doula

birth + postpartum doula services

“A doula is someone who can hold the tension of the opposites and knows what it is to open and bow deeply to an experience whether it’s in joy or grief. They don’t see failure, they see lessons. They can hold space, bear witness, lament and celebrate with you, often all at the same time. Some doulas are more practical, others more spiritual. The most important thing is that they are moving towards life. To move towards life is an act of rebellion in this world and doulas are innately rebellious, whether they claim it or not... Peter A. Levine says, “'Trauma is not what happens to us, but what we hold inside in the absence of an empathetic witness.” A doula is your witness.” - Sunni Hart

    • 2-3 Prenatal Sessions. Usually in your 2nd and then 3rd trimester, I meet with you and your partner or support person to stay up to date on how you’re doing, help you build birth preferences, provide any education, insight, and resources needed, and guide in having collaborative conversations with your providers.

  • Is sacred, informal, and strong. honestly, we chat a lot. You have continuing text and email support that begins as soon as you hire me - often for updates about appointments and asking for resources in between prenatal sessions. At 38 weeks I go on call for you, which means that I’m available via text and phone 24/7 - day or night. We stay in communication about how your final appointments are going, changes in your pregnancy or plan, if you think you might be in labor, and I’m there to guide you through early labor at home and help you decide when it’s a good time to go to the hospital.

  • When it’s time, I’m there - during active labor, birth, and a few hours into your first postpartum moments.

    Based on the discussions at prenatal sessions, birth goals, and adapting as needed this looks like guidance in using breathing techniques, hands-on comfort like massage and counter-pressure, suggesting and assisting in position changes. I ground the birth team through co-regulation, know your birth preferences well, hold space and give support when making informed decisions in real time, as well as care for the partner (they need to eat!) and making sure they are an integrated part of the experience.

  • postpartum is a transitional experience; you are not who you were and that comes with joy and grief. it can be wonderful, it can be hard, and sometimes it leans more one way than another.

    when i say transition, i mean big ones, and all at once: your body, your hormones, your time, your identity, your boundaries, your growth, your caretaking.

    i do a postpartum check in the day after you give birth, a visit when you get home from the hospital/three days after your birth, then visits at 1 week, 1 month, 6 months, 1 year.

    To put it in a little list: this is where we process your birth experience, discuss how feeding and sleeping is going, complain about whatever you need to and celebrate victories, check in on your mental health, and make sure you have all the resources and referrals you need.

  • Even after the postpartum visits stretch out in between, after your birth, after all of it, we are connected ever after; whatever that looks like. Dinners, bonfires, text updates. The transition from doula to friend is easy and often. Dinner invites, bonfire nights, last minute texts to come over and talk. Ever after.