Birth doula services
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Calm. Gentle. Peaceful.
Teaching. Guiding.
This is how I come alongside and help you navigate your journey.
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What is a doula?
A doula is a seasoned guide to partner with
while you walk the path of your birth journey.
Introductory definition: A doula is a professional support person for a birthing woman and her family. Doulas provide physical and emotional support during labor and delivery plus the early postpartum period. A doula is a seasoned guide to partner with while you walk the path of your birth journey.
They do:
They don’t:
Multiple hats: Some doulas have a medical background while others do not. Some nurses become doulas or take a doula training to improve their skills. Some midwives start out as doulas. Many doulas are also childbirth educators or other types of birth professionals. A lot of doulas are also trained in lactation support.
Variety of backgrounds: Doulas come from a variety of backgrounds, family types, and birthing experiences. While the vast majority of doulas are women, doulas may be women or men who may or may not be parents themselves. Historically and traditionally, it was a role filled by mothers and often seen as a peer support role. We’ve evolved to it being a career with more and more education/training available. It is now considered a profession in women’s health. In some areas, birthing centers and even hospitals have doulas on staff. Just like OB/Gyns and midwives and L&D nurses, individual professionals may or may not have had a natural birth or ever been pregnant (or even be a woman). There is a wide variety of backgrounds and doulas have come into this career for numerous reasons.
Variety of philosophies: Each doula brings their own flavor. As individuals, doulas have their own philosophies and perspectives on reproductive health, maternity care, and infant care. Interview several and find the match that is best for you.
Common mission: Our common goal is to support growing families and improve maternity care!
They do:
- Provide support physically to the mother, emotionally to the couple, and guide the husband/partner in supporting the laboring woman
- Inform of resources
- Offer education on frequently asked questions
- Help you improve your communication with your care team (if needed)
- Teach you how to advocate for yourself
- Most support all types of births in the hospital or a birthing center. Many also attend home births (though often the presence of a midwife is required).
They don’t:
- Replace or substitute for a midwife
- Provide medical care, take vitals, or monitor fetal heart tones
- Make health decisions for the client
- Encourage people to go against medical advice from their chosen provider or from the hospital staff
- Speak on behalf of the client
- Replace the dad or any family member (or good friend)
Multiple hats: Some doulas have a medical background while others do not. Some nurses become doulas or take a doula training to improve their skills. Some midwives start out as doulas. Many doulas are also childbirth educators or other types of birth professionals. A lot of doulas are also trained in lactation support.
Variety of backgrounds: Doulas come from a variety of backgrounds, family types, and birthing experiences. While the vast majority of doulas are women, doulas may be women or men who may or may not be parents themselves. Historically and traditionally, it was a role filled by mothers and often seen as a peer support role. We’ve evolved to it being a career with more and more education/training available. It is now considered a profession in women’s health. In some areas, birthing centers and even hospitals have doulas on staff. Just like OB/Gyns and midwives and L&D nurses, individual professionals may or may not have had a natural birth or ever been pregnant (or even be a woman). There is a wide variety of backgrounds and doulas have come into this career for numerous reasons.
Variety of philosophies: Each doula brings their own flavor. As individuals, doulas have their own philosophies and perspectives on reproductive health, maternity care, and infant care. Interview several and find the match that is best for you.
Common mission: Our common goal is to support growing families and improve maternity care!
Why hire a doula?
Who needs a doula? Anybody who wants one. Whether single or with an involved partner, you can benefit from a doula. Whether planning a natural, vaginal delivery or a planned c-section or anything in between, a doula can assist you. You may especially benefit from a doula if you are nervous about birth, don’t want to be left alone during labor, don’t have a supportive partner, live away from family, are a military wife with a deployed husband, struggle with depression or anxiety, or suffer from addiction and need support to have a birth without pain medication.
It is a luxury to have your own personal consultant and support professional for your birth. Pamper yourself. You deserve it. A doula is worth the moola. Of all the times you are worth treating special, giving birth is the time to take care of you. A birthing woman should be pampered even more than a bride.
Did you know studies have found doulas actually improve outcomes?
Professional doulas make a difference.
Studies have shown significantly better outcomes in births where the woman had a supportive partner AND a doula in comparison to women who did not.
The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology reported in March 2014, “Published data indicate one of the most effective tools to improve labor and delivery outcomes is the continuous presence of a support personnel, such as a doula. Given that there are no associated measurable harms, this resource is probably underutilized.”
