FAQs

What is a birth doula and what do they do?

A birth doula is a professional birth worker who provides physical, emotional, and informational support to birthing people and their partners during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum to assist them in having a positive birth experience.

A doula is not a medical provider and not the same as a midwife. A doula does not perform clinical tasks such as checking vital signs or performing vaginal exams to check dilation. Doulas do not make medical diagnoses or give medical advice. Doulas do not catch babies. Doulas do not make decisions FOR you nor do they force their own opinions or choices upon you. And doulas do not replace or take over the role of your partner.

Before Labor:
Doulas do provide you with the information and resources you need to make informed decisions during your pregnancy through postpartum. Doulas support the decisions and choices you and your partner make and help you develop your birth plan. Doulas provide emotional support and encouragement to speak up for yourself, ask questions, and express your concerns and desires to ensure you and your partner feel supported in your birthing journey.

During Labor and Birth:
A doula provides many, many services, including: talking with you in early labor to help you determine if you are in labor or having Braxton-Hicks contractions; reminding you of your birth plan and expressed wishes; reminding you to take your bag and needed items, where to go and what to do when you get there. Doulas encourage communication with your healthcare providers; provide physical comfort measures, suggest labor positions and solutions to try (especially if labor gets challenging); provide emotional support and encouragement for you and your partner; work to ensure you are feeling safe, supported, and respected in your labor and childbirth experience; keep the environment and everyone around you as calm as possible; support your partner’s needs; and much more!

After Delivery:

A doula will help with learning to get baby to latch in the first 2-3 hours after birth; check in on you and baby and is available for questions for a few weeks postpartum.

Doulas also increase the likelihood of having the best birthing experience you can have! Doctors, midwives, and nurses are vital parts of the birth team but they usually cannot stay with you continuously throughout labor, as they typically have more than one patient at a time, especially if you are giving birth in a hospital. A doula will stay with you throughout your labor (and if it becomes absolutely necessary to leave, will provide a backup for you).

According to Evidence Based Birth, “Research shows that continuous support during childbirth is linked to a 25% decrease in the risk of Cesarean, an 8% increase in the likelihood of spontaneous vaginal birth, a 10% decrease in the use of any medications for pain relief, shorter labors by 41 minutes on average, and a 38% decrease in the baby’s risk of a low five minute Apgar score (Bohren et al. 2017).”

Why do I need a doula if I have my partner with me during labor?

A frequent misconception about doulas is that they take the place of the birthing person’s partner during labor and delivery. In reality, a good doula will be a great source of support for BOTH you and your partner, working alongside the two of you and your healthcare providers to assist you in having the best birth experience possible.

Before labor, doulas will answer your partners questions, teach them some comfort measures and ways to support you during labor, and will strive to empower and encourage them to be a great birth partner!

During labor and delivery, a doula will remind your partner of ways to support and comfort you, will provide emotional support and encouragement, and will trade off with your partner when they need a break. Doulas can run errands, make phone calls, or help out in other ways to ensure you and your partner can fully focus on the labor and birth process.

Your partner may not be experiencing everything you are during the birthing journey, however, they are experiencing their own journey towards parenthood and will have their own questions, concerns, and the need for support. A doula can be truly beneficial for you, your partner, and your baby.

Does insurance cover the cost of a doula?

Some insurance companies do cover part or all of a doula’s fees because they have seen the beneficial results and lowered medical costs that can occur from having doula support during labor and delivery. Even if yours does not, some companies may possibly reimburse after the birth if you write a letter regarding any medical costs you saved the insurance company (such as not needing certain procedures) during the labor and/or delivery. You will need to contact your insurance company to find out what your policy covers. If you have a FSA (Flexible Spending Account) , HSA (Health Savings Account), or HRA (Health Reimbursement Account) these can often be used to cover doula fees not covered by insurance. (Check your plan, as you may need a letter from your healthcare provider in order to use your FSA/HSA account.)

(If your insurance does not cover my fees and/or you do not have a health account to help pay, we can discuss payment plan options if you need to split up the fee payments.)

Another way to help pay for a doula is to add it to your baby wishlist or registry for a baby shower. Family and friends can pitch in and gift the service to you!

Interested in hiring me as your doula? Check out our birth doula care packages and let’s talk!

Why should I take a Birth Boot Camp Class when my hospital offers a class?

Birth Boot Camp provides a more comprehensive childbirth education using the most current, up to date, evidence-based research and information to ensure birthing couples have all they need to make informed decisions about their pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum experiences. Instead of focusing on only one way or method of giving birth, Birth Boot Camp provides you with a multitude of options so you can decide what is best for you and your baby.

Birth Boot Camp is constantly following the research and updating teaching materials to provide the latest information and best education to fully prepare parents-to-be for their birthing experience. Birth Boot Camp offers a variety of class options because birth is not a “one-size-fits-all” kind of situation.

If you have a FSA (Flexible Spending Account) , HSA (Health Savings Account), or HRA (Health Reimbursement Account) these can often be used to cover part of the class cost. (Check your plan for details.)

Another way to help pay for a childbirth class is to add it to your baby wishlist or registry for a baby shower. Family and friends can pitch in and gift the service to you!

We also have a lot of fun!!! I want to help you learn, laugh, plus feel excited, empowered and well-prepared so you can have the AMAZING birth of your dreams!

Check out our current childbirth classes to get started!