This meeting lasts for an hour and typically takes place over a quick lunch or a cup of coffee. This is a great time for the expectant parents and the doula to get to know each other. We will discuss the parents’ needs and desires and how the doula will fit into their birth experience.

   These meetings typically last up to two hours, take place in the clients’ home, and are generally scheduled between 30-36 weeks of pregnancy (after the clients have contracted with the doula to provide services).

   During these meetings, we will discuss your birth history, your desires for your current birth, and your birth plan. Other topics of discussion include massage techniques, positions, and exercises that may be beneficial during your pregnancy or labor. They also provide a great opportunity for the doula and the clients to get to know each other on a deeper level.

   A birth plan is a simple, clear, statement of your (and your partner’s) preferences for the birth of your child that can be provided to everyone directly involved in the birth in order to provide an effective avenue for discussing important details with those responsible for supporting and caring for you and to help resolve any potential issues before the big day. Because there are so many aspects of birth to consider, many of which can easily get overlooked until it’s too late, I will help guide you through the process of creating a plan that best expresses your hopes, desires, and needs for this special event.

   The doula will provide unlimited phone/text/email support through the entire pregnancy (beginning at the time of hire) and continuing up through 6 weeks postpartum.

   The doula will go to ‘on-call’ status at 38 weeks and will remain ‘on-call’ through delivery.

   The doula will come to your home or meet you at the hospital, depending on your preference, when you feel that you need additional support, and will remain with you until your baby is born.

   The doula will provide the use of a TENS unit, if requested by client, to help provide relief during labor.

   The doula will stay with you for the first couple of hours after delivery to provide breastfeeding support (if needed) and to help with settling in and transitioning to post-delivery hospital room.

   The doula will visit you in your home when you are ready to discuss your birth experience, to evaluate the breastfeeding process, and to address any needs that you might have. Post-partum visits are usually scheduled 1-4 weeks after the baby is born.