Read more about doula benefits here.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10643833/
Scott, K. D., Klaus, P. H., & Klaus, M. H. (1999). The obstetrical and postpartum benefits of continuous support during childbirth. Journal of women's health & gender-based medicine, 8(10), 1257–1264. https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.1.1999.8.1257
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23857334/
Hodnett, E. D., Gates, S., Hofmeyr, G. J., & Sakala, C. (2013). Continuous support for women during childbirth. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 7, CD003766. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD003766.pub5
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23409910/
Kozhimannil, K. B., Hardeman, R. R., Attanasio, L. B., Blauer-Peterson, C., & O'Brien, M. (2013). Doula care, birth outcomes, and costs among Medicaid beneficiaries. American journal of public health, 103(4), e113–e121. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2012.301201
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26762249/
Kozhimannil, K. B., Hardeman, R. R., Alarid-Escudero, F., Vogelsang, C. A., Blauer-Peterson, C., & Howell, E. A. (2016). Modeling the Cost-Effectiveness of Doula Care Associated with Reductions in Preterm Birth and Cesarean Delivery. Birth (Berkeley, Calif.), 43(1), 20–27. https://doi.org/10.1111/birt.12218
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28681500/
Bohren, M. A., Hofmeyr, G. J., Sakala, C., Fukuzawa, R. K., & Cuthbert, A. (2017). Continuous support for women during childbirth. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 7(7), CD003766. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD003766.pub6
Evidence Based Birth has a good article on the benefits of doula support.
https://evidencebasedbirth.com/the-evidence-for-doulas/
Other benefits of using doula services:
Truly, doula work is an act of service.
It is a luxury to have your own personal consultant and support professional for your birth. Pamper yourself. You deserve it. A doula is worth the moola. Of all the times you are worth treating special, giving birth is the time to take care of you. A birthing woman should be pampered even more than a bride.
Did you know studies have found doulas actually improve outcomes?
- Doulas lower c-section rates.
- Women who use doulas have lower preterm birth rates.
- Patients using a doula are less likely to need the use of forceps or vacuum delivery.
- Patients with a doula are less likely to need artificial augmentation.
- Women with doulas are more likely to achieve a vaginal delivery.
- Women with doulas are more likely to achieve birthing without an epidural (if that’s what they want).
- Studies have shown laboring with a support person leads to shorter labor.
- They have less anxiety when supported by a doula.
- Mothers are more likely to report satisfaction with their birth experience and feel they had a positive experience when they were cared for by a doula.
- They have increased self-esteem.
- They are less likely to suffer postpartum depression.
- They have higher rates of initiating breastfeeding.
- They are more likely to still be breastfeeding at 6 weeks.
Professional doulas make a difference.
Studies have shown significantly better outcomes in births where the woman had a supportive partner AND a doula in comparison to women who did not.
The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology reported in March 2014, “Published data indicate one of the most effective tools to improve labor and delivery outcomes is the continuous presence of a support personnel, such as a doula. Given that there are no associated measurable harms, this resource is probably underutilized.”
Read more about doula benefits here.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10643833/
Scott, K. D., Klaus, P. H., & Klaus, M. H. (1999). The obstetrical and postpartum benefits of continuous support during childbirth. Journal of women's health & gender-based medicine, 8(10), 1257–1264. https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.1.1999.8.1257
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23857334/
Hodnett, E. D., Gates, S., Hofmeyr, G. J., & Sakala, C. (2013). Continuous support for women during childbirth. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 7, CD003766. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD003766.pub5
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23409910/
Kozhimannil, K. B., Hardeman, R. R., Attanasio, L. B., Blauer-Peterson, C., & O'Brien, M. (2013). Doula care, birth outcomes, and costs among Medicaid beneficiaries. American journal of public health, 103(4), e113–e121. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2012.301201
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26762249/
Kozhimannil, K. B., Hardeman, R. R., Alarid-Escudero, F., Vogelsang, C. A., Blauer-Peterson, C., & Howell, E. A. (2016). Modeling the Cost-Effectiveness of Doula Care Associated with Reductions in Preterm Birth and Cesarean Delivery. Birth (Berkeley, Calif.), 43(1), 20–27. https://doi.org/10.1111/birt.12218
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28681500/
Bohren, M. A., Hofmeyr, G. J., Sakala, C., Fukuzawa, R. K., & Cuthbert, A. (2017). Continuous support for women during childbirth. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 7(7), CD003766. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD003766.pub6
Evidence Based Birth has a good article on the benefits of doula support.
https://evidencebasedbirth.com/the-evidence-for-doulas/
Other benefits of using doula services:
- Women without a partner or whose partner is not involved can still have support.
