Frequently Asked Questions

What is a doula?

Birth doula - A trained professional who provides physical, emotional and educational support during pregnancy and childbirth. Our goal as a birth doula is to give you the knowledge to make your own informed decisions so you can be in control of your own birth experience.

Postpartum doula - A trained professional who provides physical, emotional and educational support during the postpartum period. Postpartum doulas assist people during recovery from birth, help with newborn and infant care, can assist with household tasks and can help ease the transition for other family members as well.

What is a doula not?

A doula is not a midwife, nanny, or housekeeper. We do not offer medical advice or care. We see and treat the family as a whole unit, as opposed to a nanny who may be focused solely on caring exclusively for children.

Who needs a doula?

Everyone! Any family preparing to add a new baby to the family can benefit from the care a doula provides. Whether you seek assistance during labor and birth, postpartum care, or both - you can be sure that having a doula will positively impact your experience.

What are the benefits of having a doula?

Having a doula present for your birth means you will have someone present who can provide you with the knowledge and tools necessary to make informed decisions regarding your birth experience. Studies show that birthing people assisted by a doula have better health outcomes for themselves and their babies(1,2).

Sources:

1. Gruber, PhD, K. J., Cupito, MA, S. H., & Dobson, C. F. (2013). Impact of Doulas on Healthy Birth  Outcomes. The Journal of Perinatal Education, 22(1), 49-58. Retrieved from PubMed (24381478).
2. Powel-Thomas, M., Ammann, G., Brazier, E., Noyes, P., & Maybank, A. (2017, December 2). Doula Services Within a Healthy Start Program: Increasing Access for an Underserved Population. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 21(1), 59-64. Retrieved from PubMed (29198051).

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How soon in my pregnancy should I contact a doula?

As soon as you are ready! I typically like to schedule your first prenatal visit when you are around 24 weeks pregnant, but if you decide later in your pregnancy that you would like to hire a doula I am happy to assist at any time.

What settings do birth doulas work in?

As a birth doula I am happy to support births in all settings - hospital births, home births, and births at birthing centers. Please be advised, if you choose to have a home birth that you must have a medical provider present as well.

I have a partner, why do I need a doula?

As a doula, I intend to use my experience and education to complement the support your partner provides. This allows partners to be involved as much or as little as they need to be. Childbirth and the postpartum period are an emotional time for everyone involved, I am here to support you AND your partner.

How do you help support my partner during labor?

I can give your partner suggestions to better help you cope with the difficulties of labor, and provide information and support so your partner can also be involved when making informed decisions about your care and your baby’s care.

When will you arrive to support my labor?

I will join you at your birthing location when you feel that labor is picking up, getting intense, and you need more support. This is typically when contractions have been 4-5 minutes apart, lasting a minute and have been this way for about an hour (also referred to as the 5-1-1 or 4-1-1 rule). However, your emotional state is more important to me than the frequency of your contractions. I will come when you feel that you need more support.​

Do you meet me at my home or the hospital during labor?

It depends! I usually meet my clients where they plan to give birth, but this decision is made on a case by case basis, pending my clients need for support.

Do you support clients that plan to use an epidural?

Yes! I support my client’s vision for THEIR birth, if that includes an epidural then I absolutely support you. If you would prefer an unmedicated birth or anything in between I will be there to support that as well.

Can doulas be present for c-sections?

Of course. As you prepare for your cesarean section I can be present to assist you as I would for any birth. I can provide support during your cesarean by keeping you informed about what is happening, and I can also provide feeding support after your cesarean section.

I have a doctor/midwife and nurse, do I still need a doula?

In my opinion, yes! As a doula, I am no replacement for medical care and advice. My presence is intended to be supportive and calming regardless of the type of medical care you choose to seek.

What’s the difference between a nanny and a postpartum doula?

As a postpartum doula, I am there to support the family and the new baby. In addition to providing newborn/infant care, I also provide emotional and physical support for new parents and older siblings.

When should I hire a postpartum doula?

Whenever you feel you need one. I am happy to meet with clients during their pregnancy to help arrange postpartum plans, but if you are already home with your newborn and would like to hire a postpartum doula, I would still love to work with you!

What areas do you serve?

All of Metro-Detroit including, but not limited to:
(Oakland, Macomb, Wayne, Washtenaw, and Livingston Counties) including, but not limited to:
Allen Park, Ann Arbor, Auburn Hills, Berkley, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Brighton, Canton, Chelsea, Chesterfield Township, Clarkston, Commerce, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Detroit, Eastpointe, Farmington, Farmington Hills, Ferndale, Franklin, Grosse Pointe, Hamtramck, Howell, Huntington Woods, Keego Harbor, Lake Orion, Lathrup Village, Livonia, Madison Heights, Milford, Mount Clemens, New Baltimore, Northville, Novi, Oak Park, Plymouth, Redford, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Royal Oak, St. Clair Shores, Salem, South Lyon, Southfield, Troy, Waterford, Westland, West Bloomfield, Wixom, Wyandotte, Ypsilanti