Frequently Asked Questions

Are doulas only for women who want natural (unmedicated) births?

No way! Birth doulas support women with a wide range of birth preferences and birth experiences, from natural (unmedicated) births to medicated births, planned and unplanned C-sections, as well as high, medium, low, and no intervention births. Doulas attend both low risk and high risk births, as well as attend births in hospitals, birthing centers, and at homes, as well as births that are attended by both doctors or midwives. During your prenatal sessions, you will spend time discussing your preferences so that your doula can get to know your ideal choices. At your birth, your doula will support you in these choices and as well as through any changes that may arise, whatever they may be. Some doulas have more experience with hospital birth, others with births at home. Many are well versed in both.

Are you available for my due date?

I am no longer accepting doula clients, but I can refer you to my colleagues and help you find the right match. Please go to my contact page and indicate that you would like to schedule a birth options session. During this session I can get a sense of who you are and what you are looking for, budget, particular needs or concerns, location, etc.

What does a doula cost?

Rates are based on experience level, but there is certainly quite a range in the NYC doula community. An inexperienced doula may charge as little as $500, and an experienced doula often charges upwards of $3,000.

When and how do the sessions work?

You'll first meet for a free consultation. If you decide to work together, you'll schedule two prenatal sessions to occur during weeks 34-37 of your pregnancy. For the consultation and the sessions, your doula will come to your home, and we generally recommend that the couple attend the sessions together, although we know it's not always possible. For your postpartum session, your doula will be in touch with you after birth to schedule a time anywhere from 3 days to about 2 weeks postpartum. An explanation of what you'll likely cover in the sessions is here - however sessions are tailored to your needs, so the outline is simply a guideline.
 

What is a back up doula?

Every doula should enlist a trusted and qualified back up doula for every client. You should have the option to meet them by phone or zoom in advance, if you request so. Doulas generally do no use back up often, but occasionally it’s needed when births cross or in the event of illness or emergency.

My partner will be an active participant at the birth. How will s/he fit in if a doula is there ?

The doula’s goal is to bring you and your partner closer together at the birth. They will make sure you are both taken care of, whether that means with food and drink, a nap, a break, bathroom reminders, or a shoulder rub. They encourage partners to participate in the birth at their own comfort level. For some people, the event of birth and being in a hospital makes them very uncomfortable, and is in no way any indication of a partner's interest or devotion to their new child. Other partners are geared up to be the main labor support person, and then may not know what to do when the time comes. Either way, your doula will shape shift to fill in any gaps and or support as needed. They will coordinate family members. They will make suggestions. They will be a guide and a resource to fall back on, not someone who will direct or influence your birth one way or another.

Your partner knows you best: what you need, what you like or dislike, your fears, your strengths, and everything about you. Your doula will most likely be the one who knows birth best, in it’s experiential and textbook form: the hospital setting, the typical stages, protocols, and procedures. But the laboring person is the one who will. know their own birth the best, and the doula will be there to support and encourage that. Doulas can speak from past experiences and acquired knowledge to provide you with context, perspective, and unbiased information. If the unexpected or unplanned arises, your doula will be there to help you navigate through it.

What about postpartum doula services?

I am currently offering limited postpartum doula services. Availability depends on my work schedule, so please inquire about my availability and rate. Postpartum doula services include lactation support, birth processing support, help with newborn care and cues, cooking and meal planning, accompanying you to appointments, caring for your baby while you rest/shower/eat/get out, sleep counseling, stress reduction, and light household work/errands.