- Women whose partner wants to be supportive but isn’t sure how can be guided by a doula.
- Those who have a fear of hospitals have a familiar person to stay with them throughout labor and delivery.
- Anyone with anxiety benefits from having a support person.
- Those with a history of substance abuse can be supported to give birth without medication.
- A doula is a consistent person who takes time to get to know you prenatally. There will be many workers you’ll see during your hospital stay. A doula is someone you’re familiar with and comfortable with who can help you navigate your maternity care.
- Any woman who wants to be served by a doula can partner with a professional doula to receive support.
Truly, doula work is an act of service.
Why I serve as a doula
I feel Jesus gave me a purpose for this work and a passion for this. He led me down this path, and it’s a beautiful one. Doula work is a beautiful profession.
My goals are to
Improving outcomes is what it’s all about.
Maternal and infant mortality and morbidity
Public health statistics
Community health
Mental health
Taking care of women
Nurturing families
How do I do that? By educating and supporting one woman at a time, it makes a difference for her and it makes a ripple touching those around her. Change birth care for one woman and you will change it for her children too. Mothers impact generations. Improve the birth experience for one and you may ripple the effect to her family and friends. A pine tree grows one at a time, but when the wind carries the pollen that creates seeds new growth is formed. Over the years, you can grow an entire forest from what was once a bare field. One tree can grow a forest. Nurturing one woman can grow a community of women who are educated, supported, empowered, and go out to sprout into their own agents of growth. Cultivate wellness. That’s what I want to do.
I want to reach individuals, families, communities, and ultimately reach women around the world with education and support.
That is the reason I serve as a doula.
Doula work is not easy. Birth is not easy. Birth is a passage, a woman’s act of bringing forth life into this world. It is laborious work and it is powerful work. I am always in awe of the strength of mothers, the power of women, the greatness of birth. To serve as a doula is to come alongside women going through this experience.
It is to teach.
It is to grow.
It is to coach.
It is to instill confidence.
It is to encourage.
It is to hold space.
It is to tend to the needs of the bearers of life.
It is to help take care of this most special area of health.
While all areas of healthcare are important, women’s health is truly special.
I’m thankful for the opportunity to serve in this role.
My goals are to
- educate women about their reproductive health and prepare them for birth
- improve outcomes in maternal health
- improve outcomes in infant health, particularly breastfeeding
- continue the work of maternity care being more family-centered
- advocate for patient-led healthcare with informed consent and respected decline
- support women and families in their birth experience
- build a stronger community of educated women who will in turn grow change in their communities and the generations to come
Improving outcomes is what it’s all about.
Maternal and infant mortality and morbidity
Public health statistics
Community health
Mental health
Taking care of women
Nurturing families
How do I do that? By educating and supporting one woman at a time, it makes a difference for her and it makes a ripple touching those around her. Change birth care for one woman and you will change it for her children too. Mothers impact generations. Improve the birth experience for one and you may ripple the effect to her family and friends. A pine tree grows one at a time, but when the wind carries the pollen that creates seeds new growth is formed. Over the years, you can grow an entire forest from what was once a bare field. One tree can grow a forest. Nurturing one woman can grow a community of women who are educated, supported, empowered, and go out to sprout into their own agents of growth. Cultivate wellness. That’s what I want to do.
I want to reach individuals, families, communities, and ultimately reach women around the world with education and support.
That is the reason I serve as a doula.
Doula work is not easy. Birth is not easy. Birth is a passage, a woman’s act of bringing forth life into this world. It is laborious work and it is powerful work. I am always in awe of the strength of mothers, the power of women, the greatness of birth. To serve as a doula is to come alongside women going through this experience.
It is to teach.
It is to grow.
It is to coach.
It is to instill confidence.
It is to encourage.
It is to hold space.
It is to tend to the needs of the bearers of life.
It is to help take care of this most special area of health.
While all areas of healthcare are important, women’s health is truly special.
I’m thankful for the opportunity to serve in this role.
