What is a doula?

A doula is a non-medical professional who supports another person through a significant life event by providing emotional and physical support. There are also a variety of different types of doulas, and you can find a doula to support you in birth, postpartum, fertility, surrogacy, adoption, and death/end of life, etc. The Afterbirth offers birth and postpartum doula support. For more details on how I support my birth and postpartum clients, please visit my doula services page.

Why might I consider a birth or postpartum doula?

There is something to be said about the feminine energy that exists in a birth space or in the tender moments of postpartum. Many women simply appreciate the presence of another woman during these life events.

A doula’s presence is not merely a nice way to enhance the experience of the mother, although twinkle lights and music can be part of doula support. More seriously, a birth doula’s presence has been proven to:

• have a profound impact on maternal and fetal health outcomes

• dramatically reduce the chances of unnecessary medical interventions (including cesarean)

• improve breastfeeding and bonding outcomes

• increase a mother’s access to personalized care

• protect the sacredness of birth

A postpartum doula offers many invaluable benefits as well:

• improves maternal mental health

• aids in mother’s recovery and healing

• reduces stress and increases confidence in new parents

• nutritional and nourishment guidance

• improves breastfeeding and bonding outcomes

• protect the delicate energy of this time

To learn more about the evidence on doulas, visit: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/the-evidence-for-doulas/. If you still have questions about whether this type of support is right for you, let’s connect! I love chatting about birth and I am happy to answer your questions.

How do I know if you are the right doula for me?

To determine whether I or any other doula are the right fit for you, my recommendation is to try to envision whether this person (the doula) is someone you want to have present within your birth space. Your birth space is a deeply sacred space and each person who enters will bring their energy with them. Trust your intuition and how you feel when you are talking with them. Do their values align with your preferences and needs? Focus on their personality, professionalism, respect for your goals, types of support they offer, etc. If you feel like you are kindred spirits and this person would show up for you in the way you want, then you’ve likely found your match!

Do you accept insurance?

At this time I do not directly accept insurance payment. However, I am happy to provide you with a superbill that you can submit to your insurance provider for reimbursement (yes, even for Kaiser!). Inclusion is important to me, and I hope to be able to extend my services to as many women as possible. If cost is a barrier for you, please reach out we can work out a payment plan. I also highly recommend adding a doula fund to your registry and budgeting for postpartum care well in advance if you can.