BIRTH

DOULA CARE

THE ROLE OF A BIRTH doula

Midwives and doulas want to give you the birth experience you want & deserve

  • Recognizes birth as a key life experience that the mother will remember all her life.
  • Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor.
  • Assists the woman and her partner in preparing for and carrying out their plans for the birth.
  • Stays by the side of the laboring woman throughout the entire labor.
  • Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures, an objective viewpoint and assistance to the woman in getting the information she needs to make good decisions.
  • Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and clinical careproviders.
  • Perceives her role as one who nutures and protects the woman’s memory of her birth experience.

The acceptance of doulas in maternity care is growing rapidly with the recognition of their important contribution to the improved physical outcomes and emotional well-being of mothers and infants.

BENEFITS OF BIRTH DOULA CARE

Research has shown that having a birth doula present during birth can reduce the:

Cesarean Rate by 50%

Length of Labor by 25%

Use of Pitocin by 40%

Use of Pain Medication by 30%

Need for Forceps by 40%

Requests for Epidurals by 60%

    WHAT A BIRTH DOULA DOES NOT DO
    • Perform Clinical tasks, such as blood pressure, fetal heart checks, vaginal exams, etc.  I am there to provide only physical comfort and emotional support.
    • Make decisions for you.  I will help you get the information necessary to make an informed decision.
    • Speak to the staff on your behalf.  I will discuss your concerns with you and suggest options, but you or your partner will speak directly to the clinical staff.
    BENEFITS TO THE PARTNER
    • Increase in father’s/partner’s confidence levels and decrease in stress.
    • Alleviation of anxiety by serving as a resource for answering questions, offering suggestions and encouragement.
    • Facilitating fuller participation in the birth by the father/partner.
    • Filling in for the father/partner when they need to take a break.
    • Being there to allow someone to accompany the infant during the first medical assessments while knowing mom is also being supported.
    • The emotional relief that comes with knowing you are not alone in the supportive role.
    BIRTH DOULA SERVICES INCLUDES:

    • Complimentary consultation (usually lasts about an hour)

    • A minimum of two prenatal visits at your home to cover all of your questions, concerns, and to create a birth plan. This is a great time to discuss comfort measures and to practice various birthing positions and movement.

    • On call for two weeks prior and two weeks after your due date.  During this time I will not travel far from home or turn my phone off. My focus is to be rested and recharged in order to be best prepared for your labor.

    • Loving, unconditional labor support, starting whenever you request but is usually when active labor begins. Specific support with things like positions, breath coaching, using birth-ball, warm and cool compresses and back/neck/shoulder/leg rubs. This may also include preparing nutritious snacks for mom and making sure partner is well fed.  I will also support your birth partner with active suggestions and encouragement.

    • Early breastfeeding support.

    • Also includes one postpartum visit. One during postpartum recovery in the hospital and another at home.  I’ll fill in any gaps in your memory of the birth and help you process your emotions.

    I follow DONA International’s Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics for birth doulas.

    service Packages

    Virtual Doula Services

    Virtual doula services can help support, encourage and guide you and your partner! Whether you don’t have access to birth doulas in your area or you and your partner want your birth to be intimate and limit the number of people in attendance, our virtual birth doula services can help support, encourage and guide you and your partner! Womb Service can help educate you on your choices and also help guide you during your labor and birth and the first months of your postpartum recovery.

     

    Virtual Birth doula Package includes:

     

    • Free 30 minute initial consultation via Zoom, FaceTime or WhatsApp
    • 2 prenatal meetings to discuss options during your pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum via Zoom, FaceTime or WhatsApp
    • Available via phone and text with any questions regarding your labor and birth experience from 20 weeks until 2 weeks after birth
    • Help creating your birth plan
    • 24/7 on call support from 38 weeks gestation until baby is born
    • Phone call availability during labor to help assist with birth options, answer questions and help deciding when it is time to go to your hospital or birth center (video chat is also available if you prefer)
    • 1  postpartum meeting to talk through birth story and ask postpartum questions that you may have

    Cost: $800

    Virtual Doula Services

     a la carte options

    If you would rather have a doula that you can call on for reference and to ask specific questions you can opt for our A La Carte Virtual Doula Services. These particular calls are scheduled and the topics that you would like to discuss should be provided before hand so that we make sure we have all of the necessary information to answer your questions thoroughly.

