Mother Bloom Doula Service

daniel and julia pickett photography

What is a Birth Doula? A doula is a woman experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support before, during and after childbirth. Historically women - sisters, mothers, aunts, friends have always cared for other women during childbirth. This tradition continues to this day, but often in a slightly different way, often with a doula. As technology advances and more and more options are available to women, the options around childbirth become more and more complex. This is where Doulas fit our modern childbirth scene so well. Doulas are passionate women who know the ins and outs of our modern childbirth world. They know the array of options for women and their families and know supportive measures to help women obtain the best experience possible.

Doulas are custom birth experts; they listen to the thoughts and desires of the parents and design their support around what is most important to each woman and family. Birth can potentially be one of the greatest experiences in a woman's life, whether she gives birth at home, in a birth center or in a hospital, whether she gives birth without medication or if she has pain medication. Doulas are there to help make a woman's birth a positive, smooth experience. Research indicates that when a doula is present, labors are shorter, less pain medication is requested, and fewer births require forceps, vacuum extraction or cesarean. Additionally, more women who have good quality support have babies with better Apgar scores, have a higher rate of breastfeeding, experience less postpartum depression and are overall more satisfied with their birth.

My Doula Service Includes 

Free Consultation: At this initial meeting, I will answer any questions you have about my experience, my practice, and myself. We will get to know each other some and you can decide if I am the right fit for you.  

Prenatal Visits:  We will have two prenatal visits before the birth, each lasting one to two hours. At these visits, we will continue growing our relationship, we will discuss at length your desires for your birth and immediate postpartum. I firmly believe in informed consent and can help you to weed through the choices and possibilities available in our modern world. I am happy to provide resources for more information as necessary. We will also discuss at length what your expectations are for me as your Doula. My goal is that at the end of these visits, we feel very comfortable around each other, have formed a trusting relationship based on good communication and that we are all looking forward to having a very positive experience. 

Continuous Support Throughout Labor: I will go on call for you 24 hours a day from your 37th week of pregnancy until your baby(ies) is(are) born. Most of the time I am available in the event that you go into labor before 37 weeks, but it depends on several factors that we can discuss. I will use your desires and wishes for your birth combined with my experience to help support you in the best way possible. Some of the things I can be of assistance for – labor progression, activities that encourage optimal fetal positioning, suggestions for natural pain relief and continuous emotional encouragement. If you are having a hospital birth, I can/will come to your home and support your labor from there until you desire to go in. Once at the hospital, I will help advocate for you and your partner based on our previous discussions. I will be with you throughout labor until 1-2 hours after the birth in which time I can help with breastfeeding and immediate postpartum.   

Postpartum Support:  I will come to your home or the hospital if needed for a visit within the first week after the birth. At this visit, we will talk about the birth, and discuss your experience of being parents, and any challenges you may be having. I am also available as a postpartum doula (see below).

Postpartum Doula Support

daniel and julia pickett photography

Postpartum Doula Service: The transition of becoming a parent is one of the most exciting and transformational times of our lives. At times, integrating a new baby into your family may pose some challenges both physically and emotionally. Having a postpartum doula for the first few weeks or months after birth can be just the thing to make this sometimes vulnerable time in your life very manageable and enjoyable.  

Postpartum doulas are especially good: 

• with multiples
• to help with successful initiation of breastfeeding
• when you have other young children
• when your partner must return to work
• after a long labor or Caesarean birth  

Postpartum Doula services include – breastfeeding support, emotional support, older sibling childcare, light housework, infant care, resources – anything from breast pump rentals to postpartum depression support.   This service is custom and includes anything that will help support and nurture mom and baby as well as the rest of the family during these early postpartum days.  

Fees

I don’t ever want to have to deny services to anyone. Payment plans and trades are always an option. Please don’t hesitate to contact me about working together.  

Birth Doula Fee- for 2 prenatal visits,birth and one postpartum visit - $625.  

Birth Doula plus 20 hours of Postpartum Doula support - $985  

Postpartum Doula Fees by the hour- $22/hr  

Gift Certificates available – please call or email me for details.