What are the advantages of having a birth doula?

A doula helps you before labor and delivery by answering your questions about what to expect, easing your fears, helping you develop a birth plan, and generally getting you ready for the arrival of your baby.

Birth Plan Worksheet

Learn about your options for labor, birth, and after, and make your wishes clear.

During labor and delivery, a doula provides constant, knowledgeable support. She can make suggestions about positions during labor, help you with breathing through contractions, and provide massage. She can also answer questions you and your partner have about what's happening.

It's impossible to predict or control how birth and labor will go. Will you connect emotionally with your labor and delivery nurse, and will she have time for you? How will you react to the pain? Will you have a swift delivery or a long, drawn-out labor? How will your husband or partner hold up under the pressure?

Faced with these uncertainties, many women find enormous reassurance in having a doula by their side. Research has found that women who have continuous one-on-one support during labor tend to use pain medication less often, have slightly shorter labors, and are less likely to have a c-section or a forceps or vacuum-assisted delivery.  In fact, if you're serious about trying to give birth without pain medication, a doula may be your best ally.

Women who have continuous support are also more likely to report being satisfied with their birth experience. One theory is that mothers who have continuous support produce lower levels of stress hormones during labor than women left alone or attended by inexperienced coaches.

If you’re seeing a midwife in a low-volume hospital practice, or planning to give birth at a birth center or at home, you’re likely to have continuous one-on-one support from your midwife.

If you have your baby at a hospital, it's likely to be a different story -- and hiring a doula may be the only way to make sure an experienced coach will be with you throughout labor.

In a typical hospital setting, doctors and some midwives don't stay in the room with you continuously during labor. Labor-and-delivery nurses often have to split their time between several patients, and they come and go according to their shifts.

http://www.babycenter.com/0_doulas-should-you-hire-a-labor-coach_480.bc

Services & Availability

Student Doula Services

As a Student Doula with training from the international organization DONA, I offer affordable rates to allow every woman the opportunity to receive support and Doula services.

Support Package includes:

Initial Consultations

This intimate meet up is free! This will allow us time to review the service contract, your needs for services and determine if I am the right fit for your growing family! As a social worker, planning and goal setting is my specialty!

 (3) Prenatal Visits

During these visits, I will meet with you and your partner, one on one to review early labor, comfort measures, birthing plans, pregnancy health, postpartum plan and doula expectations.

24 hour/ 7day a week on-call via phone, email, and text (starting at 36 weeks)

Labor Support

Unlike most providers of labor support, I provide assistance in Early Labor! Depending on your family's needs, I can meet you at home to assist with your early labor until you are ready to deliver.

(2) Postpartum Visits at Home

This visit at home will allow you the opportunity to receive assistance with latching for breastfeeding, questions on your healing process, referrals for postpartum health, and a chance to review your amazing birth story.

On the very first visit, I will assist with providing a meal for you and your family, PLUS assisting with any lite housework that is needed.

Pricing

$600

A deposit of half will be due upon contract signing and the remainder due at second prenatal visit. If for any reason you would like to cancel services, a refund for initial deposit will not be provided. I do provide pro bono services for families unable to pay fees, if you are in need of this service, please contact me with information on your reason for need. All woman have the right and need to have Doula Support! 

Availability

OPEN FOR BUSINESS!

I will not take more then 3-4 births per month.
Please email me ashleeabney@gmail.com for information or call at (571)-242-3199.

Welcome to God's Gift Support Services

"Children are a gift, they are a award from HIM" Psalms 127:3.

I became a Doula to help all laboring mothers to fully embrace their precious gifts. As a Student Doula with DONA I will provide you with the support and comfort of a training Doula, plus a seasoned Social Worker.