Me! I'm a doula!
A birth doula is a person that you hire to be a part of your birth team. I am not a medical personnel, meaning I am not a midwife or obstetrician. I’m also not a nurse.
What I do is provide support. Leading up to your birth, we stay in touch. Usually through text messages, but I also do phone calls and emails. Whatever is easiest for you! This is usually where you provide updates about your pregnancy from doctors visits, ask questions, and tell me how you are feeling. Then I follow up with information and referrals to places that might benefit you.
Then at about 32 weeks we meet for a prenatal appointment. At this meeting we discuss your birth preferences, how I can best support you and your partner, and what to expect in the coming weeks.
Then, once labor has started I will help facilitate as many of your preferences as I can from laboring at home for as long as you want to help make your hospital room seem a little less hospital-y.
During labor I help facilitate position changes while being your cheerleader and reminding you how amazing and strong your body is! I also remind partners to take little breaks too.
After your baby has arrived, if I am able I’ll grab some pictures but also help you through the golden hours after birth. Including the baby's first latch and additional breastfeeding education.
Then I will leave you and your sweet little family to bond in the hospital, checking in periodically. About two weeks after you get home I like to meet up again for a postpartum visit just to ensure things are going well for all of you as you adjust to having a new human in your lives.
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