FRECUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHY HIRE A DOULA?
Having a doula supporting you during your pregnancy and birth is like having a tour guide and/or translator when you’re exploring a foreign country. Can you do it by yourself? Of course you can! But having someone who can guide you through the process allows you to be clearer about the steps to take to achieve your goals. And it allows you to be more comfortable both with your knowledge about your options and your technical needs during labor, so you can relax and enjoy the ride, knowing that you won’t get lost!
Having a doula supporting you during your pregnancy and birth is like having a tour guide and/or translator when you’re exploring a foreign country. Can you do it by yourself? Of course you can! But having someone who can guide you through the process allows you to be clearer about the steps to take to achieve your goals. And it allows you to be more comfortable both with your knowledge about your options and your technical needs during labor, so you can relax and enjoy the ride, knowing that you won’t get lost!
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DOULA AND A MIDWIFE?
Midwives are medical care providers. Doulas are not.
While midwives take care of your and your baby’s health and safety, doulas take care of your emotional and physical needs.
As doulas, we won’t take your blood pressure, fetal heart tones, or offer medical advice.
Instead, we will support you and your partner (if you have one) offering valuable tools and all the information you need to feel confident with using your voice to work with your baby and birth team so you can remember your birth as an empowering experience.
DO DOULAS ONLY ATTEND NATURAL BIRTHS?
No at all! We’re trained to support you in a variety of settings. We also know that plans can change a lot during labor and we’re ready to support you no matter what.
Home births, water births, birth center births, hospitals, unmedicated, medicated, vaginal birth, emergency C-section, planned C-section: however and wherever your baby is born, the important thing is that you feel supported and respected during the process.
WILL YOU REPLACE MY PARTNER?
Doulas and partners make a great team and have different things to offer you during birth.
As doulas, we’re familiar with many different variations of normal labor, which is very reassuring for the birthing family.
Your partner knows you best, but a doula knows birth and is equipped with professional training and all the best up-to-date evidence based information so that you don’t have to stress about remembering all the stuff from your childbirth education class. We help you relax, listen to your body and use your voice.
WHAT IF I CAN’T AFFORD IT?
Open Arms Perinatal Services is an association that works to help low-income families access professional birth support and some other services.
I encourage you to reach out to them directly. They will guide you through the eligibility requirements and the process of getting matched with a doula.
If you don’t qualify to receive services through Open Arms, I'm happy to discuss payment plans and discounts for POC families.
Midwives are medical care providers. Doulas are not.
While midwives take care of your and your baby’s health and safety, doulas take care of your emotional and physical needs.
As doulas, we won’t take your blood pressure, fetal heart tones, or offer medical advice.
Instead, we will support you and your partner (if you have one) offering valuable tools and all the information you need to feel confident with using your voice to work with your baby and birth team so you can remember your birth as an empowering experience.
DO DOULAS ONLY ATTEND NATURAL BIRTHS?
No at all! We’re trained to support you in a variety of settings. We also know that plans can change a lot during labor and we’re ready to support you no matter what.
Home births, water births, birth center births, hospitals, unmedicated, medicated, vaginal birth, emergency C-section, planned C-section: however and wherever your baby is born, the important thing is that you feel supported and respected during the process.
WILL YOU REPLACE MY PARTNER?
Doulas and partners make a great team and have different things to offer you during birth.
As doulas, we’re familiar with many different variations of normal labor, which is very reassuring for the birthing family.
Your partner knows you best, but a doula knows birth and is equipped with professional training and all the best up-to-date evidence based information so that you don’t have to stress about remembering all the stuff from your childbirth education class. We help you relax, listen to your body and use your voice.
WHAT IF I CAN’T AFFORD IT?
Open Arms Perinatal Services is an association that works to help low-income families access professional birth support and some other services.
I encourage you to reach out to them directly. They will guide you through the eligibility requirements and the process of getting matched with a doula.
If you don’t qualify to receive services through Open Arms, I'm happy to discuss payment plans and discounts for POC families.