Doula Leanna's education and experience
I was always interested in pursuing a career that allowed me to take care of people. I was always fascinated by science, especially how the body functioned. In my teen years, I started gravitating towards healthcare with a strong interest in women’s health. After learning about the career field of midwifery, I wanted to become a midwife. I suppose each person feels passion for something that they can’t quite explain why they struck a fire in their hearts for that topic. I can’t tell you a why or specifically when that became an interest because it interested me from as young as I can remember. All I can tell you is God called me to women’s health and my fire for it never burns out. At the young age of 20, I decided to become a doula as a stepping stone to being a midwife. This was before the days of social media being the mainstream. The internet was in its dinosaur days compared to now. This was the year I got my first email address (though I didn’t actually know how to send somebody mail over the computer). This was also the year I got my first cell phone, a tracfone from Kmart. I had never seen a book for or about doulas. Most people I knew had never heard of it and did not understand what I was taking off to Richmond, Virginia to do a training for. I don’t know that I knew enough about what a doula was to even fully understand the path I was headed down. I just knew that I felt led and I followed the pull.
In 2008 I became a doula.
In 2014 I became a lactation specialist.
Also in 2014, I started college with the original plan of becoming a nurse, going into labor and delivery, and ultimately becoming a nurse-midwife and IBCLC.
I graduated Sinclair in 2018 with an associate’s degree in health sciences.
I decided not to go the nursing route because my heart's primary interest was for patient education. While nurses are excellent patient educators, they get less and less time at the bedside with patients. Overworked with excessive patient ratios and too much charting, I didn’t think there’d be time to do what I really wanted to do in healthcare – teach!
I did take a lot of mental health classes while in college and was previously certified as a chemical dependency counselor assistant. I have a heart for mental health especially anxiety, PTSD, depression, and substance abuse.
In 2019 I completed training as a bereavement doula.
What I’m doing now
I write. I’m an author. I’m a blogger. I make handouts on women’s health. Writing is my purpose, my passion, my compulsion. It’s what I was born for. It’s the reason I breathe. It’s what I want to do every day all day. I love it with a consuming love, an unquenchable thirst, an everlasting abundant desire. Scripturient is my favorite word.
I’m a maternal-infant wellness educator. I knew I wanted to teach about the spectrum of women’s health across the lifespan. So, the term childbirth educator didn’t feel right to me. It felt restrictive. I thought for a while on what a good label would be and settled on maternal-infant wellness educator. That is my own term. It fits my goals. Teaching is a joy. It makes my heart smile to teach and watch my students grow.
Writing is my number one in my schedule. Teaching is something I do as often as I can.
I offer doula services part-time. I will take up to one maybe two births a month. Generally, 4 or 5 is considered full-time. I really enjoy coming alongside people, teaching them, guiding them, supporting them. There’s something special about walking with women through that journey. It’s a passage in life, and I regard it a deep privilege to be able to support women through that.
I also offer lactation support. Breastfeeding is a beautiful design. It can have some bumps in the road though. Tackling lactation obstacles and helping women meet their infant feeding goals is a rewarding job.
Future education
I want to get my bachelor’s in integrated healthcare studies from Ohio University. If I go to grad school, Texas A&M has a master’s in education for healthcare professionals.
On the other hand, I am interested in someday pursuing midwifery when the timing is right. In the meantime, I am writing a book series on women’s health. I want to teach more classes. I’d like to create a training program for health professionals or those with a health-related degree to become childbirth educators and doulas. And somewhere in the next 25 years I may step into a midwifery role.
In 2008 I became a doula.
In 2014 I became a lactation specialist.
Also in 2014, I started college with the original plan of becoming a nurse, going into labor and delivery, and ultimately becoming a nurse-midwife and IBCLC.
I graduated Sinclair in 2018 with an associate’s degree in health sciences.
I decided not to go the nursing route because my heart's primary interest was for patient education. While nurses are excellent patient educators, they get less and less time at the bedside with patients. Overworked with excessive patient ratios and too much charting, I didn’t think there’d be time to do what I really wanted to do in healthcare – teach!
I did take a lot of mental health classes while in college and was previously certified as a chemical dependency counselor assistant. I have a heart for mental health especially anxiety, PTSD, depression, and substance abuse.
In 2019 I completed training as a bereavement doula.
What I’m doing now
I write. I’m an author. I’m a blogger. I make handouts on women’s health. Writing is my purpose, my passion, my compulsion. It’s what I was born for. It’s the reason I breathe. It’s what I want to do every day all day. I love it with a consuming love, an unquenchable thirst, an everlasting abundant desire. Scripturient is my favorite word.
