I am very passionate about natural birth!
My ultimate goal for any couple I work with is a natural birth. Even
though natural is my ultimate goal, I understand there can be a need for the medications that are available. I simply try to help couples avoid the situations in which they would need them.
Doula Services Include
Initial Consultation
A meeting with mother and father or support person(s) for 30–60 minutes. This provides an opportunity to visit, ask questions and begin to understand the history of each person involved. This helps provide a chance to see if all of our personalities will be compatible.
Education
All couples who hire me as their doula are required to complete my full 12 week Bradley® series of classes. These 12 weeks are very important for all of us to get to know each other, gain trust and confidence in our new unit and to best prepare for the upcoming birth.
On Call
24 hour availability from 38 weeks on (earlier if necessary).
Nursing
Breastmilk is the perfect food for your child and offers the easiest method
to feed your child. Support is available if needed to help establish nursing,
answer questions, or seek out additional resources.
After the Birth
A home visit will be made during the baby’s first week to see how every
thing is going.
Fee
The charge for the above service is $450. Arrangements can be made to
work with the mother and support person(s) to help them make payments
for the services. The fees for classes are separate from the fees for doula support.
Research Supports Doulas
Research shows that women who are well supported by a doula have better births with fewer medical interventions than those who labor without a doula.
Doula effects on the birth in general:
- 60% reduction in epidural requests
- 50% reduction in Cesarean rates
- 40% decrease in oxytocin use
- 40% decline in forceps deliveries
- 30% reduction in drug utilization
- 25% shorter labors
Doula effects on the mother:
- Greater satisfaction with her child’s birth
- More positive assessment of, a higher regard for and an increased sensitivity toward her baby
- Reduced chance of fever, infection and bleeding after birth due to reduced chance of medical intervention and increased tendency to nurse
- Reduced fear and stress; mothers feel more secure and more in control with a doula present
- Reduced incidence of postpartum depression due to a more pleasant birth experience and access to information for referral support services
Doula effects on the father:
- Alleviates dad’s anxiety by answering questions, like “Is this normal?” or “Will everything be okay?”
- Increases his confidence levels and reduces stress
- Teaches the father ways to help mom if he his uncomfortable
- Allows the father to watch the baby’s birth while the mother is still fully supported
- Allows the father to accompany the infant if an emergency were to arise while the doula remains with the mother
- Provides emotional relief because he can rely on the doula for help during labor knowing he is not alone
Doula effects on the infant:
- Shorter hospital stays and fewer admissions to special care nurseries due to less interventions
- Infant/mother together more (less nursery time)
- Increased success of nursing through the 1st year
- Increased father involvement with care of the baby in the first three months of life
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