Doula Services
Imagine having a birth
experience where you felt completely supported. You felt surrounded by positive support, by someone who has been
down the road that you are traveling. Someone to guide you through each
contraction, helping you to reach into your inner strength.
Today's version of this person is
the doula. A doula is trained in labor support and
focuses her efforts on helping the laboring woman to achieve the best birth
experience possible. She brings with her to your birth a knowledge of the
birth process, and many ways to help your labor progress and many ways to help
you cope. While other medical staff serves multiple patients, a doula
will provide you with one-on-one, continuous care. Your doula does not do
anything medical, like internal exams or monitoring the baby's heart
beat. Rather, she is a supportive ear, a soft shoulder, and a
continuous physical and emotional support for those times when you feel like you
just can't do it.
If you are unfamiliar
with doulas, please take a moment to navigate the links above, where you
will learn more about how nurses, OBs, midwives, and dad all work
together to help mom have a positive experience. You can also
learn more about the scientific evidence that supports the role of a
doula.
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"(Carol gave) guidance to my husband while allowing him to give majority of
support." - Jeanine, first time mom
"As
a first time mother, Carol's presence and expertise helped to
make a difficult labor into a positive experience." -
Catherine
"Carol
led me through labor and delivery with very few words. Her
help came in calm, quiet movements, and that helped to set a
relaxed tone to the labor and delivery." - Kristin,
first time mom
"I
would have been lost without your help."- Greg, first
time dad
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Doula
Services
I
have received instruction from a traditional Mexican midwife in massage
techniques for rotating breech babies, optimal baby position prior to
birth, massage and Rebozo techniques for back labor, and massage for
restarting stalled labors. These techniques are provided as part
of my doula services, but please note that I am not a trained or
licensed massage therapist. As
your doula, my focus is helping you to achieve the birth experience that you
want, as you define it.
Services include:
-
Three prenatal visits. The first visit will primarily focus on
determining your wishes for birth. The second and third visits
will focus on developing your relaxation skills and applied techniques
for properly aligning both your baby and your pelvis through a
combination of massage and Rebozo work. (I am not a massage
therapist.)
-
Assistance
with developing a birth preference
sheet.
-
Access
to my lending library.
-
Unlimited,
continuous physical and emotional labor support, at home or at the hospital.
-
Help
with comfort measures during labor.
-
Assistance
with creating a safe, comfortable birthing environment.
-
Helping
the father/ labor partner with ways to help you during labor.
-
Photos
during your labor (optional) and after the birth.
-
Help
with initial breastfeeding.
-
A
postpartum visit to discuss your birth experience, assess breastfeeding, and
to answer any questions about your newborn.
-
A
written record of your birth.
Fee
for service is $380. A $30 discount is given to those who attend my
childbirth class series.
(1) from DONA Position Paper: The Doula's
Contribution to Modern Maternity Care.
