FAQ

No, I do not use the 12-hour language.  I feel the consistency of working with one person is so important during labor and delivery.  I will use all the tools at my disposal to help your labor and delivery go as quickly and safely as possible.  Part of that is that you will not have to have the concern at any time throughout this process of having to have someone come in mid-stream or have to pay a higher fee because the time of us working together has gone beyond 12 hours.  Of course, there are extenuating circumstances and I always have a back-up in those situations.

Yes.  First of all, let me say how sorry I am for your previous experiences.  I have learned from so many moms how challenging it is to move forward when you have experienced a previous loss.  I will work with you processing those experiences and help you to feel more confident and able to birth your baby.  By utilizing embodiment sessions and other tools, we will work together to help you process and have an empowered experience so help you connect with this pregnancy and birth.

Most infertility cases — 85 to 90 percent — are treated with conventional therapies, such as drug treatment or surgical repair of reproductive organs.  If you are looking for other options, a health practitioner specializing in infertility can help you get to the root cause of the issue.  A personalized program can be designed to meet your specific needs.

In general, if you are less than 35 years old and have been trying for more than one year you should schedule an appointment with a practitioner that specializes in infertility. If you are greater than 35 years old we would like to see you after at least six months of properly timed, sexual intercourse. However, if you have a reason to suspect you may have a problem getting pregnant such as a history of pelvic inflammatory disease, painful periods, miscarriage, irregular menstrual cycles, or if your partner has a low sperm count, you should seek help sooner.  Please be reassured there are many things we can do to help you build your family.

Infertility is a medical problem that affects both men and women. Approximately 35% of infertility is due to a female factor and 35% is due to a male factor. In the balance of cases, infertility results from problems in both partners and getting to the root cause of any issues is important.  Getting to the root cause will enable you to work with a practitioner that can first get to the root cause, and then to heal the issues that are present.

Yes!  We support your birth choices that are important to you.  We will educate you so you are prepared for whatever decisions you make for your birth experience.

Hospital based birth classes teach you the basic mechanics of birth and the hospital policies.  Doulas teach the physiology of birth and prepare you for the emotionally and physically demanding aspects of labor.

Labors tend to be shorter and with fewer complications with a birth doula present.  Women having a birth doula report having more positive feelings about their childbirth experience.  Doula assisted births have a reduced need for pitocin to induce labor or any other delivery assistance.  There is also a reduction for the need for pain medications, epidurals and c-section when a birth doula is present.

Statistically proven outcomes are:

• 31% decrease in the use of pitocin
• 28% decrease in the risk of c-section
• 12% increase in the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth
• 9% decrease in the use of any medications for pain relief
• 14% decrease in the risk of newborns being admitted to a special care nusery
• 34% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience

No.  Doulas do not replace any medical personnel.  Doulas do not perform any medical tests or procedures.  Our role is to provide comfort and support and ensuring that the requests of the mom are being met.  Doulas do not make decisions for you but can assist with making your needs clear to the medical staff.

We are there to advocate for you regardless if it is a c-section or vaginal delivery.  Doulas are sometimes allowed in the operating room for support if that is what you would like.  If not, we can help you gain perspective of the situation and help to slow things down taking the “emergency” out of a non-emergency situation.  Doulas are there to remind the whole birth team what your wishes are and to help keep the mom relaxed and calm.  We can help after the birth to process the experience and help to alleviate any concerns and help with all the emotions involved with a c-section.  We can help with breastfeeding also.  We can help to facilitate skin to skin after a c-section which is very important for bonding, breastfeeding, temperature and blood sugar balancing in the baby.

Definitely!  We provide support to both the mother and her partner.  We help to ensure the partner plays a key role in the process, to the extent that they are comfortable.  We will talk about the partner’s participation prior to labor so we are all on the same page and all are supported.

Doulas and midwives have very different roles.  A midwife if your primary  care provider and will take care of all of your medical needs.  She will monitor the baby, chart your labor and ultimately is responsible for the health and well-being of you and your baby.  Doulas are there for you often much earlier than your midwife.  We will help with breathing and other labor tools like massage, and position changes.  We will stay by your side providing consistent care for you and your partner.

I have been a doula for over 15 years and doulas are in every hospital I know of.  We work at cultivating a positive relationship with the staff at all the hospitals.  It was a bit more challenging in the beginning but now we are widely accepted.  Often when a client has a doula the nurses are happy as they know the new mom and dad are educated on birth and has the support during labor, delivery and postpartum.

A birth doula will provide support to the mother and her partner that is above all unconditional.  We do not judge, rather we listen.  Our goal is to help empower you to make the decisions that are best for you and your family.  Doulas create trust, comfort and knowledge along with much encouragement.  We are consistently with you throughout your labor.  We have experience with cues, sounds, facial expressions and can respond with appropriate comfort measures and encouragement.   We will hold consultations in your home or wherever you are comfortable.  We remind your partner or support person about the tools they have learned.  We provide education as needed and desired and can help with breastfeeding as well as support after the baby is born.  We are trained in looking for issues that may be of concern for postpartum depression and can make suggestions as appropriate for care and provide information.

A birth doula is someone trained in childbirth who is there to provide support (information, emotional and physical) to the mother throughout the birth process.