    Sample Topics :

    Guidance with creating a birth plan

    Labor options

    Creating your birth environment

    Strategies for induction

     One 30-minute call: $45

    One 60-minute call: $85

    Three 60 minute call Package: $240

     Six 55 minute Call Package: $480 

      Wowed By Womb Service

      “Nova was our partum doula for three weeks after we came home from the hospital. My husband needed to go out of town on business. I was very nervous being alone with my newborn son and being a first time mom. Nova took all the worry away!  She stayed with me and was my right hand person. I never had to ask her to help me. She was always 10 steps ahead of me thinking about what I might need. As a new mom, I sometimes didn’t know what I needed, but she did.   Her professionalism and knowledge of post natal care is second to none.

      We utilized Nova on several occasions in similar situations and finally to take a trip back east to see my family. I can’t express how deeply I appreciate everything which she did for myself and my son on this trip, from carrying many bags through the airport, to helping me breastfed on the plane. She was amazing, not to mention her photography. She documented our trip from start to finish and always with the professionalism she exhibited while in our home.
      Nova has a deep caring for others and the child’s wellbeing. She made my homecoming experience amazing and we are so fortunate to have had her in our lives.

      We highly recommend Nova for  post partum doula services and photography. She is the entire package!” ~ Elizabeth M.

      “Thank goodness my husband and I found Nova!  My husband had to go back to work one week after the birth of our first son, which left me alone at home with a newborn. I was struggling with breastfeeding and a low milk supply, and couldn’t even get the simplest of tasks done around the house. I mean, really, how do you make a sandwich or do the dishes when you have this tiny little person that needs you every moment of the day?

      Enter Nova! She helped me with each of my needs.
      Nova was referred to me through my birth doula, and she came to my home about three times a week, starting when my son was two weeks old. She stayed to work with me and my baby for about three months. With her support, I went from a mom needing to supplement with formula, to an exclusively breastfeeding mom.  I also learned the motherly art of multi-tasking with a newborn. I truly could not have done it without her!

      I grew a lot as a new mom while Nova was with me. This is due to Nova’s calm and caring demeanor, excellent knowledge and experience, and her very special way with new mommas and babies. I could relax and just enjoy my baby while she was there to support us. I feel having Nova as my post-partum doula was a gift not only to myself, but to my son and family as well.”
      ~ Toni T.

      “We were extremely fortunate to have Nova care for our baby boy during a difficult and medically serious time in his newborn period. We cared for our newborn ourselves full time until it became clear to us that it was in the baby’s best interest to have refreshed parents rather than chronically exhausted ones. That is when Nova came into our lives and we learned to trust her so we could peacefully have her take care of the baby and mother.

      Although she appears surprisingly young, she is extremely capable, gentle, honest, and genuinely caring for the baby, mother, and family. Nova often surprised me with her thoughtfullness and her energy in restoring the home to a more organized and peaceful state. Her gentle nature is ideal for such a responsible, nurturing and supportive role with the baby, mother, and home.

      We give our whole hearted recommendation to Nova as a person to whom you can safely trust the most precious person in your life, your child. We have worked with other doulas and Nova ranks among the All Stars in her field.”

      ~ Padma N.

      “Thank goodness my husband and I found Nova!  My husband had to go back to work one week after the birth of our first son, which left me alone at home with a newborn. I was struggling with breastfeeding and a low milk supply, and couldn’t even get the simplest of tasks done around the house. I mean, really, how do you make a sandwich or do the dishes when you have this tiny little person that needs you every moment of the day?

      YOU DESERVE A DOULA!

      Let’s Plan Your Big Day!