What I provide:
- 1-3+ prenatal visits, as needed
- Continuous labour and birth support
- 1 postpartum visit
- Information on medical interventions, if so desired
- Help with birth plan preparation
- Consideration of cultural preferences
- Moving/positions during labour
- Pain relief methods/comfort measures
- Support for your partner
- Breastfeeding help
How I view birth and labour support:
My role as your doula:
- Pregnancy and birth are not an illness. They are a beautiful journey of growth, with the end goal of parenthood. Birth is a normal and natural event.
- Pregnancy, labour, and childbirth have a profound and lasting effect on mothers and their families. The birth memory remains forever.
- Women are strong and capable. The body goes through a lot during pregnancy and deserves to be treated with the utmost respect, whether labour goes as planned or not, and regardless of medical interventions that are necessary.
- When a pregnant or labouring woman is treated with care and respect by those supporting her, they are more confident and capable of birthing securely.
- Women and their partners have the right to be supported in their own decisions about the birth of their baby.
- In regards to medical interventions at childbirth, decisions must be made wisely, with a proper understanding of the risks and benefits involved in the interventions that might be offered her during labour, birth, and immediately following the birth.
My role as your doula:
I am your background support person, willing to step into almost any role during the time of labour and childbirth. Prenatally through to 2 weeks after your baby’s birth, I am available to offer my knowledge and training about pregnancy and childbirth, as well as emotional and physical support, to help guide you through labour and delivery. I will be by your side, offering words of encouragement, knowledge for informed decision making, massage, and comfort measures.
The way things work:
I hope to meet with you and your partner (or other labour support person) first for an initial visit. At this visit we can get to know one another, ensuring that you and your partner are both comfortable with me, and that our relationship will work both ways. We can discuss what your hopes and plans are for your birth experience, and consider any fears and concerns you might have, and how you hope I can help.
This initial meeting is not binding. If you or your partner are not comfortable with the fit of client and doula, please inform me. I want you to be completely comfortable and at ease with your whole labour support team, including your doula.
Once I am your doula:
If you choose to continue the relationship, I will provide ongoing informational and emotional support during your pregnancy. I will commit to being with you from the onset of active labour until at least one hour after your baby arrives. I will be sure to make myself available for labour support from 2 weeks prior to your due date to 2 weeks after your due date. This does not mean that I absolutely will not be at your birth if it falls outside these parameters, but I cannot guarantee it. If very early or late delivery is likely, please discuss it with me, and we can come to an agreement.
Prenatal visits:
After our initial meeting, I hope to have 1 to 3 other visits prenatally to discuss your thoughts, questions, and ideas about birth. This gives me the opportunity to provide you with resources and information that you can put into practice if you so desire. I can also help you put together a birth plan, detailing exactly what you hope to have happen, and your own choices and opinions about birth. We can also discuss birth logistics, and hopefully you can find some encouragement and solace in these comfortable times together.
When to contact me at the time of labour:
After the birth:
I will stay with you for at least one hour after the birth, depending on what you need and desire. Everything I can do to ensure that you are comfortable and well cared for I will do, honouring your need to spend quiet time with your family. You may call or text me any time before our postpartum visit with questions or concerns I might be able to answer. We will have at least one postpartum visit, where we can review the birth and I can provide support and answers to questions you may have in the transition into parenthood.
As a birth doula I do not:
· Perform clinical or medical tasks. I only provide informational, emotional, and physical comfort support and advocacy when desired.
· Make decisions for you. I will provide information and answers to help you make informed decisions, and will honour the plans you make for your birth.
Failure to provide service
I will make every effort to provide the services described here. If, however, some unforeseen circumstance or emergency arises and I do not attend the birth there will be no charge beyond the retainer.
Fees:
$100 is due as a retainer fee and is due when you select me as your doula
$600 is due within one month after the birth
