I am honored to be a birth doula for any family. I am particularly interested in working with women planning natural childbirth or vaginal birth after cesarean, mothers of multiples, older and teen moms, lesbian couples, families of color, and moms experiencing or anticipating complications.

What's a doula?

The international organization, Doulas of North America, beautifully states the role of the birth doula, and I quote it here from their website:

The doula’s role is to provide physical and emotional support and assistance in gathering information for women and their partners during labor and birth. The doula offers help and advice on comfort measures such as breathing, relaxation, movement, and positioning. She also assists the woman and her partner to become informed about the course of their labor and their options. Perhaps the most crucial role of the doula is providing continuous emotional reassurance and comfort.

Doulas specialize in non-medical skills and do not perform clinical tasks, such as vaginal exams or fetal heart rate monitoring. Doulas do not diagnose medical conditions, offer second opinions, or give medical advice. Most importantly, doulas do not make decisions for their clients; they do not project their own values and goals onto the laboring woman.

Although I have been trained and have practiced as a Licensed Midwife, this is not the role that I fill as a doula. As a doula, I do not perform clinical tasks, make diagnoses, or give medical advice. I also do not attend labors in women's home as a doula, but rather meet clients at the hospital where they plan to give birth. The choice of when moms go to the hospital rests entirely with her and her care provider, as do all other decisions about her maternity care.

Prenatal visits

Depending on when in pregnancy I meet a client and begin working together, we will establish a schedule for prenatal visits. These visits allow us to discuss the progress of the pregnancy, the family's hopes and fears about the birth, and any complications or concerns they may have about the birth that would be useful for me to know. We clarify what they can expect from me as their doula, and how I work closely with partners or other family and friends who will be present to support the mom. But, the most important part of these visits is for us to get to know one another, build trust and rapport, and have fun anticipating the birth. Typically, we will have at least two prenatal visits, lasting one to two hours, either in the mom's home or at another location, like a restaurant.

Presence in labor and immediately after the birth

Once a mom is in the hospital, I join her there and stay continuously until the baby is born. After the birth, I usually stay until the baby has fed and baby and mom are stable, which is typically one to two hours.

Postpartum visits

The timing of postpartum visits depends a great deal on the mom's individual needs. Usually, I will visit at least once in the first week after the baby is born, and again in the second or third week. These visits include discussing care for mom and baby, early parenting, and assistance with breastfeeding. These visits are also a chance to review the birth when the family is ready, and to celebrate. Postpartum visits are typically at the hospital or at the mom's home, and they last for one to two hours.