Birth Doula FAQs
What is a doula?
A birth doula is a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to a birthing person before, during and after childbirth. A birth doula helps the birthing person feel confident and supported during their birthing time.
We can provide various comfort measures to help you achieve a more comfortable birth experience such as massage, acupressure, movement, reciting birth affirmations, suggesting different positions, and more.
How can a doula help my birth partner?
A doula can help support individuals by providing suggestions on ways to help the birthing person. A doula may suggest ways to touch and physically support the birthing person, or recommend things to say to provide additional support. A doula can also tag-team with a birth support person in a long labor to allow them to eat, drink, take a walk, or rest to be their best for the birthing individual in the next phase of their labor and eventually their postpartum recovery. It’s just as important for your partner and support people to feel cared for in this experience!
Will my doula perform cervical checks?
Nope! Doulas are non-medical birth professionals. We don’t perform any tests or evaluations, make any diagnoses, or deliver your baby.
Is my doula against using pain medication?
Absolutely not! To use pain medication or not is completely your choice! My role is to be non-judgmental and provide you with completely unbiased support. A doula will provide you with the information and support you need to make informed decisions about your birth, including medication options and interventions.
What towns/counties do you serve?
I serve clients in the Southcoast of Massachusetts (New Bedford, Fairhaven, Mattapoisett, Dartmouth, Westport, Wareham, etc.), Southern areas of Plymouth County, Cape Cod, and Rhode Island!
I will also attend births in other regions of New England upon request.
Can I hire a doula if I want to deliver at home/hospital/birthing center? How about a planned Cesarean birth?
Yes! Doulas assist at all kinds of births and locations. Vaginal, cesarean, unmedicated, medicated, home, hospital, you name it! I can support you in any birthing location.
*If you intend to deliver at home, you must hire an appropriate, licensed home birth midwife or medical professional. Remember, doulas don’t deliver your baby or perform any medical services!*
Are doulas really worth the money?
This is a very personal question, but in my opinion, as a person who has given birth with a doula twice, I say “YES!” Doulas are the only people in the room that are there solely to support you and will be with you continuously throughout the birth experience. No judgment, no strings attached, no baggage. Doulas have a vast knowledge base and toolbox of comfort measures to use to help you be as comfortable as possible during your birth.
Postpartum Doula FAQs
What is a postpartum doula?
A postpartum doula is a trained professional who provides physical, emotional, and informational support to parents in the newborn/infant phase. A postpartum doula helps the parents feel confident and supported during their transition into new parenthood.
Are postpartum doulas really worth the money?
This is a very personal question, but in my opinion, I say “YES!” Doulas are there solely to support you and your family. Their role is to instill strength and confidence and reduce fear around the transition into parenting with a newborn. Doulas provide support in an unbiased, non-judgmental way. No judgment, no strings attached, no baggage. Doulas have a vast knowledge base and toolbox of comfort measures to use to help you through this time of great change and adaptation. Postpartum doulas set you up to THRIVE not just survive.
How can a doula help my partner or co-parent?
A doula can help partners adjust to parenthood by providing similar emotional, physical, and informational support as they provide to the other parent(s) in the family. They can help parents feel more confident in their newborn care skills by practicing basic care tasks with the parents and answer questions along the way. Doulas can also assist with overnight care to help parent(s) achieve a full night’s sleep to feel more rested and ready for the day.
What towns/counties do you serve?
I currently serve postpartum clients in the Southcoast of Massachusetts (New Bedford, Fairhaven, Mattapoisett, Dartmouth, Westport, Wareham, etc.).
What kinds of things does a postpartum doula do?
A postpartum doula can support parents in many different ways. Support includes, but is not limited to:
assist with newborn feeding (bottle or breast, or combination feeding)
newborn care (bathing, diapering)
overnight support
light housekeeping (organizing nursery/baby items, cleaning bottles, newborn laundry, etc.)
prepare light snacks for the family
run local errands for the family (groceries, pharmacy, etc.)
emotional and physical support for postpartum recovery for the birthing person
partner support
share resources and recommendations