Understanding the Vital Role of Birth and Postpartum Doulas
Navigating the unknown can be challenging for many families. To set yourself up for success, comprehensive doula support is essential, including prenatal education, labor support, and postpartum care. This support often involves referrals to practitioners and community-based organizations that can further assist your growing family. Every woman deserves the nurturing and care of both a Birth Doula and a Postpartum Doula to guide and support her through this special time.
What Does Birth Support Look Like?
As your Certified Birth Doula, I am dedicated to supporting your birthing choices without judgment and helping you learn to advocate for yourself. I assist you in making informed, evidence-based decisions that align with your values and preferences. I am on-call to support you during labor, whether at home or your chosen birthplace, and I will also teach your partner how to best support you.
Through two in-depth prenatal meetings, including Birth Visioning and Birth Choices Planning, I will help you plan for your ideal birth experience. We will explore factors that may influence your recovery, discuss potential scenarios, and create a plan for what you do and don’t want during labor and for your newborn’s care. You will also learn effective communication strategies to use with your provider, which can help slow down medical decision-making and ensure your birthing goals are valued. Customized strategies will be developed to help your partner make you more comfortable, including physical and emotional measures we decide on together. For partners, having a Birth Doula means having a knowledgeable and experienced support person who will guide you in preparing and supporting your loved one during birth.
As a Hypnobabies Hypno-Doula, I have seen firsthand the benefits of childbirth hypnosis, leading to shorter, more relaxing, and comfortable labors for my clients. Initially skeptical about hypnosis, I was inspired to train in the extensive Hypnobabies Hypno-Doula program after hearing numerous positive birth stories. Clients who take Hypnobabies classes, either through an instructor-led course or the Home Study Self-Course, often experience significantly shorter labors—4 to 10 hours less—compared to those who opt for traditional childbirth classes. They also frequently report falling asleep during contractions at 10 cm dilation, which is an indication of deep relaxation and effective use of hypnosis.
My Hypnobabies clients experience profoundly positive births, which has led me to offer a reduced fee of $400 for the Hypnobabies Birth Doula package. This reduction reflects both the ease of labor and my commitment to helping each woman achieve the empowering birth she deserves. Witnessing the transformative impact of Hypnobabies on my clients has been incredibly fulfilling and has inspired me to teach Hypnobabies Childbirth Education classes myself.