I will provide continuous emotional and physical support throughout your labor and birth and into the first 2 hours following the birth of your baby. This may look different for each woman. I often meet you at your home and stay by your side through early and active labor, continuing support at the hospital if you are planning a hospital birth. I stay with you as you birth your baby, deliver the placenta, and initiate the first feedings.

Examples of Physical Support: I will help pinpoint any discomforts you're having and then offer suggestions that may help alleviate those discomforts. Ie. Applying back pressure to alleviate pain from back labor, helping you change positions so that baby continues his/her descent, offering suggestions for exercises if labor has stalled, explaining your options for medical pain relief if you desire it, or helping you push through waves of intense contractions through proper breathing. I also use a Rebozo to relieve intense pressure mother is experiencing or to help make more room for baby to move into optimal position for birth. (https://evidencebasedbirth.com/rebozo-during-labor-for-pain-relief/)

Most importantly, I help guide the husband/birth partner (whether that be significant other, friend, or mother) to be a strong support to you.

Examples of Emotional Support: Helping remind you of your options if you are offered pain relief, explaining intervention such as breaking of your water, coaching you through breathing exercises to calm your mind and let your body do the work. Emotional support also includes helping you mentally process what your body is experiencing, reassurance that you were created to birth this baby, and support to husband/partner as they stay by your side.

As a Doula, I Do Not:

Perform any clinical tasks

I do not check cervical dilation or check for baby's position or heartbeat.

Make decisions for you

I am here to remind you of your options/decisions; I do not make decisions for you.

Speak to the staff on your behalf

I remind you of your choices and explain anything you may have questions about. Then I allow you to speak with your nurse/doctor about your preferences.

Project any of my own beliefs onto your experience

I support ALL types of birthing experiences! Your desired birth is 100% what I support. (ie. Natural Vaginal Birth, Medicated Vaginal Birth, Elective C-Section, Emergency C-Section, VBAC)

Pricing

Birth Package

$650 plus the cost of mileage from Colby if giving birth somewhere other than Colby

This price includes all prenatal meetings/support, labor/birth, and postpartum check-in.

A sliding scale is available.

Baby’s first feeding Support

I stay through the first two hours to ensure mom is recuperating and baby is feeding. I support both breastfeeding and bottle feeding. I have extensive experience with breastfeeding and also can provide resources where you can get assistance from professional lactation consultants.

Postpartum follow-up visit

I like to visit around one to two weeks postpartum to check on mom, baby, and the whole family. We discuss how baby is eating and sleeping AND how mom is eating and sleeping! Support during the first weeks postpartum is crucial, so we discuss how mom is being supported. If desired, I provide resources for mom to gain more support (with feeding, sleeping, childcare, emotional support, etc). At this meeting, we review the mom's birthing experience. This is where I love getting to hear mom tell her birth story for the first time! :)