Intentional Childbirth
Doula Services
Why a Doula?
Having a baby is one of the most wonderful moments in a person’s life. It can also be one of the scariest, and most vulnerable times in a woman’s life. We are in a hostile society where birth is treated as a sickness instead of a natural, beautiful part of life. Birth can be one of the most traumatic events or one of the most supremely exhilarating times. And much of that has to do with the care and support you do or do not have.
When I had my first baby I had been preparing to be a midwife. I had been at births and a part of the experience several times. I was no stranger to the process of labor and delivery. My husband was more supportive than most men, and I had amazing midwives to assist me in my desire for an unmedicated birth.
But, do you know what happened? The minute my labor became intense while I wanted my husband’s continual touch and closeness, it was my mama’s face that I sought. I needed another woman who had been through what I was going through to help me, encourage me, and even anticipate my every need. You see, my mother was my doula even though I had not planned that all out.
When we are birthing, we naturally turn to the women who have been there before us. To be our advocate, support, encourage and guide us.
Doulas are for siblings too!
Not your first baby?
Learn about how a doula can assist you with sibling preparation through our children’s class we call, “Ready, Set, Baby!”
What is a Doula?
- A doula in the greek means “Servant Woman” and that's exactly our role.
- A doula allows your husband to give you that tenderness you need and frees him up to be with you in whatever way you desire without heavy expectations that he himself might be unsure of.
- A doula frees up your midwives (if you are at home or birth center) to attend to your physical needs as they prepare for the birth of your baby. If you are in the hospital, a doula stays with you constantly when a nurse can only come and go.
- A doula can also assist in seeing what needs the husband, other family members and the midwives might have, such as a snack or cup of tea.
- A doula is available for those questions before and afterwards that you might not be sure if you want to bother your midwife with or you can’t ask your doctor.
- A doula can be there from the moment you want her to stay with you, even in the early stages of labor before it’s time to call the primary caregiver.
- A doula is a support to you during labor, helping with relaxation through contractions and offering ways to cope with the pain.
- A doula can assist you after the birth in breastfeeding, caring for your other children, assisting you with needs in your house, yes even washing dishes.
01
Educational Support
A doula is there to assist with providing information and education. Coming along side the expectant parents she is available for questions throughout pregnancy, labor and postpartum. This enables the parents to make not only informed decisions but feel confident throughout the whole journey.
02
Physical
Support
While a doula is not a medical caregiver, a doula provides physical support and comfort measures throughout labor, delivery and postpartum. Whether it is through suggesting effective positions, offering a warm blanket, cool drink, or massage a doula is there for your physical comfort and needs.
03
Emotional Support
Birthing a baby is a highly emotional event for a woman. A doula is there for encouragement, support, and understanding before, during and after. She is a cheerleader, advocate and friend. Your emotional health is a strong priority to your doula. Assisting with fears beforehand, overwhelm during labor and processing postpartum emotions are all part of a doulas role.
Hear from other new parents...
We hired a Doula to help us through the birthing process for support and knowledge, as I suffer from anxiety and my husband is very much an introvert—has a hard time processing emotion.
Jenny was there for us every step of the way….helping me through times of feeling anxious and educating and encouraging my husband on the birthing process.
During delivery, Jenny’s calming presence helped me stay calm and collected during a time I would normally be overly anxious.
If a doula were a drug, it would be unethical not to use it.”
John Kennell
Research has shown that having a doula gives you a 39% decrease in the risk of a Cesarean (c-section)
FAQS
The reason I named my business Intentional Childbirth is because I believe that one size does not fit all. Whether you choose to have a home birth, birth center, natural hospital birth, medicated hospital birth, or even a C-section – your decisions can be made with intention and education, and you can feel prepared and able to make the decisions that you need to for what is right for your family. It is my joy and delight to learn every detail of how you would like your birth to go and seek to help fulfill that as best as I am able.
Yes! Jenny was blessed to breastfeed all eight of her children and have further education to support lactating moms!
Yes! We love supporting mamas in their desire to have a VBAC. So much of the journey after a traumatic birth or a C-Section is learning to let go of the fear from the past and trust the way God has designed our bodies. We seek to offer unwavering emotional support and reassurance with the goal of helping you feel confident and at peace throughout the process. Also, we seek to avoid the same complications through the use of movement and exercises, helping to facilitate optimal position for the baby.
Absolutely! If you want to make use of an epidural for pain relief it is even more important that you avoid the cascade of interventions.
With the limited mobility of an epidural it is even more important to find creative ways and to help the baby move downward in the optimal position. Simulating gravity through the use of a peanut ball and other positions to help move labor along and avoid some of the complications that can sometimes come with an epidural.
Even with an epidural, a doula can help advocate for the birthing person’s preferences, such as delayed cord clamping, skin-to-skin contact, or specific birthing positions.
A doula’s role is not limited to JUST pain management, but rather to provide holistic support throughout the birthing process.
What You Can Expect With Our Packages:
Comprehensive Prenatal Support
-Unlimited 24/7 phone and text support from booking to beyond answering any questions or concerns you may have.
-Prenatal visits to get to know each other well and go over your specific birth plan. In these visits, I will ask questions that will help me assess what are some of the best ways I can support you, and the kind of comfort measures that are going to most help you. We will go over details to help you feel as prepared as possible for your baby’s birthday!
-The Intentional Childbirth Preparation Class.
-Education, links and resources to help you during pregnancy and birth.
-BONUS RESOURCES
–Birthing with Intention Ebook
Your 60-page information-packed guide to all things pregnancy, labor and delivery, newborn care, and breastfeeding.
-The Intentional Childbirth Exclusive Coupon Book. This digital coupon book is full of local services as well as online shops with hundreds of dollars of discounts for the whole family.
Full Labor and Birth Support
-Phone and text support as you are navigating pre-labor signs or trying to establish if you are in labor.
-Early labor support in your home. Helping you assess when to head to the birthing facility (or call the midwife if homebirth.)
-Support at the birthing facility from admission on.
-Immediate postpartum support for 1.5 to 2 hours after birth.
-Initial Breastfeeding Support for that first latch.
-Use of Birth Tools, ie:
Birthing Ball, Rebozo, Twinkle Lights, Essential Oils, Scripture Cards, Affirmation Cards, ELLE TENS UNIT.
-Hands-on support, ie:
Hip squeezes, Counter pressure, Massage, Hot or cool washcloths)
-Verbal support and encouragement
-Positions changes and suggestions to facilitate smooth labor progress
-Relaxation techniques and help.
-Help with decisions during labor as well as education about possible procedures or interventions the provider might suggest.
-Husband support and assistance (Doulas are for dads too!)
-iPhone photos if desired.
–Documentation of the birthing process, timing of events, etc.
Postpartum Care
-Phone and text support as needed the first couple of days.
-Postpartum Visits which can include any of the following:
-Emotional support: Sharing and talking over the birth and going over all the events that the mama might want to process. Answering any questions.
-Breastfeeding assistance.
-Questions regarding newborn care.
-Questions regarding postpartum issues both physical and emotional.
-Physical assistance ie:
-Meal Prep, Household Chores, Sibling Help
-Newborn care ie: daytime sitting or nighttime nannying.
BONUS RESOURCES:
-6 Week Postpartum Meal Plan
-The New Mom Snack Guide. Quick & Nourishing Postpartum Snacks
-the Postpartum Pantry Ebook
-2 Page Postpartum Nutrition Guide
And Beyond...
Doulas never expire. Part of what I love about helping families are the friendships that have developed. Whether you have potty training questions or just need a friend to talk to you. You have your doula for life!
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