Doula FAQs

ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS

WHAT IS YOUR SERVICE AREA?

I live in northeast Columbus. I will travel about a 1 hour radius from my home to attend births. This is to keep my arrival at your birth timely. I do work outside of my typical area on a case by case basis with some adjustments to my contract for arrival times. Please contact me if you need me. I'll try to work it out or direct you to someone near you.

WHAT DO YOU ACTUALLY DO?

• Counter-pressure • Massage and other forms of touch
• Positioning • Breathing (slow, steady and varied)
• Use of heat and cold, combined with other comfort measures
• Mobility/motion • “Rhythmic rituals” • Acupressure
• Awareness of tension in different parts of body; help to release tension and lessen pain
• Use of water (tub and shower, when available)
• Vocalizations (sounds, singing, moaning, repetition of goals)
• The birth ball, rebozo, or other position aides
• Continuous presence with sole focus on support
• Verbal encouragement, praise and feedback
• Reframe thoughts, fears and feelings during labor (turn doubtful/negative statements and words into positive and progressing statements)
• Visualizations • Focal points
• Distraction through mental activities/rituals
• Prenatal sessions discuss risks/benefits of interventions and procedures used during birth
•Practice coping methods
• Help create birth plan goals
• Discuss breastfeeding, skin-to-skin, and other issues that come with pregnancy and birth

IS A DOULA LIKE A MIDWIFE?

No.
A midwife is a medical care provider. A doula does not provide medical care or perform clinical tasks like cervical checks, checking fetal heart tones, or tending to prenatal medical care whereas midwives do. Midwives catch babies, doulas do not.

I am not a replacement for a midwife or physician.

HOW DOES A DOULA REALLY HELP?

Studies Show that Having a Doula can contribute to:

39% decrease in the risk of Cesarean
15% increase in the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth
10% decrease in the use of pain relief medication
38% decrease in the baby’s risk of a low five minute Apgar score
31% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth

DOES A DOULA REPLACE NURSING STAFF?

No. A doula is a nonmedical support person that is tasked with specifically supporting the birthing person, and only one at a time until the birth is complete and the family is settled into their postpartum hours. I am employed by the birthing person.

Nurses are medical staff and offer clinical support to their patients and work in shifts. They are employed by the hospital or birthing center.

ARE YOU THERE TO REPLACE A PARTNER?

Absolutely not!
If you have a partner, I am there to support both of you. I'm going to help your partner feel more confident in supporting you. I'll be an extra set of eyes and hands to take care of you so they can focus on you, your birth experience, and your baby with less stress. I will be working with your partner, not leaving them out (unless they/you prefer it that way.)

HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH COMPLICATIONS AT BIRTH?

If something happens that is a medical emergency at your home before we get to your care provider, I will call 911 and assist however they deem necessary until help arrives.
I am not medical personnel, and do not diagnose and treat illnesses or perform clinical tasks.

I will support you during the hard times however I can and encourage informed consent and open dialogue with providers for procedures. I try my best to help prepare for the unexpected and help you to roll with it however it goes.

DO YOU OFFER POSTPARTUM SUPPORT?

1-2 hours of immediate postpartum support is included with a birth doula contract. This is to get the birthing person settled in, comfortable, and initiate feeding if needed.

A postpartum visit to process the birth and follow up on any questions is usually done within 10 days of the birth. This is included with most of my packages.
Postpartum support is also offered as a postpartum doula in 3 hour increment blocks at an hourly rate of $25.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

Pricing is dependent on options chosen. My services can be from $500 to $1500, and are usually around $800 for a typical birth package.

Stillbirthday births are always free of charge to families in need. This is for stillbirth, pregnancy loss, or terminal fetal diagnosis support.

I can write a letter for reimbursement to insurance companies, however reimbursement is not guaranteed.

DO YOU HAVE PAYMENT PLANS OR OTHER OPTIONS?

Yes. These are done on an individual basis. It would all need to be discussed and put into your contract.

Typically full payment is due by 38 weeks with 50% due at the first prenatal.

I also have other payment options like bartering with partial cash, labor or service exchange, and some financial assistance based on need and my availability. I love bartering, and I honestly never know what I might need at the moment.

I accept cash, check, Venmo, Paypal, and most other payment options. Check with your flex spending about funding your doula. Some do allow it. I do have an NPI number.

If you need a payment plan, please contact me. I'm generally pretty flexible.

WHAT'S IN THE BAG?

Rebozo, massage tools, some essentials for me, massage oil, bluetooth speaker, flameless candles, magic, rice socks, tennis balls, combs, drink solutions (vitamin c, electrolytes), suckers, gum, rescue remedy pastilles, peanut ball, round birth ball, my reference guides, phone chargers for most types of cell phones, hair ties, pretty pushers gown, honeysticks, straws, cash for parking, lip balm, and a partridge in a pear tree.

DO YOU TRANSPORT?

Generally, no. I do not transport clients to the hospital. A partner or family member usually does this while I follow. Adjustments to this policy can be made if a client lacks other transportation. There will be an additional release of liability form to fill out.

HOW DO YOU COMPARE YOURSELF TO OTHER LOCAL DOULAS?

I don't.
I am very happy with the non-competitive network of doulas around Central Ohio. I haven't met a local doula that I dislike. We refer clients to each other, cover for each other as back up, and all work together to make birthdays better for local families. Varying philosophies within the doula community make us able to serve families with similar goals. It's a beautiful thing.

WHO DO YOU RECOMMEND FOR....?WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND FOR....? WHAT IS THIS PROCEDURE?

These are things that I go over with clients during prenatal visits, but my local resource list is available for public use. My blog and Facebook are also full of articles and links to products that I use or recommend.

DO YOU DO BIRTH PHOTOS?

I bring my phone with me to births. If I have time for photos, I try to take at least a few. This isn't professional photography work. You may get 50 with 5 super great shots or something, or you may get 1 or none if I'm needed hands-on the whole time. My priority is being a doula.
I do have a local photographer that has worked with me in the past and a list of several in the area.

ARE YOU RELIGIOUS?

No.
I do serve and respect families of all religions. I do want to make sure people are aware that if you ask me to pray for you, I will have no idea what to do and it will be awkward. I will happily hold your hand while you do. I will also happily hang up affirmations in whatever form you like. If you need someone to actively pray for you then I will do my best to give you a referral to someone that can meet those needs.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?

I'm pretty awkward in discussion and small talk. I don't do that well. I'm a nerd, and I am passionate about what I do. I love my tattoos and think outside the box. I am somewhat fond of oddities and profanity and grow herbs in my garden. I am a doer, an observer, an activist and a giver. I like critters, babies, and probably have too many houseplants. We speak sarcasm and love Hobbits in my home. I believe in equality, accessibility, inclusivity, and equity. Every client that I serve feels like family to me, and I am so grateful to be part of and invested in this amazing transitioning period in their lives.