Right From the Start LTD.

The Birth/Labor Doula...

       ...is defined as a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth. The birth doula is trained to deliver emotional support from home to hospital, ease the transition into the hospital environment, and be there through changing hospital shifts and alternating provider schedules. She provides help and advice on comfort measures such as breathing, relaxation, massage and positioning during labor and assistance with partners who want to play an active support role during the labor and birth. The doula serves as an advocate, labor coach, and information source to give the mother and her partner the added comfort of additional support throughout the entire labor so the woman has a safe and satisfying birth experience as she (the mother) defines it.

There are a variety of titles used by women offering these kinds of services such as "birth assistant," "labor support specialist" and "doula".  

Birth Doula services provide...

• 1 prenatal home visits lasting 1-2 hours to develop a rapport and discuss desires, questions & concerns about birth, birth plan counseling
• assistance in gathering information about the course of your labor and your options 
• help and advice on comfort measures such as breathing, relaxation, massage and positioning during labor
•  continuous emotional reassurance and comfort
•  consistent labor support for entire duration of labor including 1 hour after birth, assistance with breastfeeding
• encouragment of birth partner to support and contribute to the birth in anyway the feel comfortable
• unlimited phone and email contact during "on call" period
• 24 hour on-call  phone or email support 2 weeks before and after your due date
• 1 postpartum home visit to discuss your birth, get feedback on my service and to admire your baby
• professional referrals when needed

Your initail consultation (interview) is FREE of charge if done at my location. If you would like me to come to your home, I charge a $25.00 travel fee.  Contract signing and consultation to plan your needs takes place in your home and is free of charge.

If you have other children and you wish for them to be present at the birth of the new baby, I can provide sibling care for them. Seeing mommy in pain and having a new baby come into the family can be a very stressful time for siblings. I can help ease their fears and help them to understand what is going on. I will make sure that they have their needs met so you don't have to. This "sibling care" is to only take place in your presence, whether that is in your home for a home birth or in your hospital room. This service is not meant to act as a babysitting service. The fee for "sibling care" during labor is charged by the hour and is separate from birth doula services.

If you would like to combine/add any of our educational classes with the birth Doula services,  just let me know!.

Please visit classes page for a list of childbirth prep classes offered.