This week, one of my local birth centers is facing the possibility of closing. And for what? The higher ups don't see it as financially sustainable, that it doesn't have a high usage rate and to them, isn't needed. To those of us who have been there, seen and experienced the miracles that happen there every day, we know how needed this center is. So what are we doing? We are pushing back and hoping it doe something.
There is power in our voices. They can calm our children, brighten someone's day, invoke change.
 Whether it is asking for a product to be carried at your favorite store or pleading for a beloved community resource to be spared, our voices matter. Maybe I have been watching too many political dramas, but call me crazy to think that our voices could bring change to how women are served and treated when having their babies. 
Today I want to touch on bringing your voice to your insurance company. Most of my clients have insurance but pay for my services out of pocket. For those who have Health Savings accounts, doula care is an accepted expense. Some insurance companies have started to cover doulas and I think more should get on board. The average cost for a vaginal delivery is around $30K, give or take depending on your state and facility used. Research has proven that having a doula on one's birth team helps reduce the need for pain medication, decreases labor times and lowers the probability of cesarean section; rates of postpartum issues also decline which help mom and baby in the long run. Why should this matter to an insurance company? Doulas save them money. But this fact alone won't get them on the bandwagon. You, the consumer, need to use your voice and ask for it to be a priority. I tell my clients to check with their insurance companies if they cover doula care and if not, they should write them and ask them to make it a covered benefit. Even if you know your insurance doesn't, write them anyway. I will also throw this out there for those wanting midwifery care. I have spoken with many women would love to have a midwife but paying for the expense out of pocket makes it an option that some can't afford (the average home birth is around $4,500). 
If you have used a doula in the past, write your insurance executives and let them know your experience. If you are wanting doula care, write your insurance carrier and let them know how a doula on your team can help you and them at the same time. Maybe even taking it a step further and writing members of your state congress to look deeper into the care that birthing women and families receive and why it needs a reform. 
One candle won't light up a dark room, but thousands will. 

You had your baby! Congratulations! So much focus and planning goes on the birth of the baby, as it should, it's a big event. But it is also important to prepare and plan for the postpartum period.  
Many new moms say they didn't realize how long they would bleed for after birth. Even if you had a cesarean, you will bleed due to the placenta no longer being attached to your uterine wall. If you aren't one who uses panty liners, stock up. And most likely you won't be able to fit into your pre-pregnancy clothes and you are so done wearing your maternity pants you can't bear the thought of putting them back on. So having "in between" clothes is important. 
Having food on hand that can be easily prepared with one hand or by a sleep deprived partner is a good idea. My family was ravaged by the stomach virus of 2018 and I was left to fend for myself shortly after JD was born. Oatmeal with peanut butter and strawberries was my go to as it was easy to make and I could eat it one handedly. Having a Meal Train set up helped immensely. I didn't have to worry about dinner most nights for the first two weeks and it was glorious. 
You will have visitors. Friends and family will want to come meet the new addition and who can blame them? Don't feel like you have to cater to every request. Set times and time limits that work for you. Many women will get hit with a flood of new hormones around three days postpartum so this isn't usually a good time to have a bunch of people over. If you aren't feeling up to visitors, say so.  If you are, ask people to do a small chore or bring you something from the outside world. And don't feel like you need to entertain them.  You have already done enough.
Postpartum sitz baths are amazing. I ordered some from a local gal and I could have wept it felt so nice ( Maybe it was the hormones). Your body is healing and you need to treat it as such. The ingredients in the baths aid in healing and relaxation. I got mine here
Sleep will be on and off for a while. Even if your baby slept through the night from the get go, most moms will find themselves checking on the baby every so often. Every noise, grunt or lack there of can make one feel the need to make sure baby is okay. But most babies don't sleep through the night (Nor are they supposed to) and that means parents don't sleep through the night. Lack of sleep can be a gateway for postpartum depression. Where hormones are already a little wonky, topping that off with little sleep doesn't help mental clarity. When one is able to get at least three to four hours of continuous sleep, it makes things a little more bearable. One thing my husband and I did to help stave off extreme fatigue was we shared the nighttime load. Since he is the night owl, he took the babies from nine to one, I would then take over from one to the rest of the day. At first, he would bring the babies to me so I could feed them and once we were past the worry of nipple confusion, I pumped and he would bottle feed them. This allowed me to go to bed early and get some good sleep and then he could sleep a little longer before work. It has worked well with our last three babies. 
Take your time. Your baby wasn't formed in one week. It is going to take a little while for your body to realize it isn't pregnant and adjust accordingly. You just did an amazing thing. You created a human from start to finish. Be kind to yourself. The feelings and emotions that come with postpartum are delicate. Don't feel like you need to be the perfect mom who "bounces back" and picks up where she left off. Sometimes we need help. Sometimes we just need a friend to come over and sit with us or watch the baby so we can shower. Sometimes we just need to load baby in the car and get a coffee at the drive through to feel a little bit normal again. 
Motherhood is awesome but it is not easy. Take things as they come and don't feel you can't ask for help. Your baby needs you healthy right now and taking care of yourself isn't selfish. It's necessary.  

