Services Provided:

•  Minimum two prenatal visits to discuss the parents' preparation and desires for their birth

•  Around the clock phone support, as needed, during pregnancy and immediately postpartum

•  Assistance in creating a birth plan

•  Labour support provided at home or in hospital, as needed

•  Emotional, physical, and informational support during labour and birth

•  Assistance in establishing breastfeeding as needed

•  Your birth story written out so you will never forget

What is a doula?

A Doula is a person who attends the birthing family before, during, and just after the birth of the baby to help ensure a safe and satisfying birth experience. The certified doula draws on her knowledge and experience to provide emotional support from home to hospital, ease the transition into the hospital environment and be there through changing hospital shifts and alternating provider schedules. The doula serves as an advocate, labour coach, and information source to provide reassurance and perspective to you and your partner, make suggestions for labour progress, and help with relaxation, massage, and positioning and other techniques for comfort.

Before your labour, I prefer to become familiar with your Birth Plan, including your preferences regarding labour/birth management options and the use of pain medications. I also want to know your own ways of coping with pain and fatigue and how you and your partner foresee working together.

Choosing a doula

I prefer to meet with you and your partner at least twice before labour to become acquainted. I'd like to explore and discuss your priorities and any fears or concerns you have about labour. And also to plan how we might best work together.

The first meeting does not obligate you to use my services. But if you do decide on my service then I will want to become familiar with your Birth Plan. This includes your preferences regarding management options and the use of pain medications. I also would like to know you own best ways that you cope with pain and fatigue.

I will inform you of times that I will not be available. During these times I will leave your contact information with a backup doula and I will leave you with the back ups information.

We may decide to have other meetings if needed and will indefinitely remain in touch through telephone during the pregnancy.

When you are in labour

Please call me when you think you are in labour, even if you don't feel as if you need support yet. I can answer questions you may have and make suggestions over the phone. At this point, we will decide together if you need immediate assistance or if we should wait for further changes. Approximately 2 hours is needed to get to you from the time you call. We will decide where we should meet at that time as well, at your home or the hospital. Except for extraordinary circumstances, I or the back up will remain with you through your labour and birth.

After the birth

I will remain with you from one to two hours after birth or until you are comfortable and you are ready for quiet time with your new baby. I can also help with initial breastfeeding, if necessary.

Postpartum visit

I am available through phone contact to answer any questions you may have about your birth or your baby. I would like to get together with you within one to two weeks to see how you both are doing, review the birth, to admire your baby, and to get feedback from you. This will also be the time I would ask you to fill out the evaluation form you will be given. This will be the form submitted, among those of your caregiver, to the CAPPA Canada Board to obtain my certification.

What I will not do:

•  Perform clinical tasks, such as blood pressure, fetal heart checks, vaginal exams, and others. We are there to provide you only with physical comfort, emotional support and advocacy.

•  Make decisions for you. I will help you get the information necessary to make informed decisions. We will also remind you if there is a departure from your birth plan.

•  Speak to the staff instead of you regarding matters where decisions are being made. I will discuss your concerns with you and suggest options, but you or your partner will speak on your behalf to the clinical staff.

•  Provide transportation to the hospital. If this is needed, a ambulance will be called and I will follow in my car and meet you there.