I’m a maternal-infant wellness educator. I knew I wanted to teach about the spectrum of women’s health across the lifespan. So, the term childbirth educator didn’t feel right to me. It felt restrictive. I thought for a while on what a good label would be and settled on maternal-infant wellness educator. That is my own term. It fits my goals. Teaching is a joy. It makes my heart smile to teach and watch my students grow.
Writing is my number one in my schedule. Teaching is something I do as often as I can.
I offer doula services part-time. I will take up to one maybe two births a month. Generally, 4 or 5 is considered full-time. I really enjoy coming alongside people, teaching them, guiding them, supporting them. There’s something special about walking with women through that journey. It’s a passage in life, and I regard it a deep privilege to be able to support women through that.
I also offer lactation support. Breastfeeding is a beautiful design. It can have some bumps in the road though. Tackling lactation obstacles and helping women meet their infant feeding goals is a rewarding job.
Future education
I want to get my bachelor’s in integrated healthcare studies from Ohio University. If I go to grad school, Texas A&M has a master’s in education for healthcare professionals.
On the other hand, I am interested in someday pursuing midwifery when the timing is right. In the meantime, I am writing a book series on women’s health. I want to teach more classes. I’d like to create a training program for health professionals or those with a health-related degree to become childbirth educators and doulas. And somewhere in the next 25 years I may step into a midwifery role.
My philosophy on birth care
Oftentimes, women’s health issues are seen as mom issues more than they are seen as health issues, just like infertility issues such as endometriosis and PCOS are seen primarily as being about a woman’s ability to have a baby rather than being seen as daily health issues. This needs to change. I believe women’s health is a specialty of healthcare that is equally valid to other specialties.
Women’s health matters.
Maternity care matters.
You matter.
My philosophy on healthcare is that patients should lead their healthcare. I believe a partnership model is best, not a pilot model. Take care of people and teach them how to take care of what they can. Patients should lead their own healthcare and lifestyle of wellness.
My philosophy on maternity care is that
I do not advocate for natural birth or a certain birth experience for everyone. If someone wants to go unmedicated, they should be supported. If someone wants an epidural, they should be supported. Birth is highly unique. Each and every birth is different. My goal as a doula is to support families to have the closest experience they can to their ideal birth.
I intentionally strive to acknowledge the vastness of birth experiences: natural pain management and epidurals, vaginal and cesarean, healthy and unhealthy, low risk and high risk, different birth locations, different preferences, different perspectives.
There is beauty in all birth and all birth deserves support.
Women’s health matters.
Maternity care matters.
You matter.
My philosophy on healthcare is that patients should lead their healthcare. I believe a partnership model is best, not a pilot model. Take care of people and teach them how to take care of what they can. Patients should lead their own healthcare and lifestyle of wellness.
My philosophy on maternity care is that
- Women must maintain the right to consent and decline.
- Obstetric care and midwifery care should be centered on evidence-based practices.
- Healthy outcomes for mom and baby are the main goal.
I do not advocate for natural birth or a certain birth experience for everyone. If someone wants to go unmedicated, they should be supported. If someone wants an epidural, they should be supported. Birth is highly unique. Each and every birth is different. My goal as a doula is to support families to have the closest experience they can to their ideal birth.
I intentionally strive to acknowledge the vastness of birth experiences: natural pain management and epidurals, vaginal and cesarean, healthy and unhealthy, low risk and high risk, different birth locations, different preferences, different perspectives.
There is beauty in all birth and all birth deserves support.
Types of births I attend and families I serve
It is often thought that doulas only support natural birth (vaginal, unmedicated). Quite commonly, people think doulas are for home births. As for me, this is what my services are available for.
- Any location: hospital, birthing center, or home
- Births with obstetricians and births with nurse-midwives and births with CPMs (certified professional midwives) or DEMs (direct-entry midwives)
- Vaginal births
- Cesarean births, whether scheduled or unplanned
- Any type of pain management: all natural or epidural or somewhere in between (Yep, I fully support epidurals!)
- Low-risk births
- High-risk births
- Singletons or multiples
- Expected healthy outcome
- Expected health problems
- Perinatal and infant loss: miscarriage, stillbirth, fatal diagnosis or health issues that are expected to cause death
- All types of families: Whether you're married, single, dating, divorced, somewhere in between, or you have a multi-parent family, I'm happy to partner with you on your journey. I also support adoption, and can be hired by the birthing mother or the adoptive mother (with birthing mom's permission). Likewise, with surrogacy I can work with the birthing family and the intended parents as they walk this path together.