Becoming a mom is wonderful. You have this sweet little bundle to hold and care for and your life could not be more complete. In this time, something I think that gets overlooked is how isolating it can be to be a mom with a newborn and/or small children.
At first, you are told to rest and take time with baby. I fully agree with this and know how mind numbing and hard this can be. Shoot for two weeks of taking care of yourself and then you can start to venture out. Venturing out can prove difficult no matter how many kids you have. When it's just you and a newborn, it's hard not to feel silly sitting at a park with a tiny human who cannot participate for at least nine more months. If you add a toddler or two to the mix, you are now trying to figure out how to push a swing with an infant attached to your chest. It can be done. 
What we are really looking for is connection. Someone we can carry on a conversation with who understands the wonderful joy and frustration of being a parent. Someone we can share parenting tips with. I know that putting yourself out there and starting up these types of conversation can be daunting. Making mom friends is hard. But really, all we need to do is put down the phones and start talking. (Something like "I see you created a tiny human with your body. I, too, have done this. Let's be friends" is a great ice breaker)
So where do we look when wanting to make these connections? Parks are great. Costco around the time when the sample mavens come out is another good one, because free snacks. There are groups and activities in Central Oregon where you can establish relationships with other moms and parents while letting your kids play. I have listed a few below. They are subject to change so always look them up to make sure they are meeting. All of these can be found on Facebook and are fairly current, though they may change come fall.

Monday:

TULA Movement Arts - Moving Joyfully 9-12

Juniper Swim & Fitness Baby & Me Yoga 10:30 - 11:30

Tuesday:

Mommy and Me Breastfeeding Support Group Redmond 12-2

Life After Birth postpartum group - Redmond St. Charles 2-3

Mountain Air Toddler Time 10-12

Deschutes Public Library - Downtown Story Time 11-11:30

Tula Movement Arts - Baby & Me Yoga 12-1

MOPS in Redmond (first and third Tuesday of each month)  9:30-11:30

Wednesday:

MOPS Bend Monthly Meeting (first Wednesday of every month) 10-12

Deschutes Public Library - East Side Story Time 9:30-10

Thursday:

Mommy and Me Breastfeeding Support group 1pm Locavore Bend

Deschutes Public Library - East side Story Time 9:30-10

Tiny Explorers 10-11

Mountain Air Toddler Time 10-12

Deschutes Public Library - Downtown story time 1:30-1:45

Juniper Swim and Fitness - Baby and Me Cycle 10:30-11:45

Friday:

Tula Movement Arts -Mindful Monkeys 9:30-10:30

Mountain Air Toddler Time 10-12


Story and craft - 2nd Sunday of each month @ Worthy Brewing 3pm

Central Oregon Gymnastics Academy Playmania 

Abstract in Motion

Cascade Indoor Sports

Hula Frog Bend

Hike It Baby

Mama Connect

Birth Fit

Stroller Strides - Fit4mom

If you have a group or activity to add, please let me know!

