Doula FAQs


Does a doula take the place of my partner? 
No! Many partners, especially those experiencing parenthood for the first time, often feel reassured and comforted by the presence of an educated supporter. Doulas enhance the birth experience for everyone involved, partners included!

Won't my midwife or nurse do the same things as a doula? 
Midwives and L&D nurses and are a wonderful resource, however they have many clinical duties they must attend to. All of these can limit the amount of time they have to spend taking care of your physical and emotional needs. A doula's primary focus is on the birthing woman. A doula provides continuous care and her constant support allows her to respond immediately to help the mother.

Do doulas only attend homebirths or drug-free births? 
No. Doulas are trained to support women and their partners through a variety of birthing situations and outcomes. Whether you birth at home, in a hospital, or a birthing center - with or without drugs - doulas are there to support you no matter what your decision. Even women planning on birthing by means of a c-section can benefit from the services of a doula.

What training have you had?
I've completed training with Child Birth International as a Birth Doula.

What is your fee, what does it include and what are your refund policies? 
My current fee is $400. The service includes 2 prenatal hour long appointments, unlimited phone/email conversations, access to book lending library, birth support from onset of labor until 1 hour afterward, and 1 postnatal hour long appointment. The client can receive a refund at any time, paying only for the services they have already received. The service I provide is entirely dependent on the clients needs, which naturally change throughout the process of birth. In a nutshell, I provide informational, physical, and emotional support during late pregnancy, throughout the entirety of birth, and shortly after.

May we meet to discuss our birth plans and the role you will play in supporting me through birth?
I meet with potential clients for a free half hour meeting where we get to know each other before any decisions about hiring are made. 

May we call you with questions or concerns before and after the birth? 
Clients can engage in unlimited phone/skype/email conversations with me before the birth and for 4 weeks after the birth.

When do you try to join women in labor? 
Clients can call me as soon as labor begins and I will meet them at home to begin supportive care. We will then go to the chosen place to give birth when active labor has begun, where I will stay with the client providing continual care until 1 hour after the birth. 

Do you meet with us after the birth to review the birth and answer questions? 
I meet with clients 1 week after the birth to discuss the birth and provide any support needed.
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