Doula Frequently Asked Questions

A doula provides you and your partner continuous emotional support and physical comfort assistance in obtaining information before, during, and just after childbirth. Doulas provide evidence-based information to help you make informed decisions, encouragement during labor, a variety of comfort measures, advocating for you, assisting with establishing breastfeeding, and check in with you postpartum.

A midwife is a healthcare professional who provides prenatal and postpartum care. Midwives perform physical examinations, monitor fetal health, assess labor progress, manage medical complications, deliver the newborn and placenta, and provide other obstetric and gynecological care.

No, not unless you want me to. I prefer to work with your partner during birth, as we are part of your birth support team.

I work with your partner, at their comfort level, to help them help you. I help guide your partner on ways they can assist you when labor gets tough. Additionally, I remind them that what you are experiencing during labor is normal to reduce any stress or worries they may have.

During labor, when your partner is getting tired or hungry and needs to take a minute to eat, drink, use the bathroom, rest, or get some fresh air, I will be remain by your side to ensure you always have continuous support and are never alone, while their needs are getting met too.

Yes, absolutely! I am there to support you giving birth, no matter how you do it!

• If you plan on an epidural: I support you through labor before it gets administered, assist you with epidural friendly position changes, provide you risks, benefits, and alternatives on interventions and procedures to help you make in making informed decisions about your medical care, and continue with comfort measures so you can always feel supported.

• If you plan, or need, a c-section: we will preemptively discuss what to expect, provide options on how you can maintain a sense of control and wellbeing, explore if you are interested in (or able to have) a family oriented or maternal assisted cesarean, how we can support the most important aspects of your birth plan, ways to improve recovery, and provide comfort measures so you feel supported.

You can hire your doula at anytime during pregnancy. It could be the moment you find out your pregnant or a week before your due date!

I recommended hiring your doula during your second trimester or early in the third trimester. This allows plenty of time to develop an interpersonal relationship and an understanding of how you want to be supported during birth.

We will have two prenatal visits. The first is typically around week 34 of pregnancy and the second prenatal visit is around week 37.

The following is a list of what typically gets covered between the two prenatal visits:

• Review of basic labor education and when to call your birth team

• Discussions of your birth preferences and goals

• Establishing your plans for pain management and comfort measures

• Allotted time for you to ask questions or get further clarification on birth related topics

• Explore breastfeeding basics

• Establish your postpartum plan

My goal is to provide each family with information that is personalized and relevant to them. Each family has different goals and priorities, and therefore what gets covered at prenatal visits may vary.

I highly encourage all clients take a prenatal childbirth course prior to our first prenatal meeting

We have one postnatal visit at your place of residence within 1-2 weeks after birth, at a time that is convenient for you.

During the postpartum visit I will typically:

• Check in to see how you are adjusting to parenthood and your new routines

• Assist you with breastfeeding help, and if needed, referring you to a lactation consultant

• Review the events of your birth with you

• Answer any questions you have about birth, postpartum, or parenthood

• Explore postpartum doula options, if desired

• Give you any birth pictures or videos, that you may not already have (if requested prior to labor)

• Refer you to local resources if needed: massage therapists, support groups, lactation support