 I just gave birth to our third baby in May. When I found out I was pregnant, I joked with my husband that since I already knew what a hospital birth and midwife supported home birth were like, we should try for an unassisted birth, You know, for science. He didn't share my desire for the educational experience and asked me to contact a midwife instead.
After locking in my doula (yes, even doulas have doulas!) we interviewed midwives. The ladies at Bend Birth Center helped assist with our first home birth and they were awesome. Since I was using this pregnancy as an educational experience, I decided I wanted to try other midwives in the area. We really connected with Kelsey from Legacy Midwives and chose her to help us welcome our third surprise baby.
The whole pregnancy went pretty textbook. I supported doula clients until I was 34 weeks along and I savored the last few weeks of being a momma of two. I wanted our daughter to be present at her sibling's birth (because, educational experience!) but my husband wasn't too keen on the idea. (I did watch this late 80's Reading Rainbow episode where they followed a pregnant woman through birth. Very PG stuff, but she thought it was cool. She would have been fine).
Like any pregnancy, you just never know when labor will start. I did have a day of contractions at 37 weeks and I thought I may be having the baby, but they died off in the night.
The actual day I went into labor I was restless. I got so much stuff done; did yard work, changed furnace filters, chased toddlers. Once the kids were in bed and my husband pulled me in from outside, I still couldn't sit down. I told him "either I go mow the lawn at 8pm or head to Trader Joe's for ice cream and milk". He opted for the latter.
Contractions started later that night once I finally settled down on the couch. I texted my midwife and doula to let them know what was up and then headed upstairs to try and sleep. I labored by myself until the early hours of the morning. I finally called my doula and mom to ask them to come, then I texted my husband (who was asleep on the couch) to unlock the front door. He sat with me in the dark until I moved to the bathroom and labored on the toilet. My mom and doula arrived at about the same time and Breann started tracking my contractions. She asked if I had called Kelsey yet and I said no. She promptly called her since I was having one every three minutes. Time and space kinda becomes irrelevant when you're having a baby. Hours seem like minutes and minutes feel like hours. Kelsey arrived and everyone watched and waited. At 5:08am I pulled our sweet boy up to my chest. I have to say, this birth was my most peaceful and favorite. It had its painful moments and there were a few times I wanted to cry. But one thing I didn't allow myself to do was fixate on the pain and become fearful. Fear inhibits the birth process and I tried my best to not let it get to me. Total mind over circumstance.
No matter where you choose to give birth, you can have a peaceful experience. Choosing the atmosphere and people whom you feel safe with is important. Not letting fear overcome you is foundational. Birth has its mysteries. Even doulas, midwives and experienced mothers will encounter unknowns that we couldn't plan for. The best we can do is educate and surround ourselves with those who care about and support us in those fragile moments.

Midwives: Legacy Midwives
Doula: Breann VandenBrink
Photographer: Jackie Lee Photography

Back before I was a mother myself I was invited to witness my friend give birth to her second child. This was the first time I would see a baby be born and I offered to take photos. I didn't want to arrive on birth day empty handed so I perused a local store for a gift to bring with me. Like many, my ovaries just about exploded when I saw all the darling, soft baby clothes, blankets and accessories. Since they were having their second girl, I sadly opted to not buy a cute new outfit but picked out a plush new blanket instead. All babies get cold, right? How could I go wrong?! Fast forward a few years and a few children later. I have apologized on a few occasions, shaking my head that I brought her a blanket instead of something else. While she assures me that it is still Sami's favorite to this day, I didn't realize how many blankets one receives when they have a baby.
Many first time moms have no idea what they will or won't need when they have a baby. The baby registry is twenty pages long and has some of us raising our eyebrows. Subsequent babies, the list probably reads more like "Diapers, sleep, coffee". It's really a game of trying to figure out what suits the needs and flow of the family. What some women couldn't live without, others have no use for.
As the baby shower invites come in the mail, it may be hard to contain yourself when you get to the store. Bow ties on a newborn are super cute but not super practical or comfy. (My brother suggested that he get our son some matches and a pocket knife as those are natural items every little boy should have. I had to let him down gently.)
A few things to keep in mind when you are looking to bless a family as they welcome their newest addition are:
Stick with what is on their registry. The parents took time and thought into what is on there. Respect that. If you must deviate, pair it with something from the registry or a gift card.
Diapers are always welcome. If they aren't strict on using cloth, disposable diapers are always a good idea since babies go through many and you will usually run out when you least expect it. Newborn sizes are great. It never hurts to have the next size up.
Parents need presents too. Newborns really don't need a lot stuff. After baby, mom and dad kind of take a back seat and luxuries and self care go out the window. If they say that baby has everything they need, get her a massage, coffee shop gift cards, gift cards to Amazon for when they unexpectedly run out of something, or offer to pay for someone to come and clean the house. You can offer to watch the baby while they go on a date. With this one, offer to come to their house. It may be less stressful for new parents to leave their baby if they know the surroundings.
Food is always welcome. Meals that keep in the freezer are a lifesaver, especially after maternity/paternity leave ends. Snacks that can be eaten with one hand are great for breastfeeding moms.

