A Doula provides physical, emotional and educational support throughout pregnancy, birth and postpartum.
I support all types of births. I support births at home, in a birthing center or in a hospital. I support non-medicated and medicated births. My role is to give you the information to make evidence-informed decisions regarding your pregnancy and birth and then to support those decisions whatever they are.
For birth support, I serve all areas between and surrounding Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio. Childbirth education can be done 100% virtually.
When you are my client, you are my #1 priority. I will make every effort to be at your birth as promised. In the rare event I cannot be there such as severe illness or family emergency, I have a backup Doula I work closely with. You will receive her information at one of our prenatal appointments. In addition, I have several back up doula contacts in the community that I work with.
I require a non-refundable 50% deposit at the time of contract signing with the remainder of the fee due at 36 weeks. In the event you decide to cancel I offer a % refund depending on the gestation you are to cancel. Any cancellations past 36 weeks are not refundable. For my refund policy in detail, please contact me for more information
Doulas and birthing partners work together as a team to provide continuous support to mom throughout labor and delivery. We will practice physical comfort techniques during prenatal appointments so that partners can feel confident in their support on delivery day.
YES! Women who have a Doula are much more likely to report a positive birthing experience. Although a Doula cannot guarantee any outcomes, evidence shows that having a doula reduces the rate of birth interventions, medicinal pain relief and C-sections.
There are many tools available to a laboring mom and the epidural is one of them. I support all birthing options and make sure you have all the information you need to decide what feels right to you at the time. Before an epidural there are sensations that require focus to work through. I will help to keep you comfortable with providing comfort measures such as breathing, positions, massage and other tools until an epidural is available to you. After the epidural is placed, there is much to be done between resting to manually mobilize the pelvis and encourage baby to continue to rotate & descend now that we do not have the added benefit of gravity.
Every birth process is unique and therefore having the experience of a Doula to guide you allows you to go through this journey with more ease and confidence. Many of my clients are on their 2nd, 3rd, 4th, even 5th babies when they hire me.
Many experienced parents talk about how the second and subsequent births can go faster than the first experience. This is because the uterine muscle has done this before and therefore can travel through the stages at a greater speed but this is not always the case. Every birth experience is truly unique and there are many variables in birth to be considered. Having a doula's support and expertise can optimize the chances for a more efficient and pleasant birthing experience.
Family and friends are an amazing community of support to have. The challenge is that many of them do not have the same experience or unbiased support that a Doula can provide. Friends and family tend to share many of their opinions and may feel that the way they did things are the right way. Your Doula is your guide to find “your” way through this journey.