What is a doula?
A doula is a person that supports a pregnant, laboring, birthing mother. A doula also helps dad get involved with the birthing process, but to his comfort level.
What does a doula do?
My role for support includes prenatal support where I will attend at least one prenatal appointment with you, I can act as your sounding board, help you write up a birth plan, and give you information about choices you have for yourself and for your baby.
Once you are in labor, I will be your advocate. I will support you from the moment you call until after the baby's birth.
Immediately after the baby's birth, I will stay with you for 1-2 hours. I will help you establish nursing, make sure that you are doing well, and be there to talk.
One to two weeks after your baby's birth, I will arrange to meet with you again. I will answer questions, make sure you and baby are doing well and we will talk about the big day again!
Are there fees for your services?
My fees are minimal as I believe that every woman should be able to have a birth doula. If you are interested in more information, please contact me by phone or email. My services can be paid via check, cash or credit card. Fees can be covered by someone else as a gift to you!
The birth of a child is a big event, an event that you will remember for the rest of your life! I believe that a woman should have a positive memory of birth, a memory that you only get one chance at creating. When you look back on your birth, I want you to feel like you were in control of the decisions that were made.
The births of my children were wonderful days, but they were not exactly fond memories. I believe that if I had the services of a doula, the memories would give me warm fuzzies!
I also have the longing to keep women from unnecessary cesarean sections and a special place in my heart for women attempting a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean).
What do you have to do to become a doula?
To be a doula, you have to be willing to sacrifice of yourself, time, energy and knowledge. I started reading books on pregnancy, labor and birth in August 2006. I decided in December of 2006, that I would work towards birth doula certification through DONA. This training includes a list of books, writing essays, attending a childbirth education class, attending a certified workshop and attending three births. In July 2007, I became certified through DONA.
Have you acted as a doula before?
I attended my sister's birth, as her sister, but as an informative support like a doula. As an "official" doula support, I have attended 26 births since November 2006.
If you have questions or would like to talk with me about being your doula, please contact me at 405.773.4333 or by email. Below is a calendar of my availability for birth doula'ing. Should I not be available for your due date, I am more than happy to get you names of doulas that are available for that time. If, for some reason, you decide you would still like me for your doula, please call or email me and we can make arrangements.