Birth Doula Support
Thank you for your interest in birth doula support. I am available to interview for due dates on or after September 1st, 2021.
Working with families expecting a new baby have been some of my favorite moments. I've worked as a birth doula since November 2008, and I have supported over 125 families as they prepare to welcome their baby.
Using my training, continued education, experiences as a birth doula and current research, I support families as they prepare to meet their new baby. I encourage families to set up a time to talk to me, so we may get to know one another and determine if I will be part of your birth team. You will receive a copy of the contract to review, and I encourage you to take time to talk with your partner (if applicable) concerning my role at your birth.
Once we have decided to work with one another, we will meet a few times prior to labor to discuss your birth preferences and brainstorm ways we (your partner and I) may support you during labor, birth and immediately postpartum. You will contact me once you begin labor, and I will join you once you are ready for my presence. From that point, support in labor differs for everyone. For some laboring people, support is very much hands-on, and for others, support is more about encouragement and providing suggestions, if needed. Regardless, my presence is there to support both you and your partner. My job is to help your supportive partner, family or friends be the best support for you, as you wish.
Once your baby is born and they have had their first feeding, I will leave you and your partner to get to know your new baby and rest. I will check in with you over the coming days, and we'll meet again at your home within a couple weeks postpartum to see how things are going. We'll reflect on the birth, and I will provide you a written account of your baby's birth. Our final visit will take place around 4-6 weeks postpartum. If postpartum support outside of these visits is desired and available, we can schedule these visits as an extra service.
Virtual Support In the case of unusual circumstances, support during labor and birth may happen virtually, such as via a video conferencing platform. Because video conferencing is not something that is used regularly, we will work together to determine the best way to meet your needs in labor and birth. Should video conferencing be necessary in labor and birth, such as during COVID-19 or other health pandemic, you will communicate your needs during labor and birth, should you need something other than what is provided. Examples: you prefer to remain in touch via telephone periodically during labor rather than continuous support, or, you prefer to have continuous video conferencing instead of the agreed upon periodic virtual support. I will expect that you will communicate to me if your needs change from what we had discussed earlier.
For families choosing Virtual Support from the start, we will conduct our visits virtually. The fee for Virtual Support is $600, which includes three prenatal virtual visits to discuss your preferences, offer education and share guidance as you prepare for labor, birth and immediate postpartum. Virtual labor support is flexible and allows for the birthing person and their birth partner to be in contact as much as needed during labor and immediate postpartum. Included in the virtual support offering are three virtual postpartum visits, mirroring the same time time frame as in-person support, with the exception of the visits lasting about 30 minutes on four occasions (~on day 2, during week 1 or 2, during week 3 or 4 and during week 5 or 6).
For families that may be affected by a sudden change of planned in-person support due to restrictions to a doula's attendance at the birth setting, we will work together to decide how to proceed. In-home doula support may still be an option, prior to you transitioning to the hospital for a planned hospital birth. Once you have arrived at the hospital, virtual support using video conferencing may still be offered or any combination of talk, text or video. Depending on the reasons leading us to virtual support, postpartum support may be virtual or in-person.
During the time from when you commit to working together through your early months postpartum, I'm available if you need additional resources or wish to talk.
My fee for in-person birth doula services is $800. For families living and/or birthing outside of Bloomington, please note there will be an added fee to cover travel expenses. If you are a previous client, I am happy to discuss my fees when you contact me.
Current contract reflecting virtual doula support and doula support affected by COVID-19 hospital restrictions is below.
Working with families expecting a new baby have been some of my favorite moments. I've worked as a birth doula since November 2008, and I have supported over 125 families as they prepare to welcome their baby.
Using my training, continued education, experiences as a birth doula and current research, I support families as they prepare to meet their new baby. I encourage families to set up a time to talk to me, so we may get to know one another and determine if I will be part of your birth team. You will receive a copy of the contract to review, and I encourage you to take time to talk with your partner (if applicable) concerning my role at your birth.
Once we have decided to work with one another, we will meet a few times prior to labor to discuss your birth preferences and brainstorm ways we (your partner and I) may support you during labor, birth and immediately postpartum. You will contact me once you begin labor, and I will join you once you are ready for my presence. From that point, support in labor differs for everyone. For some laboring people, support is very much hands-on, and for others, support is more about encouragement and providing suggestions, if needed. Regardless, my presence is there to support both you and your partner. My job is to help your supportive partner, family or friends be the best support for you, as you wish.
Once your baby is born and they have had their first feeding, I will leave you and your partner to get to know your new baby and rest. I will check in with you over the coming days, and we'll meet again at your home within a couple weeks postpartum to see how things are going. We'll reflect on the birth, and I will provide you a written account of your baby's birth. Our final visit will take place around 4-6 weeks postpartum. If postpartum support outside of these visits is desired and available, we can schedule these visits as an extra service.
Virtual Support In the case of unusual circumstances, support during labor and birth may happen virtually, such as via a video conferencing platform. Because video conferencing is not something that is used regularly, we will work together to determine the best way to meet your needs in labor and birth. Should video conferencing be necessary in labor and birth, such as during COVID-19 or other health pandemic, you will communicate your needs during labor and birth, should you need something other than what is provided. Examples: you prefer to remain in touch via telephone periodically during labor rather than continuous support, or, you prefer to have continuous video conferencing instead of the agreed upon periodic virtual support. I will expect that you will communicate to me if your needs change from what we had discussed earlier.
For families choosing Virtual Support from the start, we will conduct our visits virtually. The fee for Virtual Support is $600, which includes three prenatal virtual visits to discuss your preferences, offer education and share guidance as you prepare for labor, birth and immediate postpartum. Virtual labor support is flexible and allows for the birthing person and their birth partner to be in contact as much as needed during labor and immediate postpartum. Included in the virtual support offering are three virtual postpartum visits, mirroring the same time time frame as in-person support, with the exception of the visits lasting about 30 minutes on four occasions (~on day 2, during week 1 or 2, during week 3 or 4 and during week 5 or 6).
For families that may be affected by a sudden change of planned in-person support due to restrictions to a doula's attendance at the birth setting, we will work together to decide how to proceed. In-home doula support may still be an option, prior to you transitioning to the hospital for a planned hospital birth. Once you have arrived at the hospital, virtual support using video conferencing may still be offered or any combination of talk, text or video. Depending on the reasons leading us to virtual support, postpartum support may be virtual or in-person.
During the time from when you commit to working together through your early months postpartum, I'm available if you need additional resources or wish to talk.
My fee for in-person birth doula services is $800. For families living and/or birthing outside of Bloomington, please note there will be an added fee to cover travel expenses. If you are a previous client, I am happy to discuss my fees when you contact me.
Current contract reflecting virtual doula support and doula support affected by COVID-19 hospital restrictions is below.
| copy_of_contract_revised.pdf |