- I serve people from a variety of religious beliefs, political perspectives, and different backgrounds. I enjoy working with a wide variety of people. I believe diversity strengthens healthcare workers.
Confidentiality
- I respect your privacy and keep health information and anything else you choose to share with me confidential.
- I will not release any information to a client’s family and friends unless the client requests I do so.
- I do not share who my clients are or any of their personal details including health history, medical decisions, how their birth went, or the names of anyone in the family.
- I do not announce a birth before the parents. With parental consent, I may post on my Facebook business page a welcome baby announcement or a little bit about the work that I do. Clients are welcome to post pictures including me on their social media. If a client posts a photo tagging my page, I may ask permission to share photos of me working as a doula.
- I will not post on social media who my clients are or any information about their birth without written consent. If a family is fine with having their photo and first names on my website or Facebook with a review, I would be happy to post an approved photo with consent to share about my work as a doula.
What do I do during a birth?
- I provide physical support to the mother during labor and delivery. There are a variety of ways physical support can be provided. We go over the different methods in the prenatal class coping with contractions.
- I assist the dad in learning how to provide physical support to his partner. If the husband/partner wants to be the primary support person (which is awesome), I am more than happy to focus on guiding him in taking care of his wife/partner.
- I offer emotional support to the couple.
- If the birthing mother has family and friends she would like to be involved during labor, I’m glad to assist them in showing them ways they can provide support.
- During our prenatal appointments, we talk about how you want the environment and birth space to be and how you don’t want it to be. In mindfulness of those preferences, I strive to cultivate the birth space to be how she wants it to be.
- As a Christian, I am happy to pray over the family and read scriptures or devotionals if the client would like.
- For mothers that choose to breastfeed, I provide lactation support as a certified breastfeeding specialist.
- I provide a safe place to confidentially talk about whatever a client needs to talk about.
- Though I don’t have a camera, I am more than happy to take pictures with your phone or camera or my own cell phone if you’d like.
What I do NOT do
- I do not replace the dad. He is very much a priority in the birthing process. Bringing a child into the world is the birth of a family. While I will gladly work with single mothers and in circumstances where the father is not present, I will never “push a dad aside”. I’m there to support the birthing couple.
- I do not provide medical care. A doula is different than a midwife. I do not diagnose or treat health problems. I will not prescribe anything including supplements or herbal treatments. I will not be taking vitals or fetal heart tones.
- I do not attempt to intervene with medical care or encourage people to go against their doctor’s recommendations.
- I do not advocate for a client’s decisions or go up against the medical team. It is an individual’s responsibility to make their own medical decisions and speak on them. I do not argue with doctors or nurses. I work together with the staff to provide care for the birthing family.
- I do not judge the medical choices you make surrounding your birth. Your health decisions are rightfully yours to make and should be respected.
- I do not attend unassisted deliveries. While I respect a woman’s right to give birth in her chosen location with whomever she chooses present, it’s a liability issue should there be complications.
- I do not offer fertility support for families currently trying to conceive. I wish you all the best and baby dust. Contact me for birth services when your time comes.
- I do not attend terminations (abortions). There are doulas that offer that service. Usually doulas that call themselves full-spectrum doulas also attend and support that side of women's health.
- While I do post-birth checkups, I do not provide postpartum doula support including housekeeping, running errands, meal prep, or nannying.
Services include
Birth doula services include
I also offer childbirth education and lactation support as two separate services.
- Support from early pregnancy through up to 3 months postpartum
- I am available for hire any time after pregnancy is confirmed. You are welcome to hire me in early pregnancy or late in the third trimester.
- Prenatal education: After hire, I am always available to answer questions and provide resources upon request. Please visit the Maternal-infant Wellness Education page for free education.
- Birth preparation
- Birth support
- Breastfeeding support the day of the birth is included for all doula clients at no extra charge.
- Postpartum appointments will consist of checking on the family, answering questions, assessing breastfeeding, checking up on their recovery, assessing mental wellness and discussing any concerns over postpartum depression or anxiety (or simply stress), providing emotional support, offering any requested resources, and closure of services.