Any gift is much appreciated for sure. Just keep in mind that it's about blessing the parents and helping them get off to a good start.

At least once a month I see on social media community groups, women asking for recommendations for the best OBGYN or midwife in town. Mass amounts of comments pour in about why this OB is wonderful and how this one is a Godsend. I do love that we are able to connect and share our experiences and opinions via these outlets. Sure, I have my opinions as well (Exhibit A: This blog).
I am a strong champion for informed decision making. I believe that you should have some idea of how you would like to see your birth go. I know the idea of the "birth plan" is a debated one, but it can more be like a guideline than a concrete plan. Having an idea of how you want to labor, how you want to be touched, and how your body and baby are cared for in the fresh seconds after birth are things I think you should give some thought and consideration to. Which brings me to the choice of your doctor or midwife. 
Finding a care provider that shares similar beliefs about pregnancy and birth as you is important. We all know that birth is not a one path journey. It can go in any direction at any moment and for the most part we just have to roll with it. But if you know your doctor is supportive of your choices and you don't have to wonder how they are going to handle the situation, it's just one less thing your brain has to cope with during labor. This is where the mass praise for one provider over another can get in the way of your process. No two births are the same. No two women are the same. What one woman loved about her doctor, you may not appreciate. It really comes down to connection. Do they support your desires for birth? What is their opinions on topics and procedures that matter to you? What are their thoughts on long labors, delayed cord clamping, going past due dates, etc...? You have the right to ask these questions and interview them. Even if you are not real picky about how things go, it is still good to ask so you can be an informed and active participant in your care. And if you find out down the road that the relationship isn't what you thought it was, you can find a new provider. You aren't locked into their care.
If you are able, go and shop care providers. Bring your questions and see who is the right one for you.

As you inch closer to baby arriving, you may be wondering what you should put in your hospital bag. There are countless blogs and articles toting the "must-haves" when it comes to the mighty bug out bag. Remember, what you bring in with you, you will have to pack back out with extra items, such as paperwork, hospital goodies, gifts and a baby in a car seat.
I like to think of my self as an aspiring minimalist. The idea of less is more really makes sense to me. This may come from me wondering "how did we get so many Lego's?!" or it could stem from farther back into my childhood staring at one of my grandfather's three (yes, three) barns full of his proclaimed treasures that he would have a need for one day. (He once bought a pallet of boxed, gray sweatshirts and sweatpants from the state sale; they had "property of Oregon correctional" stamped on the backs and he swore they were still good. I think my dad still has a set to this day. Why my grandfather felt he needed two hundred pairs of Oregon state correctional apparel is beyond me.) And so perhaps this is where I desire to have and use just what I need.
Fast forward to my own research and packing of the hospital bag. I was convinced that our daughter was going to go passed her estimated due date, therefore I had a halfhearted bag of clothes packed just to make it seem like I was making an effort (Side note: I suggest a zip up bag that opens, like a carry on type. I used a beach type bag and it sucked digging to the bottom to find my toothbrush). When my water broke three days before her due date, I was half in shock and half giddy with excitement. It was late at night and we tried to stay home to rest but the anticipation got to us. We decided to head to the hospital and so I needed to make sure I had what I would need in my bag. I think this tactic, or just pure procrastination, worked in my favor since I didn't have time to second guess if I wanted to bring something. It came down to what I knew I would need in the next 48 hours.
Comfortable clothing that stretches is a life saver. You will be engorged, padded and swollen in all the weird places and having apparel that gives makes things run smoother. My mom has made it her thing to buy me a new set of button up pajamas for postpartum. It is a great to just unbutton and feed your baby and not have to worry about straps, loops or pulling things over your head. Socks. Bare feet and hospital floors are just...no. A lightweight robe to wear whenever. I used it as a blanket and for after labor. It is great to just have to throw on if you need to get your mesh pantied bum to the restroom or cover up when visitors pop in unexpectedly.
The hospital is not a Four Seasons...or a Super 8 for that matter. Bring your own toothpaste, shampoo, body wash, lotion, chapstick and pillow. Hospital air is dry and wreaks havoc on skin and the pillows are, what I feel, the lowest fluff you can get away with and still call it a pillow. 
I packed my camera since I wanted photos of our baby being born. That's just me. If you don't have someone to designate "photographer" and you don't want to do it yourself, leave it home. Cell phone and charger. 
Snacks. Depending on when you give birth, you may not have many choices for food. Our hospital's room service ends at night and doesn't resume again until 6 am. You may be out of luck for your first post labor meal if food service is closed. Pack the good stuff and enjoy it because you earned it.
Two outfits for baby. It is tempting to pack all your favorites. But the likelihood of you getting to dress your little nugget in them all before you discharge is slim. The hospital will provide you with awesome swaddling blankets, a hat and shirts. They will also provide you with diapers and wipes, though these are not typical wipes. These are large, dry cotton sheets that they wet with water and wipe baby with. They use these because it is the least chemical option for new babies. So if you are wanting more than this, consider bringing your own wipes. If you are worried about chemicals, consider Water Wipes. 
The hospital will provide you with all the mesh underwear, maxi pads and ice packs you want. So no real need to pack your own, unless you are particular about what you use. Also, stock up. Ask for more before you leave.
Do I have to say car seat? This is kind of a given.
So there it is. If I were to give birth in the hospital again, this is what I would pack. It really is the bare minimum. If there are things that you know you won't be able to live without then pack 'em. I encourage my clients to pack things that make the room comfortable and pleasant to birth in. You will get a feel for the space when you take your hospital tour. This is a great time to ask what is and isn't provided so you can plan accordingly.
Now go forth and have a baby!

