What is a Birth Doula?
What Does a Doula Do?*
A doula is trained to give continuous, one-to-one support to women in labour. She provides non-medical physical and emotional care to the birthing mother, and assists in relational support by facilitating communication between the mother, her family, and the hospital staff.
A doula’s expertise is in offering comfort and reassurance. Her presence helps a labouring woman feel safe and confident throughout labour, delivery, and the immediate postpartum period.
Help with comfort measures such as relaxation, breathing, massage, and positioning, means that the mother’s partner can play an active support role with more confidence, too.
Continuous Support
A doula stays with a birthing woman continuously, no matter how long it takes and regardless of what pain medications are used, the type of delivery, or whether or not complications develop.
While nurses, doctors, and midwives change shifts and must come and go to attend other patients, a doula remains by the side of a labouring woman and her family until her baby is born.
A doula does not provide clinical care or assessments. Nor does she replace the mother’s partner, or other friends or family members she may choose to have present for the birth. In fact, the doula helps take care of them, too!
Research studies* shown that the best results happen when a woman has CONTIUOUS LABOUR SUPPORT from someone who is NOT a staff memeber at the hospital and NOT part of a woman's social network .... having a doula providing CONTINUOUS LABOUR SUPPORT leads to BETTER OUTCOMES for both mother and baby in the follow ways ~
*see citations on this information at EBB
My Birth Doula Service Fee Includes:
My flat fee for this service is $1,800.00. I offer a $50 discount to couples who enroll in my Birth Boot Camp Childbirth Education Classes in addition to my birth doula services. Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have and/or to set up an interview.
I suggest that you interview 2 to 3 candidates to ensure you are matching your family up with the best person to serve your needs during this very important time. If I turn out to be your best-fit, I am committed to supporting your vision of this birth.
What Does a Doula Do?*
A doula is trained to give continuous, one-to-one support to women in labour. She provides non-medical physical and emotional care to the birthing mother, and assists in relational support by facilitating communication between the mother, her family, and the hospital staff.
A doula’s expertise is in offering comfort and reassurance. Her presence helps a labouring woman feel safe and confident throughout labour, delivery, and the immediate postpartum period.
Help with comfort measures such as relaxation, breathing, massage, and positioning, means that the mother’s partner can play an active support role with more confidence, too.
Continuous Support
A doula stays with a birthing woman continuously, no matter how long it takes and regardless of what pain medications are used, the type of delivery, or whether or not complications develop.
While nurses, doctors, and midwives change shifts and must come and go to attend other patients, a doula remains by the side of a labouring woman and her family until her baby is born.
A doula does not provide clinical care or assessments. Nor does she replace the mother’s partner, or other friends or family members she may choose to have present for the birth. In fact, the doula helps take care of them, too!
Research studies* shown that the best results happen when a woman has CONTIUOUS LABOUR SUPPORT from someone who is NOT a staff memeber at the hospital and NOT part of a woman's social network .... having a doula providing CONTINUOUS LABOUR SUPPORT leads to BETTER OUTCOMES for both mother and baby in the follow ways ~
- 25% decrease in the use of Cesarean
- 8% increase in the likelihood of spontaneous vaginal birth
- 10% decrease in the use of any medication for pain relief
- 38% decrease in the baby's risk of a low 5-minute Apgar score
- 31% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience
*see citations on this information at EBB
My Birth Doula Service Fee Includes:
- Available 24/7 for questions or support by text and phone
- At least 2 prenatal visits where we discuss pregnancy questions/concerns and labour questions/concerns, develop a birth plan and address any issues you may have prior to labour
- A beautiful, professionally printed booklet entitled 'Supporting Arms' full of information about pregnancy, labor, birth. and the postpartum period. My contracts are included within the booklet and streamline our appointments
- Hands-on labour support once labour begins at your home until you decide it is time to leave for hospital/birth center
- Continuous labour support at place of birth (home/hospital/birth center) until your baby is born and you are resting comfortably
- Comfort measures during labour including massage, counter pressure, position changes, hot/cold therapy, breathing support, essential oils, overall coaching, monitoring of fluid and food intake, constant emotional and relational support and encouragement
- Post birth support for you and your baby for as long as it takes to transition after birth, for any perineal repairs, and to feel baby is nursing well
- Basic breastfeeding support and questions
- One postpartum visit where we can discuss your birth experience, answer any questions or concerns, and address any need for further resources for your new family
My flat fee for this service is $1,800.00. I offer a $50 discount to couples who enroll in my Birth Boot Camp Childbirth Education Classes in addition to my birth doula services. Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have and/or to set up an interview.
I suggest that you interview 2 to 3 candidates to ensure you are matching your family up with the best person to serve your needs during this very important time. If I turn out to be your best-fit, I am committed to supporting your vision of this birth.
$$$ Tips: Like the idea of hiring a doula but think it’s too expensive?
- Instead of too many duplicate baby shower gifts, offer friends and family the opportunity to help you by making a contribution toward doula fees.
- Some insurance companies will reimburse for doula services – see what your policy covers in advance.
- Check on your health FSA (Flexible Spending Account) or HSA (Health Spending Account) for reimbursement for doula services.
- I offer a $50.00 discount to couples who also enroll in my Birth Boot Camp childbirth education course.
- I discount my Home or Hospital series for my doula clients.
- I am open to working with couples with financial challenges – just talk to me
Payment is currently accepted via PayPal (rxgracecannone@gmail.com), Venmo (friend me @Debbe-Cannone), Cash, or Check. Deposits are due at contract signing. The remaining balance is due four weeks prior (36 wks) to your estimated date of delivery (EDB).