- Labor & Postpartum Doula Services-

  Pregnancy is one of the largest changes your body can go through. Think of your body as training for a marathon. At times it may be physically and emotionally exhausting. Having someone to walk you through the stages of your pregnancy with knowledge, experience, and compassion can help you to the finish line; think of me as your labor coach.

 I provide emotional support before, during, and after delivery. I create a safe space to let go and express your feelings in a judgment-free zone. I provide honesty, integrity, ethical practices, and care at your most vulnerable time. I will encourage, advocate, and listen to your needs throughout your entire pregnancy into your labor and the postpartum period.  I will provide valuable resources to help take the steps towards resolutions. Whether a birth is completely unmedicated or medically very complex, every family can benefit from nurturing and connection at this tender, incredible time in their lives. 

I help you and your families connect with evidence-based resources about options so that you can make informed decisions about your birth and  help you understand the benefits, the risks, the alternatives, allow you to lead with your intuition, and at the end it is your choice to do nothing that is not medically necessary. 

Unless medically necessary, It is your birth and even then your right to decide when you are properly informed. I explain medical procedures in simple language to better understand the language we hear when medicine speaks. I will advocate for your wishes and encourage you to ask questions. I will provide the information you will need to have your best birth.  

 A birth plan wish is important as it helps you make important decisions for your delivery. If you are a first-time parent, you might have trouble deciding what is important and what isn’t. I can assist with your labor preferences, choices of pain management, hospital interventions, the after-birth process, and postpartum. You will likely to be focused on the delivery and you might not think of the afterbirth, what do you desire vs hospital proceedures. 

If you have a c-section, it is very important to let the hospitals know what are your desires with regards to the birth, the baby, nursing and even more importantly what are your postpartum plans especially if you have other children to care for at home. Who will take care of you while you care for baby? This is where postpartum doula support comes in handy. All birthing parents deserve postpartum doula support and especially c-section births. 

 During the labor process, I offer, point pressure, and soothing touch, with the addition of apparatuses such as heat and cold compressions, or hot stones as well as the use of natural body butters and or essential oils; your preference is key. Some hospitals have birthing balls, I assist with different  birthing positions to ease pain and coach you in breathing techniques to better facilitate your labor process and create a calming room environment to your desire. I assist with water therapy, and help keep you hydrated and nourished with ice chips, food, and drinks.

 I work together with the birth partner ( spouse,  partner, family member etc.)  to improve your birth and keep them informed.  Physical and emotional support make a huge difference for everyone involved. The birth partner’s experience matters in birth. My goal is to support every birth partner in being as involved as they’d like with the birth.  If you are the parent of other children, you may want to consider and plan for doula support while your significant other tackles on family responsibilities.

 While you focus on selfcare before, during, and especially after birth. Studies have shown that the most positive birth experiences for fathers/partners and family members,  are ones where they  have continuous support from a doula, and or a midwife. Fathers / partners / family members feel more confident knowing that their birthing person is fully supported by a birth professional when they are away.

 During pregnancy, your hormone levels are constantly fluctuating and it takes a while for them to return to normal once your baby is born.  Studies show that 1 in 9 women suffer from postpartum depression. Postpartum support plays a vital role in improving the well-being of both the parent and baby by helping the birth person transition into parenthood. A doula will guide you through this process as well as help you make the right choices regarding lactation feeding. An IBCLC Board Certified Lactation Consultant who is a mentor of mine  Carmen Baker-Clark who I highly recommend. Carmen is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and the Manager of CarePoint Health, Hoboken University Medical Center’s Lactation Program. She has been helping moms breastfeed their babies since 1998, first as a La Leche League Leader and working in private practice doing home visits as an IBCLC since 2005. She has a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University in Art and Archaeology.