October is pregnancy and infant loss awareness month. It is a solemn thing to direct attention to but it is something that one in four women face. And it doesn't just effect the woman, it effects her partner.
There is no real firm reason as to why so many experience pregnancy and infant loss and I won't try to come up with an answer. But what I do know is how bittersweet a pregnancy after loss can be.

My husband and I started to try for a family after we were married three years. I never paid much thought to how difficult it could be. No one tells you that infertility and miscarriage are a very real and devastating part of womanhood. For two and a half years we dealt with unexplained infertility. It was a hard thing to comprehend that my body was not doing what it was created to do. But never the less we persisted. We became pregnant with our first in 2011. We shouted it from the rooftops...only to have it come crashing down at one ultrasound. We experienced another pregnancy and loss a year later. I became pregnant once more months later and we were cautious about spreading the news. Every day was a small victory shrouded in fear. A song I sung almost daily was "All of Me" by Sanctus Real where the first verse is...
"Afraid to love something that could break. Could I move on if you were torn away? And I'm so scared of what I can't control. I can't give you half my heart and pray He makes you whole. You're gonna have all of me."
That's how I felt; so afraid to celebrate the hope that was growing inside of me because it could be gone tomorrow. I wanted to guard myself from the feeling of letting myself and others down. But my husband and I resolved to  celebrate amidst the fear and anxiety. We chose to give our baby all of us. We had been chosen to carry this baby and we would celebrate every day of their life, no matter how long or short. That little hope is now three and the joy of our lives.
Going through loss is painful. Going through it alone amplifies it. If you have experienced loss before and find yourself pregnant again, I encourage you to share and celebrate amidst the fear. If others don't know what you are going through, they don't know how to support you. Having to put on a front everyday when you are crumbling inside is not good for your heart. You don't have to tell everyone, but tell a few so that you have support for the highs and lows. And I pray that there are many more highs than lows. One day at a time.
If you know someone experiencing loss, reach out, bring flowers or a meal. You can say "I can't imagine the pain you are experiencing but I am here for you to cry and process." Don't try to fix or justify the situation. Just be there.  

