The positive result flashes on the pregnancy test, and you feel an immense amount of love, joy, and excitement. Slowly questions start swirling in your head. What are normal side effects of pregnancy? How do I want to birth the baby? What do I do about the pain? How can I help my baby be healthy? What do I do now?

Pregnancy is a beautiful journey, but it can quickly become overwhelming. While each woman’s experience with pregnancy is special and unique, I am here to help you answer common questions and come up with a stress-free plan, so you can focus on what matters most – your new family member.

• Typically around 34-36 weeks
• Discomforts of pregnancy
• Discuss stages of labor & signs of early labor
• Discuss birth preferences / Help form a birth plan if desired
• Signs to look for as labor approaches
• Practice various breathing techniques
• Practice comfort measures that will be used during labor to ease pain and manage stress
• Teach partner basic comfort measures to support birthing person until doula arrives
• Discuss various positions optimal for each stage of labor
• Tips for what you may want to bring/have with you at your birthing location
• Discuss signs of early labor and what to expect
• Discuss postpartum planning and what you may except post birth

Feeling nervous about going into labor & pushing your little bundle out into the world? You’re not alone. Most moms-to-be (and even dads-to-be) experience worries and fears about the labor process. No fear or worry about your pregnancy or delivery is too small.

I am often asked – “How does labor start? Water breaking? Contractions?” Each labor experience is different and labor can start in a variety of ways. Hollywood has made us think that once our water breaks, contractions start, and we go into labor. But, that’s not always the case. Signs labor is near can be more subtle, like a vague nagging lower backache or feeling like we have a cold. Sometimes, we experience Prodromal Labor, or “false labor”, a labor that starts and stops before active labor begins.

Our bodies almost always give us the signals we need and the inner wisdom to recognize them; I help you understand them. No matter what’s on your mind, as your doula I act as another layer of support, encouragement, and guidance, to ensure your labor process is smooth.

• Remain with you once in active labor or earlier if requested and will stay until delivery and immediate postpartum
• Utilize coping mechanisms I am trained in to support you physically and emotionally 
  • Massage, touch, counter pressure, assistance with breathing
• Help birthing person to move and change positions that are optimal for laboring baby further down into the pelvis
• Provide encouragement and reassurance to both birthing person and partner
• Facilitating clear communication between you and the medical staff
• Encourage different pushing positions 

The wait is finally over. After nine months, endless doctors appointments, planning and anticipation your baby is here. They are perfect in your eyes, healthy and beautiful. Yet as weeks pass, your initial joy is replaced by all-consuming worries. And, just like in the prenatal stage, your mind starts wondering… Are they feeding enough? Why are they crying so often? Is something medically wrong with them?

These worries are constant during the day and keep you up at night. You feel tense, irritable, and panicky. You’re on an emotional roller coaster of highs and lows. Your family members start to express their concern —not about the baby, but about you. You wonder whether what you’re feeling is normal.

As your doula, I help you unpack the emotional journey you just endured. As a mother, I have personal experience with postpartum depression and anxiety. I have plenty of resources to help you and your family work through this.

• Sixty minutes of initial postpartum support 
  • Help to establish breastfeeding or preferred feeding method 
• One postpartum two-hour visit within the first ten (10) days after birth 
  • Appointment is causal so the structure is on your terms 
  • Process what happened during labor or birth
  • Answer any questions you or your partner may have 
  • Assist with feeding, infant care, Light house keeping,