During Pregnancy

Our first prenatal meeting focuses on all things labor and birth. We go over all your options and work together to create your birth plan. This is typically around 20 weeks.

Our second prenatal meeting focuses on all things postpartum, including healing, lactation/feeding, newborn care, and making a support plan. We also review and practice labor positions and comfort measures. This is typically around 30 weeks.

An optional third meeting can be used to set up your laboring/birthing space, organize nursery, do some freezer meal prep, or anything else that feels supportive. This is typically around 37-40 weeks.

During Labor

We’ll text/call/facetime in the early parts of your labor and I’ll join you once your labor progresses. I’ll help you identify when it might be time to head to your birthing space (unless you’re already there!) I’ll stay with you through your labor until 2 hours after baby is born.

Postpartum

I will visit you twice in the two weeks following your birth to help process your birthing experience, answer questions about lactation and newborn care, and provide some support (meal, household, body— whatever you are needing!)

First, schedule a free consultation with me (‘contact’ tab) where I can answer any questions you may have and see if we are a good match! After we chat I typically send a sample of my contract for parents to review and fill out. If you choose to move forward with me, you can send back a filled out and signed contract! I do require a $500 deposit to reserve my time, but it is applicable towards your first invoice. :)

This of course changes depending on many variables (finances, how much support is already in place, mental/physical health, each specific newborn’s needs, your family’s goals, etc.)

The requests I most frequently receive are something like this:

1) Three overnight support shifts a week for 8-12 weeks (goal: sleep support).

2) Two overnights and two daytime shifts a week for 6 weeks (goal: a mix of sleep and household support.)

3) Three daytime shifts a week for 6 weeks (goal: household support during healing.)

I am currently prioritizing birth+ postpartum packages and only accepting postpartum contracts with a length of 6 weeks or more. I typically have capacity for short term contracts or ad hoc shifts on a more last-minute basis— feel free to reach out!

Each day shift varies depending on the needs of a family and the day! One day I may assist with lactation, cook a warm meal, and walk the dog. The next I may hold baby for hours while parents rest. Some days my focus is only on caring for the parents— preparing food, running a bath, creating a care plan, etc. Typically each day is some combination of these and is always dictated by the needs of my clients.

Overnight shifts tend to center newborn care so parents can rest. I arrive at your home shortly before your bedtime and check-in before I send you off to sleep. If you are nursing I may bring baby to you when they wake, but will handle all burping, diapers, and soothing to maximize your rest time. If primarily pumping or formula feeding you can rest through the night while I handle all newborn care, as well as milk storage and pump part cleaning if needed. l am usually available by text to grab water, adjust pillows, and provide any other assistance needed.

I would describe the way I approach doula work as comforting, knowledgeable, and loving. My aim is to flex into the specific support each of my clients need and to provide ease in the transitions. I hope my presence allows people to feel deeply cared for. I also love to laugh and be silly with my clients too :)

A few years ago I was working as a nanny and enrolled in grad school, intending to become a therapist. It didn’t feel like the perfect fit, but I wasn’t sure a role existed that combined child development, education, family systems, mental health support, and community building. I had a limited idea of what a doula was but started asking around. I took a leap and dropped out of grad school a few days before it was set to start and dove into doula world. Turns out it was everything I had been searching for!

Nannies are focused entirely on baby and are typically knowledgeable about the needs of babies 12 weeks and beyond. Some nannies have experience with newborns and may work as ‘night nanny’ and will bring all their expertise to that role!

There are also ‘newborn care specialists’ who have extra education and certifications around newborn care.

‘Doulas’ focus more on the wellbeing of the birthing person and the family as a whole. We do a lot of newborn care but it is not the core of our work. Knowledge will typically focus on pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and that first 12 or so weeks of newborn development.

There are of course exceptions to this! There are nannies that focus on the whole family and doulas who are particularly well versed in newborn care. What matters most is finding a provider that is the right fit for your family. :)

Here’s a peek behind the curtain: About a third of our income goes towards taxes and business costs. This work also comes without guaranteed hours, healthcare, sick time, or PTO, so there is some cost associated with that. We give better care when we are able to take care of ourselves.

I believe I charge fairly and provide a good value to my clients. I also believe everyone deserves a doula! I am happy to offer reimbursement through Medicaid, Carrot, and Progyny for birth+postpartum services.

I have high hopes that postpartum doula work will be covered by insurance in the near future. In the meantime, I offer sliding scale and volunteer shifts for those who find the cost outside of their budget.