- I do my best to customize services to fit what the family needs. Some people may want more hands-on physical support. Others may primarily be interested in having a doula so they aren’t alone. Let’s have open communication and work together to create the best birth experience possible.
I also offer childbirth education and lactation support as two separate services.
Packages to choose from
You can choose the standard package (on-call) or the hourly support (off-call).
Standard package (on-call)
Prenatal appointments: 3
Appointment 1 – the intake appointment
Appointment 2 – birth plans, patient rights, and effective communication
Appointment 3 – coping with contractions workshop
***All doula clients signed up for the standard package are welcome to attend any classes I teach in a public location at no extra charge.
Birth support: active labor through delivery
In-person support physically and mentally will be provided from active labor through delivery. I stay an hour or two after births to take care of momma, make sure breastfeeding is started well, and help the family get settled in.
Postpartum appointments: 1 follow-up appointment
Within a month of delivery (whatever time the client chooses works best for her), we will do a follow-up. We review the birth, address postpartum healing, and discuss any concerns.
If there are ever concerns over mental health postpartum, I am always available.
Hourly support package (off-call)
This is a budget friendly option. The way it works is the doula is paid by the hour. The client hires the doula prenatally, sets a cap at how much they are able to pay, and calls the doula when labor begins or when they arrive at the hospital for induction or cesarean. The client does not need to pay the doula any money at all unless the doula is called in to work. Payment is made when the doula arrives at the birth location. The lump sum (pre-determined budget) will be paid at arrival, and any hours unused will be refunded before I leave.
The catch is I am not on call. This budget option allows for hiring doula services the day it is needed. I may or may not be available to come or I may be available that day/night until a specific time. If I am unable to come, the client pays nothing. If I am able to come, the client pays when I arrive on location. The client determines how long I stay (up to 12 hours at a time).
Here is an example of how to use the hourly doula services. We’ll call the client Jennah. The hourly charge is $40.
Jennah has a $400 budget for doula services. She opts for the hourly services. The cap is determined at time of hire. $400 is 10 hours of care. When Jennah goes into labor, she calls me and gives me a heads up. I’m available. After laboring at home on her own for a while, Jennah is ready for the doula to come. I meet her at home or her chosen birth location. She needs a doula for 7 hours. The doula is paid $280 before leaving the birth location. If Jennah decides to, any leftover funds can be used for lactation support or a postpartum appointment.
I encourage all doula clients to take childbirth classes.
Click here to view the classes that I offer.
Standard package (on-call)
Prenatal appointments: 3
Appointment 1 – the intake appointment
Appointment 2 – birth plans, patient rights, and effective communication
Appointment 3 – coping with contractions workshop
***All doula clients signed up for the standard package are welcome to attend any classes I teach in a public location at no extra charge.
Birth support: active labor through delivery
In-person support physically and mentally will be provided from active labor through delivery. I stay an hour or two after births to take care of momma, make sure breastfeeding is started well, and help the family get settled in.
Postpartum appointments: 1 follow-up appointment
Within a month of delivery (whatever time the client chooses works best for her), we will do a follow-up. We review the birth, address postpartum healing, and discuss any concerns.
If there are ever concerns over mental health postpartum, I am always available.
Hourly support package (off-call)
This is a budget friendly option. The way it works is the doula is paid by the hour. The client hires the doula prenatally, sets a cap at how much they are able to pay, and calls the doula when labor begins or when they arrive at the hospital for induction or cesarean. The client does not need to pay the doula any money at all unless the doula is called in to work. Payment is made when the doula arrives at the birth location. The lump sum (pre-determined budget) will be paid at arrival, and any hours unused will be refunded before I leave.
The catch is I am not on call. This budget option allows for hiring doula services the day it is needed. I may or may not be available to come or I may be available that day/night until a specific time. If I am unable to come, the client pays nothing. If I am able to come, the client pays when I arrive on location. The client determines how long I stay (up to 12 hours at a time).
Here is an example of how to use the hourly doula services. We’ll call the client Jennah. The hourly charge is $40.
Jennah has a $400 budget for doula services. She opts for the hourly services. The cap is determined at time of hire. $400 is 10 hours of care. When Jennah goes into labor, she calls me and gives me a heads up. I’m available. After laboring at home on her own for a while, Jennah is ready for the doula to come. I meet her at home or her chosen birth location. She needs a doula for 7 hours. The doula is paid $280 before leaving the birth location. If Jennah decides to, any leftover funds can be used for lactation support or a postpartum appointment.
