A Gentler Birth - About Me

Services and Fees

My Role as a Birth Doula:
As a Birth Doula, I accompany women in labor to help ensure a safe and satisfying birth experience. I provide emotional support and reassurance through encouragement and knowledge. I provide physical comfort through massage, positioning, and relaxation techniques. I also provide labor progressing tips and techniques by encouraging movement and position changes. If you wish, I can remind you if there is a departure from your birth plan.

As a Birth Doula, I will not perform clinical tasks, such as blood pressure, fetal heart checks, vaginal exams, etc. I am there to provide only physical comfort, emotional support, and education. I will not make decisions for you. I will help you obtain the information you need to make an informed decision. I will not speak to the staff on your behalf. I will discuss any concerns you may have with you and suggest options. Ultimately, you and/or your support person(s) will discuss with your care providers, and must take responsibility for, your final decisions.

My Services:

An initial meeting will be set-up to determine whether you wish to hire me as your Doula. There is no charge for this meeting.

Once you have chosen me to be your Doula, I will arrange to meet with you and your support person(s) at least once before labor to become acquainted, to explore and discuss your priorities, fears, or concerns, and to determine how we might best work together.

I will want to become familiar with your birth plan, including your preferences regarding medical interventions and the use of pain medications. Additionally, I will want to know how you and your support person(s) foresee working together.

I kindly request a phone call when you first believe to be in labor, even if you are not ready for my assistance at that point. This will allow time for us to determine our next steps, as well as time for me to clear my schedule and arrange for childcare.

I will arrive within one hour (please allow more time if you live a significant distance from me and for high traffic times) from the time you request my presence, whether it will be at your home, the hospital, or birth center.

I will remain with you throughout labor and birth, and for approximately one hour after, or until you are comfortable and breastfeeding has been established.

Approximately two weeks after birth, I will come for a postpartum visit, so we can discuss your birth experience, answer any questions you may have, offer any necessary resources, and admire your baby!

Contacting Me:

I will be on-call for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, beginning two weeks prior to your due date.

Call me at (206) 459-4444, my cell phone, first. Then (253) 884-8088, my home phone. If necessary, please also call (206) 459-7077.

I may be in a situation where I cannot answer the phone right away, so please always leave a message. I will return your call promptly.

Terms & Conditions:

If I am unable to attend the birth due to my own circumstances and have not arranged for a back-up Doula, I will refund your money.

If you do not call me to attend the birth for any reason (including not calling me early enough to allow for my timely arrival), you forfeit any refund, however, I will gladly come for a postpartum visit.

If you go into labor before you are considered “term” at 37 weeks gestation, I will still be available to you.

In hiring a doula, you understand that she is not medically trained and does not guarantee any specific birth outcome.

Fees:
My current fee for birth doula services is $500. I am currently offering a discounted rate for out-of-hospital births. I also give a break on cost to my repeat clients and I send a “thank you” to any of my clients who send a referral my way (after contract signing by the referred client). Please contact me to discuss your particular situation and we will come to a decision regarding my rate for your birth at that time. My fee includes 1 to 3 prenatal visits, my continuous presence at your birth, immediate postpartum support and breastfeeding assistance, and 1 to 2 postpartum visits, in addition to access to my lending library and 24/7 email and phone support from time of hire to 3 weeks postpartum.

I truly believe that no woman who wants one, should give birth without a doula. With that in mind, I am willing to negotiate my fees, barter, or offer time payments for those who are having difficulty affording a doula. Don’t let finances stand in your way of the birth experience you want.

A final note regarding finances: Please don’t choose your doula based on her fee. Do everything in your power to find the doula that works best for you, even if it is not me! Many doulas are willing to work with women who are having financial issues. It is important that you choose the doula you feel the most comfortable with, not simply the most affordable one!