View My Philosophy

As a Certified Childbirth Doula I meet with the parents before the birth and help prepare them for labor and arrival of their baby.  I provide information about birth options and help create a supportive environment which can lead to a positive, fulfilling experience. I draw on my natural instincts as well as my knowledge to provide emotional support and from training and certification to provide physical comfort, reassurance, and perspective through out labor.  I facilitate communication between the laboring woman, her partner and her medical caregivers to insure that families have the information and are aware of their options during labor.  I help laboring women with relaxation, massage, pain management, effective positioning and movements to help labor progress. I help women to trust their bodies and experience the empowering process of birth. 

My Role
My role is not to take the place of the father, my role is secondary to his support. Having a doula present allows the father to assist in a loving, supportive manner and takes some of the pressure off the expectant father to be the labor expert and or birthing coach. My goal is to create a circle of love between mother, father, and baby.

I provide one prenatal visits (2nd visit if needed) in which we will explore what you want for your birth.  We will discuss your priorities, fears and concerns, what coping skills you may use, and create a “birth plan” or what I like to call “your birth wishes”. In going over your birth wishes it is a tool to facilitate communications between you as parents. A pre-planning birth plan can be a template so your own needs and desires come out of hiding …allowing you to see how you each feel about the upcoming labor and birth of your child.  It helps bring clarity to your thoughts and feelings, and gives you more specific questions, which leads to more productive discussions with each other and your care provider. If you choose to create a birth plan to take to the hospital or just share it with your care provider is up to you. A birth plan is not set in stone, it is a topic of discussion and a tool to create more interaction with your care providers before and during your labor. These birth wishes will also allow your birthing team to plan how we might best work together.   It is “Your Birth Wishes” that will also empower you in labor to make the choices that are right for you.

We will discuss and try different positions for labor and the use of a birthing ball.  We will go over different comfort measures in hopes to add more tools for you to use.  I also want to know your own best way of coping with pain and fatigue, and how you and your partner foresee working together.  We will explore what your labor looks like to you at that point? And is there anything we need to address to make your labor picture what you want it to be?

I can leave you with information and provide a variety of books, videos, on comfort measures and deliveries as a resource if you would like.

We will remain in contact between your prenatal visit and birth by phone and e-mail. I will be on call for you around your due date and I ask that after your 38th week doctor’s appointment, you keep me posted weekly on your progress and call when you show any signs of labor, even if you do not yet need me, that way I can plan and be ready when the time arrives.  I can answer questions and make suggestions over the telephone.  We will decide if I should come right away or wait for further changes.  We will also decide where to meet – at your home, the hospital, or birth center.  Except for extraordinary circumstances, my partner, back-up or I will remain with you throughout the labor and the birth.

I usually remain with you for one or two hours after birth, making sure the family is comfortable after your miracle baby has arrived.  I can help care for the new mother, help with breastfeeding, and the special bonding time that is so important immediately after the birth. I respect your quite time together and will check in on you shortly after your birth. 

I provide a postpartum visit which I like to do as soon as possible after you come home to see how you are doing.  I like to offer breastfeeding support and give you a chance to review your birth. We will discuss the labor and birth and work through any questions that you as new parents may have and help put time lines in of your labor progress.

Circumstances permitting, I can take pictures of the labor and birth, which allows the parents to totally take in every moment of the birth and not have to worry about capturing those special memories and first moments with their baby. I like to capture the labor as it progresses and birth to build a birth story through them.  If photos are requested, we will discuss what your thoughts are for photos before hand.  I will provide all photos on a CD containing digital images. I also offer a password protected website photo as soon as possible after the births, so that family and friends may view your newborn from all across the country even before you get home.

Private Prenatal visits available
Prenatal visits are also an option for education without the on call and birth services.   See the Packages and Other Services Page for more details.

Partner or Back-up
I work with a partner or back-up doula to provide service at all times. I work closely with them so that if needed they could provide the same service to my clients.

In the case of a partner we provide a Free Consultation to see if our service is right for you, and work together with you from the very beginning so you will build a relationship with both of us. Having two doulas can bring you the expertise of both of us and provide consistent and continuous support during labor.  We will both serve as on call and one of us will attend your birth.  It is so important to have consistent and continuous support during labor and by having two doulas you are sure to have that support even in the event of a long labor. If that should happen both doulas may at some point attend the labor, transitioning one in and one out to give you no interruption to the atmosphere and support that is being given at the time.

My partner and I have the same philosophy and similar personalities. We understand in choosing a doula these things are important and is what makes a good birthing team. We feel we can provide the same type of support to our clients. My partner and I work with a back-up as well if ever needed. 

Choosing a Doula
I feel it is an honor to attend each birth and understand it is a very personal choice for you as to who you invite to your birth. It is important that you find someone with whom you feel completely comfortable. You will be considering not only skills and competency, but also personality and style. I always hope that I can provide the support that a family needs, but if I am not the person to fit exactly with your family, I can provide you with additional doula names, to help you locate someone that is.

Rates
Birth services are a flat fee which includes the prenatal visit, on call services, labor support, photos if requested, and postpartum visit. I can provide you with an invoice that includes insurance billing codes for aid in the possibility of insurance reimbursement. See the Packages and Services Page for more details and contact me for availability.

Gift certificates are available for all doula services and make a much appreciated shower, personal, or holiday gift.