My work as a doula involves providing continuous emotional, physical, and informational support to women during pregnancy and labor.  I meet with women (and, if applicable, their partners) two or more times during pregnancy, helping them to determine their preferences for their birth and to navigate the sea of information regarding pregnancy, labor, birth, and the postpartum period.  We can discuss prenatal nutrition and exercise, feelings about the upcoming birth, comfort measures for labor, breastfeeding preparation, and/or any other questions or concerns that clients have about pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting.  I am also happy to make referrals to other local professionals (i.e. yoga instructors, chiropractors, lactation consultants, etc.) and retailers (i.e. maternity clothing stores, health food stores, cloth diaper resources, etc.) if families are interested in seeking out their services.

During labor, I offer non-pharmaceutical comfort measures, such as massage, emotional encouragement, position changes and recommendations, warm and cool compresses, and informational support.  I do not perform medical procedures (such as heart-tone checks and vaginal exams), but I am more than happy to help women and their partners ask questions and receive information about various procedures and/or policies that are recommended to them.

My goal is to help women feel confident about and empowered by their birth choices, whether they choose a medicated or unmedicated birth, an induction or a spontaneous labor, a midwife or an OB/GYN, a home birth or a hospital birth, a repeat cesarean or a VBAC, or even if they have to change their “birth plans” in light of certain circumstances or medical recommendation.

Ultimately, my goal is for women to feel confident about and empowered by birth itself.