+ What training have you had?

I initially trained with the Simkin Center at Bastyr University for both Childbirth Education and Birth Doula Skills. I boosted my teaching skills with a Passion for Birth training which has helped me add an immense amount of interactive and fun material to my classes. I am a sucker for trainings and workshops, so aside from various conferences and online classes, I’ve also taken a Spinning Babies training, Birth Monopoly Know Your Rights course and the outstanding Birth Advocacy Doula Training for Full Spectrum Doulas. I’ve also recently completed a “TENS in the Toolbox” training to add this tool to my birth bag!

+ Are you certified or working toward certification? Why do you value certification?

With my Type-A, “check all the boxes” personality, I have pursued several certifications. Currently (July 2020) I am a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, PALS Certified Birth Doula and Birth Advocacy Doula Training (BADT) Certified Full-Spectrum Doula. I believe certifying with an organization that aligns with my perspectives and values can provide support to myself as a professional and also to my clients. My goal is to always stay up to date and vocal to make sure the organizations I am aligned with stand for equity, justice and support of all birthing people.

I also recognize that certification can provide serious barriers to many communities, including low income, BIPOC, and others. In light of this, as I take advantage of my privilege to dive into training, I make an effort to learn from diverse trainers and to contribute to scholarship opportunities that support less represented groups in accessing these resources. I am also fully in support of doulas who choose not to certify.

+ How long have you been a doula, and how many families have you supported?

I have been serving families as a birth doula since the end of 2018 and serve between 6-12 families per year. I try to take on only one or two clients at a time in order to balance my life, my clients’ needs, and my teaching commitments. I have been teaching since 2014 and have taught over 400 families in group and private classes since then. I have also supported a number of families as a volunteer PEPS (new parent group) leader since 2014 as well.

+ How will you support my partner through this process?

Some partners are worried that I will take their place during the labor, but as a doula my job is to help the partner (or other members of the support team) shine and be the best support for the laboring person as possible. Even after a fully involved, comprehensive childbirth class, it can be difficult to remember all the recommendations, positions, and comfort techniques when the big day arrives. While I often do a lot of hands on work with the laboring person, this is balanced out by a fair amount of making suggestions to partners who want to be really actively involved in the support process. You know the birthing person better than anyone else in the room and this event is transformational for your life just as well! So I spend a good amount of time at births helping the partner take care of themselves (rest, eat, check their body mechanics during a hip squeeze, etc.) and also touching base about your questions, feelings, concerns. Just like my role with someone giving birth will vary depending on what they need, my role with partners in the process will depend a great deal on what they are hoping to be and do during the labor and birth experience.

+ What techniques will you use to help me move through labor?

My favorite and most-frequently used tools include lots of positioning and movement -- we work together to find positions in response to the way you are feeling and how labor is progressing. The goal is to find ways to cope with any discomfort and to move your pelvis in ways that give baby lots of options to rotate and descend.

I also use lots of hands on massage and pressure if that is comfortable for you. It’s truly a collaboration, and sometimes there is very little coping help needed -- you may just listen to your body and know exactly what you need to do! In those cases, the support I provide may be more about your decision making and emotional journey than your physical progress.

+ Will we meet for prenatal visits before the birth/postpartum visits after, and what is included in those visits?

Typically I will have 4 scheduled visits with a client after being hired -- two before birth and two after. This sometimes varies if a client reaches 41 weeks and we want to check in again to work through ways to clear space (physically and emotionally) for baby’s arrival or to talk through potential induction scenarios being offered by their provider. I may also do an extra postpartum check in if baby came a little earlier than planned and our prenatal time was cut short. Or sometimes parents feel they are off to a great start with lots of varied support and opt out of the final postpartum visit. For me, it is less about counting the specific number of hours I spend with you and checking off those boxes, and more about keeping in touch so that I can help with what you need in terms of support and resources.

In general terms, the first prenatal visit is where we talk about your ideal birth, your feelings around labor, how I might best support you, your pain med preferences, what to do if you think you’re in labor, and any other questions or concerns you have in mind. In the second visit, we focus more on the “Plan B” -- how you feel about interventions, what if things go off the rails a bit, your postpartum plans, what support you have and need after baby arrives.

Postpartum, we tend to spend the first visit (a day or two after you get home) checking in about how the immediate recovery, feeding, and settling in is going. We check in again a week or so later and do a little more reflecting on how the birth went, what else you need, and how you’re feeling emotionally. I also do a lot of checking in via text/email as needed for resources, support, encouragement, etc.

+ When do you consider yourself "on call" 24/7 for my birth? If there is a window of call time, what happens if I deliver before that time frame begins?

I typically block off 38-42 weeks for your “due time” on my calendar. We can shift this window if needed -- for example, with a history of early labors in previous pregnancies, or a condition in pregnancy which makes earlier delivery more likely. During your due time I do not schedule any out of town trips and do my best to make sure I can be out the door and headed your way as quickly as possible should labor start quickly. Before that due time window, I will still do my absolute best to get to you as needed, with the understanding that I may not have cleared my schedule quite as completely and it may take me a bit longer to get to you. If I need to schedule (or have already scheduled) any trips in the weeks leading up to your due time, I will let you know and make sure I have some back up on hand just in case things happen on the earlier side.

+ During labor, when do you come to me?

Once you are in labor, I am in close communication with you to help you determine when you want my in person support. This is different for everyone and can vary a ton based on what is happening with your labor. One benefit of only having 1 or 2 clients at a time is that I can be very flexible and communicate about your specific desires rather than needing you to fit into a specific, prescribed time that I can be available.

+ Do you have a backup doula for times when you are not available?

I absolutely have backup! I have a couple doulas that I work with fairly consistently who I would wholeheartedly trust my clients to and who I tend to refer out to if I’m not available for someone’s due time. If there are times when my backup doulas are not available I have a wonderful network that I can call on to make sure all my bases are covered.

I am an over-planner and have multiple calendars going at one time -- if I have a class on the schedule, another client, a family commitment, or anything else that may take my focus away, I always double and triple check to make sure my community of support (partner, childcare, back up educators, etc.) are in place during that time.

+ What is your fee, and what does it include?

My current full-pay fee is $1300, which includes continuous support during your labor and birth, prenatal and postpartum check-ins, and email/text/phone support from the time of hire until 6 weeks postpartum. It also ensures that I have blocked off my calendar, confirmed back up availability and am “on-call” for your due time (typically 38-42 weeks).