I encourage all doula clients to take childbirth classes.
Click here to view the classes that I offer.
Fees
A consultation appointment for a meet-and-greet to interview is free. We will meet in a public location for the interview.
The standard package
Price: $1200
Fees are non-negotiable. I have a flat fee for all types of births (and all outcomes) with equal charges for families of all income levels.
50% of the fee is due at the time of hire. The rest is due by 36 weeks or before the birth. Payment must be received in full before birth for the doula to attend labor and delivery.
Payment methods accepted:
The hourly support package
Price: $40 an hour
The budget is determined at the time of hire. The lump sum (pre-determined budget) will be paid at arrival, and any hours unused will be refunded before I leave.
The standard package
Price: $1200
Fees are non-negotiable. I have a flat fee for all types of births (and all outcomes) with equal charges for families of all income levels.
50% of the fee is due at the time of hire. The rest is due by 36 weeks or before the birth. Payment must be received in full before birth for the doula to attend labor and delivery.
Payment methods accepted:
- Invoices are sent through Paypal. That allows you to pay with your checking account, savings account, debit card, or credit card that is Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express. If you do not have a Paypal account, you can pay with a debit card or credit card.
- Cash is also accepted.
The hourly support package
Price: $40 an hour
The budget is determined at the time of hire. The lump sum (pre-determined budget) will be paid at arrival, and any hours unused will be refunded before I leave.
Service areas of western Ohio
I serve within approximately an hour -- no more than an hour and a half -- of Fairborn, Ohio.
This includes the following counties:
My immediate area is Montgomery, Greene, Clark, and Miami.
I also serve Darke, Preble, Warren, Clinton, Fayette, Madison, Champaign, Union, Logan, and Shelby counties.
Services may be available in Auglaize and Allen counties depending on distance (and proximity to I-75).
Exceptions: I do not serve Butler, Hamilton, or Franklin counties.
Hospitals and birthing centers in those areas
My immediate area:
Montgomery County
Hospitals: Kettering, Southview, Miami Valley, MV South
Birthing centers: Miami Valley Hospital has a birthing center.
Greene County
Hospitals: Soin
Clark County
Hospitals: Mercy Health - Springfield Regional
Miami County
Hospitals: Upper Valley
The surrounding areas:
Warren County
Hospitals: Atrium
Birthing centers: There is a birthing center inside of Atrium hospital
Clinton County
Hospitals: Clinton Memorial
Madison County
Hospitals: Madison Health
I am also available to serve families at St. Rita's in Lima.
This includes the following counties:
My immediate area is Montgomery, Greene, Clark, and Miami.
I also serve Darke, Preble, Warren, Clinton, Fayette, Madison, Champaign, Union, Logan, and Shelby counties.
Services may be available in Auglaize and Allen counties depending on distance (and proximity to I-75).
Exceptions: I do not serve Butler, Hamilton, or Franklin counties.
Hospitals and birthing centers in those areas
My immediate area:
Montgomery County
Hospitals: Kettering, Southview, Miami Valley, MV South
Birthing centers: Miami Valley Hospital has a birthing center.
Greene County
Hospitals: Soin
Clark County
Hospitals: Mercy Health - Springfield Regional
Miami County
Hospitals: Upper Valley
The surrounding areas:
Warren County
Hospitals: Atrium
Birthing centers: There is a birthing center inside of Atrium hospital
Clinton County
Hospitals: Clinton Memorial
Madison County
Hospitals: Madison Health
I am also available to serve families at St. Rita's in Lima.
Contact me for a consultation
Note: I am unable to provide services in homes with a cat. They are very adorable creatures, but I am very allergic (which is forever sad because they're so cute). If prenatal and postpartum appointments can be held in another home, I can provide birth support upon arrival to the hospital or birthing center.
Click the button below to contact me via email. Please initially contact through emailing via my website. Social media message requests may not give a notification. In the email, include your name and general area as well as contact information. If a phone number is given, please note whether call or text is preferred and what time of day is best.
After a pre-consultation questionnaire, we can get together in a safe, public location for a meet-and-greet.
Click the button below to contact me via email. Please initially contact through emailing via my website. Social media message requests may not give a notification. In the email, include your name and general area as well as contact information. If a phone number is given, please note whether call or text is preferred and what time of day is best.
After a pre-consultation questionnaire, we can get together in a safe, public location for a meet-and-greet.