Willow Birth

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 Labor Doula Services

Whether this is your first baby, or your tenth, your experience of pregnancy, birth and bonding with your baby are unique.

Before your baby is born, your doula will provide information and education, as well as support during pregnancy, birth and postpartum.  Along the way, we can help you find information and answer questions about nutrition, what to expect, feeling the baby move, belly mapping, and ways to help relieve common discomforts of pregnancy.

Your doula will be on-call 24 hours a day for the two weeks prior to your due-date until you deliver, being with you as early in labor as you like, and providing whatever support you need.  We can support you directly during labor for comfort measures, relaxation techniques, or just reassurance, or assist your family to support you.  We are also there as support for your spouse and family.  You will discuss ahead of time with your doula what services can be provided, and what you expect or hope a doula can do.

During active labor, you may find your instincts dictate different needs.  Your doula will be as flexible as possible and endeavor to support you in whatever capacity you need.

Doulas may also be able to offer these additional services:

Each Doula practice is a little different, but here is an idea of what you can generally expect:

Prenatal Visits

 

Consultation (free)  You will meet your doula to chat and to learn about Doula services.   This is also the time to bring up any concerns or questions regarding Doula care and fees for services.

First Visit:  We can explore your thoughts and feelings about childbirth including what type of birth you would like (hospital, birth center, home birth, water birth..etc.) and prenatal nutrition. We can also explore other options available to you.  We can talk about ways you can learn to trust your body and your ability to birth.  Using a Birth Plan, we can discuss coping skills and positions during labor, and your visions for your ideal birth.  Your will also be available to you at any time, to help answer any questions you have during your pregnancy via phone or e-mail.

Your doula may also attend a prenatal visit with you and your doctor, midwife or other health care provider before the birth and discuss their expectations for the birth.  She can also accompany you to tour the hospital or birth center where you plan to deliver.

Second Visit (if needed): Review of birth plan, meet the partner Doula, and general discussion of any concerns or questions not addressed on the first visit. 

Labor

For the two weeks prior to your due date up until the birth of your child, your doula is available to you 24 hours per day.  Upon your call,  she will be able to meet you within 1 hour at all times.  In the unforeseen event that she is unable to meet with you,  a prearranged backup doula/partner (who you will have met on the second visit) will meet with you and assist you until your doula can arrive.

During your labor your doula will offer continuous labor support and be with you until approximately one to two hours after the birth to help assist with initial breastfeeding and family bonding.   She can also help your partner with tools to support mom during labor.

 

Your doula may also be there to take pictures, run errands, call relatives, provide non-medical pain relief and provide moral and educational support to you and partner during labor.

 

 

Cesarean Birth


In the event of a planned cesarean birth, your “birth experience” may be different than what you hoped for.  Your doula can be with you and your partner before and after the birth to provide, reassurance, and help you cope with any fears and anxieties of surgery.  At your prenatal visit, you will explore and outline your birth wishes, to help make your birth experience all that it can be.  In most hospitals today only one person is allowed to accompany the mother in surgery, but doula support can be very helpful even if your doula is unable to attend the birth.  She can take dad’s place at mom’s side in the event that dad has to go with baby to the nursery, so mom will never be left alone.   She can be a contact person between the two of you if needed as well.   She can also be there once you are out of recovery and can provide comfort measures, breastfeeding support and help you with bonding time with your baby. In the event that your partner is not able to attend the surgery for what ever reason, your doula can be your primary support person.  

 

Doulas also may offer limited postpartum services once you are home..  Additional postpartum services are generally billed at an additional hourly rate.
 

Post-partum

Your Birth Doula will make two postpartum visits to you and your family. .  If you feel you need more visits, or if you are feeling overwhelmed, please call your doula immediately and we will arrange more visits.

Additional postpartum respite care is provided at an additional fee.

 

To set up an interview e-mail me at info@willowbirth.com

 
Bed Rest or Pregnancy Support


Services are provided for mothers who have been put on bed rest, have limits to their activities, or just need a helping hand before the baby arrives. This role is much like the role of a Postpartum Doula and is charged on an hourly basis

 

Private Prenatal Visits and Childbirth Education Classes


Some doulas offer prenatal visits, without the on call and birth services.  This is an education visit that will help you and your partner prepare for labor and birth.  Each prenatal visit is geared to the individual clients needs and is based on the same information presented at prenatal visits with birth services. 
 

 

To set up an interview e-mail me at info@willowbirth.com

Or contact another Doula in our member network


 

 Postpartum Doula

 

While a doula is very valuable during pregnancy, labor and delivery, she can also be of great help in the weeks after the birth of your baby.  Having a postpartum doula can really hold that space and give your the opportunity to really get to know each other, and help make that transition smoother and more peaceful for all of you.  Your doula can also provide information and support, to help you get through some of the trickier parts of early breastfeeding, bathing and diapering your newborn for the first time, how to soothe a fussy baby, as well as coping with the potential exhaustion of sleep deprivation and any signs of postpartum depression.

Taking care of a new baby is a 24-hour a day job.  When you've just given birth, your body is still readjusting to being not pregnant and needs time to rest and recover.  Having a Postpartum Doula can be just the help you need.

 

Postpartum Doula Services


• Nurturing the new mother and family
• Providing information, resources and any referrals
• Breastfeeding support
• Newborn care such as diapering, bathing, cord care.
• Strategies for coping with sleep deprivation, soothing baby.
• Emotional Support
• Light meal preparation, planning
• Light housekeeping such as laundry
• Run errands, such as food shopping

Having a postpartum doula for just a few hours can allow some time to process your birth experience, put together pictures or birth announcements, or just having someone to hold the baby while you take a shower.

Hours and length of service varies from client to client, and doula to doula .  Shifts can be full time, with 9 to 5 coverage, or part-time with shifts of 4 to 6 hours a day.  The number of days per week also varies from a few hours or can be 2 to 7 days a week.   Night time doula care is available and focuses primarily on baby care to ensure that parents can get some rest.

Postpartum services are also billed on a sliding scale, but fees are generally an hourly basis for day hours and at a higher rate for overnight hours.