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 cesarean: we will preemptively discuss what to expect, provide options on how you can maintain a sense of control and wellbeing, how we can support the most important aspects of your birth plan, and ways to improve recovery.

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.