On August 21st, an astrological phenomena will shoot through our green state. From what I am told, our humble region is expected to double, if not triple, in size. Locals are being advised to prepare as if this were Y2K on steroids. As I watch people load case upon case of bottled water into their carts at Costco, I do wonder if I should be a little more worried than I am.
There are many spiritual and physical aspects associated with this event which is why it is such a big, fat deal. Word around the water cooler is that women, who do not even live in Central Oregon, are planning on giving birth in the cities where the black out path is due to hit.
Central Oregon has only seven home birth midwives and three hospitals that have L&D wards, Bend, Redmond and Madras. Bend has one midwife run birth center where women and their families can have an out of hospital birth.
For those who live in the outer areas, they have to make the commute into town in order to see their care provider, which on a good day can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 1.5 hours. 
Traffic is expected to be horrendous with estimated wait times quadrupling what is normal, this can be a cause for concern for a woman who is expected to deliver around the 21st.
If you are in this group, I have come up with some ideas that can help when the time comes to have your baby during a solar eclipse.
-Plan ahead. Your nesting may have already got you packing your bags and having the car seat ready to go. For good measure, make sure your car is full of gas that week, that you have food and water either in the car or in your labor bag, and stash a blanket in there as well. If you get stuck in traffic, you might as well try and nap. You may also want to cover the passenger seat with a garbage sack or towel, just in case your water breaks en route. 
-Know alternative routes and back roads that you can travel to get to your birthing location. If main roads are all you know it may be a good idea to see if there is a neighborhood or service road you can take to get to where you want to go. 
-Watch birth videos. This may sound funny, but if this is your first baby, watching a variety of labors and births will help you familiarize yourself with what the different stages of labor can look and sound like. That way you can gauge when it's time to hit the road or call the midwife.
-Ask family or friends who live in town if you can stay with them. If you have this option available, it never hurts to see if you can invite yourself to stay for the weekend until things blow over or you have the baby. 
-Don't go to the hospital too early. Always give your care provider a call when you think labor has started and see what they have to say. If you get there early in anticipation of what is to come and you aren't far enough along, they may send you packing. Then you have to find something to do until labor really kicks in or possibly attempt to go home. 
-Hire a doula. Maybe this is a little self serving BUT having an experienced support person with you can help ease nerves, help you cope with labor pains and bring calm to a potentially crazy day. 
-Patience and humor. I know this may be a really hard one to accomplish when you are having all the sensations that come with labor. The day may be long. Take it in stride and know that you are going to meet your baby soon and you will have a great story to tell at every birthday.
-Familiarize yourself and your partner (if available) in how to birth un-assisted. This is the "in extreme cases" suggestion. It is one that is plausible though if roads are backed up and you can't get through and an ambulance can't get to you. It might be a good idea to know what to do when baby's head is crowning, how to care for a fresh baby and how to abide your time until medical services are available. While I pray that this is not a scenario that any woman in Central Oregon will face, babies have been born on the turnpike. 

August 21st may be one for the history books for our humble state or it may be a joke that we can all laugh about every year of its anniversary. But it never hurts to prepare. I wish you the best and safest of solar eclipse deliveries!

There are things in our lives that are just no brainers when it comes to what we will spend money on. Food. Shelter. 5G data plan....okay, that one is not a need more than a want. But in this day and age, living without a connected smart phone is foreign to us. Though there are some days I long for the time when the phone hung on the wall and we spent more time getting lost in our surroundings.
It comes down to how much we value the service or product offered that determines if we are willing to pay the price tag. So when I tell people what I do a question that is often asked is "is a doula worth the price?".
I like to view our services as an investment into you and your baby's health. Here are a few reasons why an experienced or trained doula is worth her weight in gold.

Professionalism- Many doulas have invested time and money into certification. Other's have spent countless hours at births and have years of experience. We respect your birth because your birth is important. You won't find us talking or Instagraming about it (unless you give us permission to). We work hard to maintain good relationships with your medical caregiver so that your experience is the best it can be. We carry insurance. We are licensed. We pay taxes. 
Feminine wisdom- Experienced and trained doulas carry wisdom about pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum that is so valuable. Call it our sixth sense, but we usually are able to survey the situation and know what you need at any moment. We can sense and help ease pregnancy jitters. With every rise and fall of each stage of labor, your doula can bring intuition and insight; she may offer a position change, remind you of your focus, apply a cold towel to your head, breath along with you. We don't mind talking about the weird stuff that happens before and after birth. Most of us have been through it and it doesn't bother any of us.
Research-The great part about having a doula is that we do hours research and find the most reputable sources for you. When you have a question you will be met with the best information available. We are continually learning and staying up to date with what the most recent research findings. We attend workshops and classes so that we can better serve you.
Time- We take the time to get to know you. We want to know about your family, your pets, what makes you laugh and what your favorite cookie is. While your doctor may talk with you for ten minutes, your doula takes the time to create a relationship. Being invited to be a part of your birth is an intimate role and we want to make sure you are as comfortable with us as possible. Your doula is only a phone call or text away and she will typically get back to you within hours, sometimes minutes.

These are just a few things on top of the many different benefits (which you can find here) that you may experience when having a doula on your team. Is a doula worth her fee? I think so.