FAQ

DOULA is a Greek word meaning ‘woman servant or caregiver’. These days, it usually refers to a non-medical assistant who offers physical and emotional support to a birthing parent and their partner before, during and after childbirth. Birth is a process and it is our job to help empower you on your journey in a way that allows you, the laboring parent, to make informed decisions and well advocated preferences.

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Labor and birth doulas support a parent prenatally, during labor and delivery and briefly, post-partum.

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Post-partum doulas support the parent after birth

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End of Life Doulas, likewise, are focused on supporting the patient in a non-medical fashion. They are professionally trained to care for a terminally ill person’s physical, emotional, and spiritual needs during their process of dying.

Do you perform any physical examinations?

No. A doula is a support person, not a medical professional. I can provide access to information so that a birthing person can make informed medical decisions and will refer to medical professionals when appropriate.

How will hiring you affect my partner’s role during the birth?

My role is to support your birth preferences. A doula doesn't replace a present partner and can help facilitate their role in the birth through guidance and affirmation. In a postpartum role, a doula offers support to the family unit.

How do you plan to be available for the birth?

Part of our contract is my commitment to be "on call" 24/7 for the 2 weeks prior to and following the due date. If for some reason (emergency) I am unavailable, a back-up doula will be supplied. Understanding that birth is unpredictable, I do everything in my power to be dependable for you.

I don't want to have a water-birth or anything like that, I like the hospital and I want pain meds. Why would I need a doula?

There is no right or wrong way to give birth. My job is to support YOU and your preferences. We will build your birth plan together. I can support you within a medical setting by offering emotional support, evidence-based information for decision making, fanning, counting, hand holding, touch therapy, focused breathing, affirmations, positioning and prenatal and postpartum support. I will advocate for the choices you make, I have no agenda.