you deserve support. you deserve a doula.
My job as a birth doula is to support, educate, and hold space for you during one of your greatest adventures:
pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
so... what is a doula?
That's a GREAT question! Let me tell you a little about what I do(ula)...
prenatal support
During your pregnancy, I offer support for both you and your partner, which entails us working as a team to:
- iron out your birth plan
- facilitate conversations with your care provider
- manage any concerns about your birth
- help you educate yourself on every aspect of birth
labor and birth support
My primary role is to offer support for you and your partner during labor and childbirth, which can include (and is definitely not limited to):
I want you to be informed, deeply supported, and feel fully empowered through every step of your birth - you deserve that!
- helping keep you focused and present
- managing pain with physical comfort measures like aromatherapy, acupressure, massage, meditation, and water therapy
- direct your birth partner - if you want them to be involved, we will find the best ways for them to help!
- helping (non-invasively) get baby in the ideal position for birth
- help you communicate more freely and come to agreements about your care with your provider, should parts of your birth not go quite as planned
- holding space for you and your emotions during this deeply transformative process
I want you to be informed, deeply supported, and feel fully empowered through every step of your birth - you deserve that!
postpartum support
During your postpartum period, I can help with a lot, including:
Even more so than pregnancy, the sacred postpartum period requires community care - you deserve to rest and heal with support from those around you.
*At this time, I do not offer overnight postpartum services - but I know of several wonderful postpartum doulas who I would love to refer you to if that is something you'd like to invest in!
- prepping some healthy snacks for you to keep in the fridge
- doing some light chores around the house to help you feel safe to simply rest - dishes, light cleaning, laundry, and general tidying up
- coaching breastfeeding or recommending breastfeeding specialists
- giving you space to breathe and process your birth and new life for a little while
- or take that desperately-needed shower and nap ;)
Even more so than pregnancy, the sacred postpartum period requires community care - you deserve to rest and heal with support from those around you.
*At this time, I do not offer overnight postpartum services - but I know of several wonderful postpartum doulas who I would love to refer you to if that is something you'd like to invest in!
now that i know what you do, i've gotta ask: who can benefit from having doula?
The better question is: who can't??
Honestly, every single birthing family stands to benefit from having the support of a doula, from first-time parents to seventh-time parents. Doulas function as so much more than cheerleaders during birth — I advocate for and educate on evidence-based practices, help you navigate interactions with your care provider, and can connect you to a wealth of community resources. I'm also here for the whole family, not just the birthing parent! Partners and other children can certainly benefit from having someone in the room to ask questions of and glean a little extra support from.
As for those of you who think doulas are just for hippie-type homebirthers, think again!
We are generally absolutely happy to work with midwives in a birth center or at a homebirth, but are just as confident and sometimes even more necessary in a hospital birth setting! Whether you're dreaming of a waterbirth in your living room, a vaginal birth with ALL the pain meds, or have the date for your Cesarean already set, there's a doula out there ready to support you.
Honestly, every single birthing family stands to benefit from having the support of a doula, from first-time parents to seventh-time parents. Doulas function as so much more than cheerleaders during birth — I advocate for and educate on evidence-based practices, help you navigate interactions with your care provider, and can connect you to a wealth of community resources. I'm also here for the whole family, not just the birthing parent! Partners and other children can certainly benefit from having someone in the room to ask questions of and glean a little extra support from.
As for those of you who think doulas are just for hippie-type homebirthers, think again!
We are generally absolutely happy to work with midwives in a birth center or at a homebirth, but are just as confident and sometimes even more necessary in a hospital birth setting! Whether you're dreaming of a waterbirth in your living room, a vaginal birth with ALL the pain meds, or have the date for your Cesarean already set, there's a doula out there ready to support you.
about DONA International
I was trained through an organization called Doulas of North America (DONA International),
which was founded by internationally-known midwife and doula Penny Simkin,
author of The Birth Partner and Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn.
I am not certified under DONA standards, as there are a few key beliefs about birth, inclusion, advocacy, and power that DONA and I disagree on, and these are things that I am not willing to compromise on.
If you'd like to learn more about DONA, click here for their website.
which was founded by internationally-known midwife and doula Penny Simkin,
author of The Birth Partner and Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn.
I am not certified under DONA standards, as there are a few key beliefs about birth, inclusion, advocacy, and power that DONA and I disagree on, and these are things that I am not willing to compromise on.
If you'd like to learn more about DONA, click here for their website.