Our services:

As a doula, we accompany women in labor to help ensure a safe and satisfying birth experience. We draw on our knowledge and experience to provide emotional support, physical comfort and, as needed, communication with the staff to make sure that you have the information you need to make informed decisions in labor. We can provide reassurance and perspective to you and your partner, make suggestions for labor progress, and help with relaxation, massage, positioning and other techniques for comfort. We are independent and self-employed.

Doulas do not perform medical tasks such as checking blood pressure, fetal heart checks, or vaginal exams. Our role is one of nonintervention. We are there to provide physical comfort, emotional  support, and advocacy. Doulas do not make decisions for you. We will help you get the
information necessary to make an informed decision. We will also remind you if there is a change in your birth plan. We will discuss your concerns with you and suggest options, but you and your partner will speak on your behalf to the clinical staff. We will only act as a liaison between you and staff if you ask us to do so when appropriate.

Meetings:

We like to meet with you and your labor partner before labor to become better acquainted, to explore and discuss your birth plan priorities and any fears or concerns and to plan how we might best work together. We welcome the opportunity to meet with your physician or midwife at a regular scheduled
prenatal visit. We might decide on more meetings and will remain in touch by telephone on a more frequent basis as your birth approaches.

Availability:

We will be on call for you 24 hours a day beginning two weeks before your due date and ending two weeks after your due date. You will have our telephone numbers as well as our cell phone numbers to reach us at all times. We will do everything possible to stay completely available for this four-week period of time.

When you are in labor:

We prefer that you call when you think you are in labor, even if you don’t need us. We can answer questions and make suggestions over the telephone. We will decide if we should meet you then or wait for further change. (We usually need at least one hour to get to your from the time you ask me to come, depending on where you live or where the hospital is located.) We will decide where to
meet-at the hospital or at your home.

After your birth:

We remain with you after your birth until you are comfortable and your family is ready for quiet time together. We can also help with initial breastfeeding, if needed. We are available for telephone contact to answer questions about the birth or your baby and would like to get together with you again to review your birth and see your baby.