HOSPITAL DOULA

Great question, and something you'll have to decide for yourself. You may feel completely confident in the numerous staff at a hospital, their policies and liabilty safety nets, your own knowledge of birth, etc. in which case, you probably don't need me! However if you have second thoughts about inconsistent staffing with various personalities and knowledge (not to mention you are not the only patient they are caring for) , navigating physiological birth versus in an intervention heavy model, or any other number of thoughts, a doula could be a good fit for you! Having a calm, consistent, compassionate, and educated presence during labor has shown to reduce c-section rates and improve birth outcomes.

If your birth ends in an unplanned cesarean section, you will not receive a refund. Most likely I will have spent many hours helping you navigate labor and attempt to avoid surgery. Because of this, no refund will be offered.

This will be addressed on individual circumstances. Things to take into consideration: Do you want me to attend immediately postpartum to help you begin breastfeeding? Would you like additional postpartum appointments to help you navigate the transition home?

Nope! You and your partner are utlimately in charge of all decisions made at the hospital. I can help you navigate communicating with health care providers by encouraging you to ask questions and get informed consent, reminding the hospital team of your birth plan, and helping you protect your environment (turning lights off, asking staff to use soft voices, etc), but when it comes down to it, you and your spouse have the final word on and sort of decision making.

In Central Wisocnsin, I generally serve Aspirus Stevens Point, Aspirus Wisconsin Rapids, Aspirus Wausau, Marshfield Hospital, and Marshfield Hospital Weston. Any hospitals outside of a 60 mile radius of Stevens Point will incur an additional charge.

Standalone birth centers are a great way to have a home birth like experience outside your home. Birth centers typically have beatiful spaces with tools like birth tubs, aromatherapy, birth slings, birth balls and more. They have clean linens, towels, and zero clutter or dishes lying around (unlike at home where you might find yourself in labor on laundry day). From Central Wisconsin, you typically are driving quite a distance to a birth center. Birth centers serve women who are low risk and desire minimal interventions during birth. You go home a few hours after birth. A birth center in a hospital is typically staffed by midwives who are more medically trained. There is more hospital policy involved, but often you still have access to interventions like an epidural, alongside the tender, more involved care of a midwife. You will typically have a shorter stay at the birth center before going home. A home birth is where a midwife facilitates your birth at home. This is for women who are low risk and desire minimal interventions during labor and birth. You will remain in your own space, utilize your own linens, eat in your own kitchen, etc. Midwives generally have you order a number of supplies like chucks pads and other one time use supplies to help facilitate simple clean up postpartum, and proper care for mom and baby. Your midwife will tuck you and your spouse, and your brand new baby into bed before they leave to let your rest, bond, and recover.

If you are induced, this process often takes longer than a spontaneous labor. Because of this, I will join you at the hospital once you are in active labor till birth. I will however be availabe by phone, text, or video call 24/7 throughout the process to answer any questions or provide support.

As your doula, my job is first and foremost to help your partner support and encourage you in labor. This is a sweet time of bonding, intimacy, and transitioning. Often this looks like encouraging him in ways to affirm you and encourage you verbally or pointers on how to provide supportive touch. Sometimes it's a reminder to eat a snack and take a walk, or a gentle reminder labor is proceeding normally as is it was designed to. It can look like a hundred small details, but the ultimate goal is to encourage him to be the best birth partner for you.

Generally when a woman is in labor and planning to birth in the hospital, she waits untill her contractions are 3-5 minutes apart lasting for an entire minute and has been in this pattern for roughly an hour. This will depend on individual circumstances like if this is a first labor or a multip, how far you are from the hospital, or any other health challenges you've discussed with your provider. I typically plan to meet you at the hospital within an hour or so of your arrival. This is at your discretion though, and I may visit you at your house, or show up later at the hospital. When I am not present with you however, I will be available by phone, text, or video call to support you. I do hold the right that after 12 hours of continuous care, I can initiate a back up doula to come relieve me or re-evaluate your current care plan with you.