Care Philosophy and Birth Doula Services

Childbirth is an amazing experience - it brings not only the birth of a sweet baby, but also the birth of a mother. I support birthing mothers to trust their instincts, communicate effectively with their birth team, and tap into their inner strength. This self-confidence can continue and strengthen you in the journey of parenthood.

I believe in supporting all women. I support your birth with love and without judgment, recognizing each birth is unique. I have experience working with families in many different situations including unmedicated birth, epidural use, cesarean birth, and VBAC. It is an honor to be a present for the profound experience of birth and see the growth of each family.

I am currently working in partnership with Hannah Smith, a close colleague. You can learn more about Hannah at her website and our partnership in FAQs. As birth doulas, we provide physical, emotional, and informational support to you during pregnancy, labor, birth, and immediately postpartum. More specifically, our services include:

• Free consultation. This no-obligation meeting helps us get acquainted and plan how we might work together. Please contact me to schedule a consultation.

• Two prenatal home visits. We prepare for birth and the first hours with your new baby. We will examine all hopes and fears. We will discuss pain, practice coping with it, and discuss your options. We will practice labor positions, gentle yoga, breathing, and partner support techniques. Hannah and I will provide you with information and resources, so that you feel confident navigating your birth in whatever setting you chose.

• 24/7 support via email, text and phone before and after the birth.

• Continuous labor and immediate postpartum support. We will be in close contact leading up to your labor and birth, and Hannah and I will be on-call for you during the four weeks surrounding your due date. When labor starts, your on-call doula will join you to provide reassurance and perspective, make suggestions for labor progress, and help with comfort measures such as relaxation, breathing, soothing touch, positioning, and other techniques. After birth, your support continues for 1-2 hours to assist with initial breastfeeding and until you are comfortable. Above all, we strive to be a calm and positive presence for you and your partner at all times.

• One postpartum home visit and a simple meal. We will meet after you come home to review the birth and connect you to resources again. Your family will receive a simple, nutritious meal at this visit and a copy of detailed birth notes for your records.

• Optional prenatal yoga, postnatal yoga, or meditation sessions can be added onto the birth doula services package for a discounted rate of $50/session. Scroll down or go to the yoga page for more information. 

For more questions, check doula FAQs→

Better Outcomes for Mother and Baby

Numerous clinical studies have found that a doula’s presence at birth helps to:

•  shorten labor and decrease complications

•  reduce the need for pitocin, forceps, vacuum, and cesareans

•  reduce requests for pain medication and epidurals

•  increase positive feelings and satisfaction with the childbirth experience

Read dona's position paper on birth doulas here→

PRICING

Our birth doula services package is $900. Half of this amount is due upon hire. This amount covers prenatal visits, education/support, and secures a spot on our calendar. The second half is due by the postpartum home visit. This amount covers time at the birth and postpartum support.

If you are experiencing financial hardship, ask me about bartering and/or payment plans.

For friends and family, consider a gift certificate for your expecting mom towards part of birth doula fees or a gift of private prenatal yoga sessions.

WOMANWISE DOULA COLLECTIVE

Not only will your birth connect you, your partner, and your baby in a remarkable way, it will also strengthen your connection to your community. It takes a village to raise a child, and consider our doula collective a part of yours.  

The Womanwise Doula Collective includes five other birth and postpartum doulas. These skilled, compassionate women provide back-up doula care (in the rare case it is needed) and complimentary services (if requested). We hold a Birth Circle and a Meet-the-Doulas event the last Sunday each month at the Chapel Hill Public Library. Please see our website for event times.

check out the womanwise site here→

Tools for an Informed, Positive Birth

Childbirth education is invaluable for understanding the process of birth, evidenced-based care recommendations, and medical interventions. It will aid you in making informed decisions about your birth and your baby.  You will learn and practice comfort techniques and labor positions with your partner.

I teach Lamaze childbirth classes, which are based upon Six Healthy Birth Practices, using active learning styles and multimedia. I also draw upon my yoga background to teach relaxation, breathwork, and connected support. Lamaze class content includes:

• Perceptions of childbirth and positive (re)framing tips
• Birth as a hormone-driven process
• Stages and phases of labor
• Releasing fear, easing tension, and decreasing pain
• Comfort measures, soothing touch, and relaxation
• Labor positions and rehearsal
• Skin to skin and the physiological transition after birth
• Medical interventions and Cesarean birth
• Newborn interventions
• Informed consent/refusal and birth plans
• Postpartum recovery and support

Private class designs can include additional information on breastfeeding and newborn care during the 4th trimester.

PRICING FOR GROUP AND PRIVATE BIRTh CLASSES 

Group childbirth classes with 8-10 couples are taught through the UNC Women's Health Information Center @ NC Women's Hospital ($85, discounted for employees and Medicaid recipients). I also co-teach birth refresher classes @ UNC ($25) that help couples prepare for another labor and process their first experience.

Private classes are held in your home and tailored directly to your family's needs. I enjoy teaching interactively, lending out books and videos from my library, and using discussion to answer all your questions. These classes also include a follow-up postpartum visit. Classes options range between:

1.  Full 12-hour Lamaze course ($300)
2. Truncated 9-hour Lamaze course ($250)
3. Truncated 6-hour Lamaze course ($200) 
4. 3-hour birth refresher or VBAC course ($100) 

Note, discounted packages are available for clients who are interested in both private birth classes and hiring me as a birth doula. 

I hope my classes will help your family feel empowered and knowledgeable about the amazing physiology of mother, baby, and birth. Please contact me if you would like to discuss taking private classes!

Go to the UNC Class Calendar →

PRENATAL YOGA

Prenatal yoga can prepare you to meet the challenges of pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood. It is beautiful to see mothers translate yoga breathwork and bodywork into labor coping techniques and again into mindful parenting and postnatal recovery.  In addition, studies on prenatal yoga suggest that a regular prenatal practice aids in:

1. Reducing maternal stress and anxiety
2. Reducing discomfort in pregnancy
3. Lessening pain in labor
4. Improving birth outcomes (such as healthy birth weight and reaching full-term pregnancy)
5. Improving maternal self-efficacy (positive feelings about personal abilities)

My prenatal yoga instruction includes centering meditation, visualization, breathing practice, and celebration of the changing body through both vinyasa and yin techniques. 

PRIVATE INSTRUCTION

Private yoga classes are tailored to your needs and requests. Focus during instruction time varies; I aid clients in such needs as preparing for birth prenatally, healing from an injury, learning mindfulness meditation, or achieving a challenging arm balance. I will offer hands-on assists and break down postures during our sessions. I come equipped to support your poses as needed with yoga bolsters, blocks, straps, wedges, and aromatherapy eye pillows. 

Private classes can be done in your home for $60/hour. If you are a doula client or if you purchase 10+ classes, the rate is discounted to $50/hour.

Please contact me if you would like to discuss working together!

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

•  Prenatal Yoga

•  Vinyasa Yoga

•  Partner Yoga 

•  Mindful Yoga

•  Acro Yoga

•  Teen Yoga

•  Kids' Yoga

•  Yin Yoga 

•  Birthday Parties

•  Wedding Events

•  Corporate Yoga

READ A NIH SUMMARY on YOGA BEnEFITS→