What is a Birth Doula?
A birth Doula is a trained childbirth expert, offering emotional, physical, and informational support and advocacy during pregnancy, labor & delivery, and the immediate postpartum period. They have expertise in a variety of coping strategies for the different stages of labor, utilize different laboring positions to help facilitate labor progress, have familiarity with the common medical interventions and pain-medication options, and are often knowledgeable about natural alternatives, such as acupressure, aromatherapy, massage, etc. Our expertise will focus on the useful coping methods taught in our classes, which are included in our Doula service package. Plus, with Peaceful Birth Company, you get a whole TEAM of Doulas to support you! Scroll down for more info.
Want to connect? Fill out the Doula Inquiry Form below to qualify for a free consultation!
Prenatal Support
o Your Doula will be available to you via email and phone throughout your pregnancy to answer questions, offer support, provide resources, and help you and your companion approach labor and birth with a sense of calm and confidence. Around 32 weeks into the pregnancy and after the completion of a childbirth education course (we strongly encourage clients to take our Peaceful Birth class or a series of comparable significance), we will meet virtually or in the comfort of your home to:
Discuss your pregnancy and address any questions or concerns
Discuss your hopes and address any concerns about labor, delivery, and motherhood
Review your options for labor and birth (pain management, routine procedures, etc.)
Draft a birth plan based on your birth wishes to share with your providers
Understand best practices– in pregnancy and labor– for optimal fetal positioning to ensure easier birth
Learn and practice a variety of techniques to help you achieve comfort and ease during labor
Discuss your breastfeeding goals and address any infant feeding questions or concerns
Labor & Delivery Support
Your Doula will support you in early labor over the phone and will join you in person whenever you request their presence. With one-on-one continuous care, they will be with you for the duration of your labor and for up to two hours postpartum.
During labor, they will:
Provide you with physical, educational, logistical, and emotional support
Help to ensure that your partner is actively involved in supporting you, to his/her comfort level
Help to facilitate clear communication between you, your partner, and your clinical care providers
Help ensure your birth preferences are valued
Ensure that you are an active participant in your childbirth experience
Help to maintain a calm, quiet, and soothing birthing environment
Ensure that you are as comfortable as possible, emotionally and physically
Help you navigate any special circumstances, offering informational support so that all of your decisions are fully informed
Ensure that breastfeeding gets off to a good start
Postpartum Support
Your Doula will also offer support during the transition into the postpartum period. Within one week of the baby’s birth, they will come to your home to help process the birthing experience, support your recovery, and offer their expertise as needed. After that, your Doula will be available virtually or via text or phone for up to one month. Additional postpartum support is available for an added fee. There are also sliding scale options for extra postpartum support.
Our mission is to make this type of support accessible to everyone.
Labor and delivery are an important but fractional part of the holistic birth experience. A truly empowering birth is achieved through proper prenatal preparation, effective advocacy, and strong postnatal support. We draw on our knowledge and experience to provide physical, emotional, and informational support to birthing persons and their partners. We are independent and self-employed. As your Doula team, we are working for you, not for your caregiver or the hospital. On average, we spend around 50 hours with our Doula clients in the form of prenatal meetings, biirthing classes, our presence at the birth, and postnatal support. This doesn’t take into account text messages, phone calls, or travel time.
Your PBC doula team offers the following:
At least 2 Prenatal Meetings
6 week Comprehensive Birthing Class
Birth Support
(Remember, there are lots of us so you're guaranteed high quality support throughout! However, you will be paired with a primary doula to establish a strong connection and trust.)
Immediate Postpartum Support
2 In-Person Postpartum Visits
Plus, we have a robust and active community you’ll become a part of.
If you have any questions about fees and payments or are interested in applying for Limited Income Assistance, please email us at contact@peacefulbirthcompany.com. Our mission is to make this type of support accessible to everyone. Do not hesitate to reach out if this cost is prohibitive to you and we can find a way to make it work! We work with several non-profits who are sometimes able to subsidize this fee as well. Birth support is not a privilege, it is a right!