Birth Doula
What is a Doula/ Birth Assistant?
A professional care provider who understands and trusts the process of birth and who helps facilitates the birth experience for the parents and newborn. She provides emotional, informational, and physical support for a woman and her partner through the pregnancy, labor and postpartum periods.
In recent years the use of a Doula or Birth Assistant has become more common, but still is just coming into “mainstream”. I have outlined the labor support services I offer below, so you and your partner have an idea of what Birth Assisting is all about. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Also if you are looking for information regarding birthing options on the Front Range in Colorado I am more than willing to provide referrals.
Prenatal Care
*Free initial interview
*Two prenatal meetings. These meetings are a time to prepare for the birth of your child and the time after he or she is born.
*Unlimited phone consultations. When not in labor, I will return your call within 12-24 hours. Email is a great way to keep in touch as I check it daily.
*Access to my birth book lending library.
*24 hour on call, beginning two weeks prior to your estimated due date.
*I offer Therapeutic Prenatal Massage in my office (15% discount with Doula package.)
Labor Support Services
* Comfort techniques and positioning suggestions.
* Therapeutic Massage to support labor and aid comfort.
* Support for Birth Partner, to maintain energy and comfort.
* Help create and maintain a comfortable and safe environment for the mother (reduce noise and lighting levels, music, temperature regulation, phone messages…)
* Assistance in avoiding unnecessary medical interventions.
* Explanations of medical procedures.
* VBAC support. (if applicable)
* Home birth support. (if applicable)
* Respect for privacy of both you and your birth partner.
* Support decisions you make about your birth.
As your Doula I will not….
* Make decisions on your behalf.
* Replace the Birth Partner’s role of primary support, unless your partner is absent or chooses to not be that role.
* Make medical judgments.
* Provide any clinical skills such as vaginal examinations, checking fetal heat tones, vital signs, blood pressure etc.
After the Birth
I will remain with you until after your baby is born, you are comfortable, and the family is ready for some quality bonding time.
Whenever possible, I like to visit a day or two after the birth. A final postpartum visit will be scheduled within the first two weeks at your convenience. This visit is an excellent time to discuss your birth experience, and address joys and concerns. If you need anything, outside of my scope of practice I can provide referrals to professionals in the community.
I am absolutely honored to be a Doula. I love what I do!