FAQs

What are the benefits of hiring a Doula?

Hiring a Doula include the following benefits: 
Physical Support including positioning ideas to improve comfort and labor progress. These can include hands-on comfort measures like comforting touch, counter pressure, breathing techniques and other “doula magic” for families. A doula’s skilled hands and positioning tools can often help a malpositioned baby find its way through the pelvis and into the birthing parent’s arms.
Emotional Support
Doulas help families to feel supported, easing the emotional experience of birth and also helping to create a space where the hormones of labor can work at their best. Whether a birth is completely unmedicated or medically very complex, every family can benefit from nurturing and connection at this tender, incredible time in their lives.
Partner Support
Whether it’s a romantic partner, a friend or another family member like the baby’s grandma, the birth partner’s experience matters in birth. Our doulas are there to support every birth partner in being as involved as they’d like with the birth. Physical and emotional support make a huge difference for everyone involved.
Evidence-Based Information and Advocacy
Doulas are trained to help families connect with evidence-based resources so they can ask great questions and make informed decisions about their births. Our doulas serve as a bridge of communication between women and their providers, lifting them up to help them find their voices and advocate for the very best care.

Are there certain ways you cannot support me during my labor?

As a Doula I cannot and will not give any medical advice or treatment (for example, monitoring heart beats, reading blood pressure, assessing dilation, etc). It is out of my scope of practice to direct your medical care in any way or when presented with options by your medical provider, tell you which option you should chose.
It IS my job to ensure that no matter what your options are, you are completely educated in the risks and benefits as well as any alternative options. I can also as an outside observer ask questions that you may not think of. I am as a Birth Doula an advocate for the quality of care you receive no matter where or how you deliver.

Are there any circumstances that would prevent you from attending my birth? And what would happen?

I am very careful not to schedule clients when I am expecting to be traveling or unavailable to be on call. That being said babies are unpredictable and at times come when it suits them. In this case, or in the case that I am ill or at another birth I always have a backup doula on call. If I am able to make it and far away or as mentioned above on another birth I would send the backup and come as soon as I could. This backup would not be at an additional cost to you and would at the time she was sent (and only with you permission) be updated on your preferences and intake form.

Who are your back up labor doulas and can I meet them?

My backup Doulas vary depending on the month. When your birth is close I will let you know who the back up is and ensure that should you want, you have the opportunity to meet them.

I’m interested in hiring a doula -- what's the next step?

Your next step would be research and interview! There are tons of sites online that have Doula Registries and even some that will help pair you with a doula that will meet with your preferences and beliefs. 
When interviewing with a doula the most important thing to make sure is that it is someone you can be comfortable with. There are plenty of “10 questions to ask a Doula” all over the internet and I will be frank and tell you most Doulas have researched these and prepared for these questions. My recommendation would be to ask questions specific to your preferences.