First Antepartum visit and Consultation: I meet you for the first time; we  talk and become familiar with each other. I will also collect some history about you and your pregnancy and past pregnancies. This allows me to: a) have a good understanding of how much you know and what services you might need, b) keep a professional record of services rendered for myself and to release to your insurance company, if they provide reimbursement for doula services. Any information collected is for doula and client only, will not be released to anyone without notice; copies are available for you, your insurance and your physician/midwife.

Two subsequent Antepartum visits: We will meet and talk about birth options, labor positions, relaxation techniques and I will help prepare a birth plan for you. If you are transfered to the hospital or a birthing center you will want to file a copy of the birth plan in you chart. If needed, one of these visits can occur at your physician/midwife’s office, so I can meet and discuss things with s/he.

Labor and Birth support: During the duration of your labor and birth, I will support you both physically and emotionally. I will encourage your partner to help and show him/her technique to help you. 

Immediate Postpartum: After the birth I will stay with you and help you get settled. I will also help you get breastfeeding off to a good start. If there is anything you need for comfort, I will try to make accommodations for you.

Two subsequent Postpartum visits: I will visit you at home within one week, usually within 48 hours of the birth. I will make sure you are settling in with your new family and that breastfeeding is coming along. I will also discuss your birth with you and your partner and help you remember all the details. During the second visit, usually two weeks after the birth, I will see if you are well on your way to recovery and I will check on you progress at breastfeeding. If you need referrals to a lactation consultant, nutritionist, doctor/midwife or support group, I will provide you with this.

What are the Details of Natural Attachment’s Doula Services?

What is my role as a doula? I accompany women in labor to help ensure a safe and satisfying birth experience. I draw on my knowledge and experience to provide physical, emotional, and informational support to women and partners. As your doula, I am working for you, not for your physician/midwife. As an independent doula, my services include antepartum visits, postpartum visits & complete birth support. My visits are tailored to meet your needs. I am there not only to support the mother and her desires, but also to enhance the relationship between the birthing mother and her partner.

Choosing a Doula. It is very important that you and your partner are comfortable with me and with my role in the birth. Thus, I do expect to meet with clients and have a consultation before labor to become acquainted, to explore and discuss your priorities and any fears or concerns, and to plan how we might best work together. If at any time, you or your partner decide that our interaction does not feel quite right to you, I encourage you to say so, and I will happily refer you to a different doula with whom you may develop a better rapport.

My availability. I consider my on-call period for a birth to be from two weeks before a due date to two weeks after the due date. I generally will only take a client if I plan to be in town and available for this ‘on-call’ period. I do have a cell phone, and in general I can be reached at any time. In the rare instance where I need to turn it off for some reason during an on-call period, I try to check it at least every two hours for voice mail.

Late Pregnancy. I am available for phone consultations and e-mail questions in late pregnancy, and encourage clients to call with questions or updates. Once we enter the on-call period, I encourage clients to check in with me every few days to let me know how they are doing.

When Labor Begins: We will discuss in antepartum meetings what you expect to want during labor, and will also evaluate by phone once your labor has begun, and you know more what your needs are.

When you think labor has begun, call me and let me know so I can begin making arrangements for attending the birth. I will then plan to check in every hour by phone, so I can provide information, ideas for comfort techniques, and reassurance. It is up to you to decide at what point in your labor you want me to come and be with you. Once you make that choice, I will generally be there within 30 minutes to an hour, and will remain with you until after the birth.

After Birth. I expect to remain with a client for 1-2 hours after birth, until you are comfortable, and the family is ready for quiet time together. I can also help with initial breastfeeding. I am available for phone/email contact to answer questions about the birth of your baby. My services include two postpartum visits. During these visits, I can provide breastfeeding support, baby care tips, referrals to community resources, and a chance to discuss the birth experience.

What Doulas Do and Do Not Do.  

• They do not perform clinical tasks, such as blood pressure, fetal heart checks, vaginal exams, etc.
• They are there to provide only physical and emotional support and advocacy.
• They do not make decisions for you.
• They will help you get the information you need to make your own informed decisions.
• They will also remind you if there is a departure from your Birth Plan, and will verify if this is, in fact, your informed decision.
• They can discuss your concerns with you and suggest options.
• They can support you in discussions as your advocate, making sure you have the opportunity to discuss concerns, but you or your partner will speak on your behalf to your physician/midwife.

If you would like to find out more about our Doula services, please contact Michele.

You might also consider hiring Michele as your midwife!