Doula: tour guide to labor land, wise friend and trusted ally, hip-squeezer, calm space creator, advocate, sister with all the right skills
As your doula I am here for you. From the moment we begin working together, you can rely on me to answer questions, ease worry, listen deeply, cheer you on, and reflect back all the strength and wisdom you have within. I believe in you, I trust your intuition, and I am in your corner!
What doulas do
Doulas are expert tour guides through the landscape of birth.
We are experienced in providing tried and true comfort measures specific to labor. These include suggestions for changing positions, vocalization, rhythmic movement, guided relaxation and visualization, massage and aromatherapy. A doula also helps families gather important information before and during labor so they are completely informed about all their options, can advocate for their wishes and feel confident about their decisions.
Potentially the most valuable thing a doula offers is continuous emotional support. This comes in the form of verbal encouragement and reassurance, a constant physical presence, and full trust in your power and ability to birth.
Doula Services
Birth Doula Care — $2800 - $4200 (Sliding Scale)
A free consultation to get to know one another, answer questions, and see if working together feels like a good fit
Resource binder full of helpful info and articles on preparing for birth, newborn care and breastfeeding
2 prenatal visits to build relationship and trust, provide education on your options, set intentions and discuss worries and hopes for the birth process, build your coping tool kit, create your birth preferences (aka birth plan), practice positions, movement and comfort measures for labor, review signs of early labor and how we will communicate as labor unfolds, and prepare the mind and body for birth and postpartum
24/7 support via phone, text and email throughout your pregnancy
Continuous labor and birth support from the time you ask me to join you, until you are snuggled up with your baby
Access to a well stocked doula bag of tricks, including aromatherapy, led candles/twinkly lights, speaker to play music, massage oil, TENS unit, rebozo, heat packs, fan and more
Professional Birth Photography (if desired) - You will receive an edited gallery of images that capture the beauty and power of your birth journey and the precious first moments with your baby! View my work here
1 Postpartum home visit to see how your new family is doing, process the birth together, and answer questions/share tips about healing, newborn care, and breastfeeding
Community referrals for belly, birth and baby related needs
Support via phone, text and email for 6 months postpartum
Itemized receipt for HSA or FSA reimbursement if needed
Postpartum Doula Care — $70/hr
Offered during the day and scheduled as 3 or 4 hour sessions
Postpartum support is all about helping you feel held and supported as you adjust to your new role and rhythms as a parent. I will come over, check in about what the last days have looked like, and then figure out what feels most important and helpful for your family that day. This is often some combo of meal prep, support around your own healing and feeding your baby, giving you a break to catch a nap or shower, light housework, answering questions and lots of normalizing all the new and sometimes challenging experiences of postpartum and parenting a newborn.
Photography
Pregnancy Photography - starting at $475
Newborn Photography Session - starting at $475
Done in your home at our postpartum visit. Capturing the love, wonder and precious tiny details. View my work here
Supporting partners
The birthing parent's partner always plays the most important role in loving and caring for them through the birth journey. I am there to support you both along the way. Whether it be a reassuring smile at just the right moment, a reminder to eat, or offering to tag in so you can catch some rest, partner’s will also feel held by a doula’s presence. Birth can be a very intimate event and I know when to step back and give a laboring couple privacy.
Some partners may feel overwhelmed and uncomfortable with such a central role, and that is okay as well. Many partners I have worked with reflect that the presence of a doula, allowed them to show up more fully through the process, knowing there was always someone there to lean on.
Many families have a whole birthing team, including friends, mother, sister, grandmother, father, etc. Whoever you want as part of your birth team will be honored and welcomed. We will all work together to ensure that you feel joyful and well supported through your journey.