FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

DO YOU PERFORM ANY PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS OR MAKE ANY MEDICAL DECISIONS ON MY BEHALF?

The short answer is, no! I'm not a medical professional and I do not make decisions on your behalf. I can help you understand what is happening to your body, and what a midwife or doctor is suggesting so you can make wise choices that are good for you and align with your values and vision for your birth. If there is an urgent matter or emergency, I can also try to provide a play by play of what is happening and possibly provide some insight into why and encourge your care providers to communicate clearly as well.

WHAT ARE YOUR INTERACTIONS WITH MEDICAL STAFF LIKE?

First, remember that I work for you. And I am with you to do work you are paying me for. While I do everything possible to create a team-like environment and work respectfully with medical staff, I will remind you of your birth plans and ask if you'd like time to talk alone before making non-emergency changes to your plan. If I see a problem with care, I will do my best to gently/respectfully call attention to it. Ideally you feel safe and comfortable with everything that's going on as it aligns with your values and vision for your birth, and if needed, you feel safe enough to voice your concerns and ask for informed consent!

HOW DOES MY BIRTH PARTNER'S ROLE CHANGE IF WE HIRE YOU AS OUR DOULA?

In short, it depends on what is needed and desired. It's important to keep in mind that there will be time between the start of your labor and when I arrive to your home (typical labor progression)/birth place (i.e. rapid/precipitous labor or inductions). This means, your birth partner will be there to support you until I arrive. In our planning meetings, we'll talk about things they can do to rock support. And when I arrive, we will work together to support you. Sometimes it will be both of us together, where one person is squeezing your hips and you're leaning foward on the other person. And sometimes, we will give each other bathroom, nourishment, and resting breaks. Ideally, you are getting support from your birth partner in the ways that honor your bond and connection. If I'm doing my job, I'm nourishing this bond, whilst still anticipating your needs, and providing and modeling the kind of care that works so beautifully with laboring women.

WHAT DOULA DOES CARE LOOK LIKE IF I DON'T HAVE A BIRTH PARTNER READILY AVAILABLE?

In our meetings we'll discuss some tried and true coping techniques that can help you manage on your own until the optimal time comes for your doula to join you. I want to know when your labor begins so I can offer support over the phone and clear the next 24 hours or so, so I can be available to come to you as you need. Often times, early labor is light and spaced out, it is manageable, and you may be able to sleep through much of it, which I highly recommend. Though every laboring person must journey through the stages of labor, the needs may vary a little or widely from person to person, this is where custom doula care is so valuable. We design care that makes the most sense for whatever your needs may be.

DO YOU HELP WITH POSITION SUGGESTIONS, PAIN MANAGEMENT, AND BREATHWORK? IF SO, WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES?

Ideally in labor, you are in what is called, "labor flow". Meaning you feel an effortless momentum forward towards your vision/goals for your birth. This means that you feel in tune with your body and in control of the rhythm of your breath. When you flow here, you're in the "calm and connection" space in your nervous system, and I am there to hold this space, provide you encouragement, get you water and snacks and reassure you are moving in the right direction. When there is an invitation to offer a movment suggestion, or help your body with comfort, I will step in. Many of my clients practice movements during pregnancy to help with balance and space in the body and pelvis so they are familiar with some of the movements I might suggest during labor. It's especially helpful to me to know where the baby is in the pelvis; I can get a sense of this with how a mother is moving in labor, where she is feeling things, and also with a cervical station check! If the baby is in the inlet, we might do some aligned lunges and stretching, for example.