What is a doula? 

In short, a doula can best be described as your personal birth coach!  The word doula comes from the Greek word for “female caregiver” or “woman servant.”  Different than a medical care provider and your midwife, our number one goal is to ensure that you and your partner feel fully confident, informed and supported, no matter how your birthing day unfolds. 
WHAT is YOUR PHILOSOPHY OF BIRTH?
We believe that in general, birth is a very normal process that unfolds naturally when given time, continuous support, and trusting, skilled care providers.  We also understand that some births will warrant intervention and a little extra medical help. Our clients choose what's best for their body and their baby; and we believe there is no right or wrong way to give birth. We stand behind our client's decisions with unbiased support and create space for them to use their voice to advocate for themselves.
What IF I THINK I May WANT AN EPIDURAL, OR I JUST WANT TO KEEP MY OPTIONS OPEN?
Doulas are not just for those who are planning for an unmedicated, or "natural" birth. We have the tools and experience to help you have a smoother, more peaceful experience, regardless of whether you choose a medicated or unmedicated birth.  If you choose to utilize an epidural for your birth, we'll  work to minimize any potential side effects, assist you with position changes that facilitate labor progress, and provide guidance when it comes time for pushing. In some circumstances, epidurals do not provide complete pain relief or may not be an option if your labor progresses quicker and more intensely than anticipated. Having the support and tools to cope naturally during labor, even if you only plan to do so only during early labor or until a certain point, can greatly improve your birth experience.
​WHERE Do YOU SUPPORT us; AT HOME, OR AT THE HOSPITAL?
Both! For couples who plan to labor at home, either for a short period or extensively before heading to the hospital or place of birth, the on call doula will come to your home to support you in active labor and can help you and your partner gauge when it would be best to transition to your place of birth, depending on your preferences and goals for birth. Other times, such as during an induction of labor, we may meet a family directly at the hospital/birth center once things pick up. ​
WILL INSURANCE COVEr ANY PORTION OF DOULA SUPORT?
In the past, doula support has not been covered by medical insurance as doulas are not trained medical providers who provide billable medical care procedures. More recently; though, some insurances have started to cover doula support. Our team can provide you with an itemized receipt that you can submit for self reimbursement if your insurance plan covers labor doulas. 
I'M HAVING A HOME BIRTH, isn't my midwife like a doula?
During labor, your midwife and her assistant will primarily be focused on the health and safety of both you and your baby and the monitoring and documentation that comes with this. In contrast, the doula's sole focus lies on you and your partner's practical physical and emotional needs.  It's true that sometimes your midwife may be able to fulfill both roles, if things are going smoothly! But we've seen that this is not always possible, and definitely worth a conversation with your midwife ahead of time. In additional to various comfort & coping measures, we can also help communicate with your midwife during the earlier stages of labor before she and her team join you. And in the unlikely event of a transfer, having a doula at your side to provide continuity of care will also reduce anxiety and foster a smoother transition. 
What kinds of things do you bring to a birth?
The most utilized tools we bring to a birth are our heart, our experience, and our hands. Truly, an encouraging word, suggestions for position changes, and a good hip squeeze are something nearly all of our clients benefit from! Aside from that, we do love a good heating pad/rice bag, tea light candles, some basic essential oils, our rebozo, and a TENS unit. We supply our clients with a packing list for birth that will help you and your partner put together the rest of the items that you feel will be most helpful to you to set up in your birth environment.
HOW DOES A LABOR TENS UNIT HELP DURING MY BIRTH?
Labor specific TENS units can help provide drug-free pain management by changing the way the brain perceives pain. TENS therapy is easy to use, controlled by mom by a small handheld unit, and does not interfere with monitoring of the baby. During our prenatal visit, we'll walk you and your partner through how to apply the unit's electrode pads to your lower back and teach you how to use it during labor. You can read more about the use of TENS therapy in Rebecca Dekker's Evidence Based Birth article here. Clients love our Babycare TENS units so much that we supply one to each of our clients for labor before the birth, so that they can start using it even before we join them. 

Have more questions?
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