-Birth
Support Services-Childbirth Preparation
Collaborative Services
As
a
doula, I
believe in laying out all of your options and encouraging you to inform
yourself in whatever ways would work best for you. I believe in
staying current on information so that I can give my clients the best
information available, and I do not believe in holding back on offering
options, even if they seem unconventional. I am a strong believer in a
woman's right and responsibility to make her own decisions in labor,
and strongly encourage my clients to take classes, visit La Leche
League meetings, and prepare emotionally for your best and worst case
scenarios. I see myself as a map, showing you several diferent
directions you might choose and shortcuts or roadblocks along the way.
It is up to you to decide which route to take!As a woman, I believe that birth is a natural, safe, sacred event that I was fortunate to experience. I believe it is a powerful event, one of the most, in a woman's life and changes her self perception and her relationships forever. A woman who has given birth does not look at the world the same way ever again, nor does she look at herself the same way, for better or for worse. You will never forget your birth - enter into it with the same intention, focus and determination that you did in planning your wedding, or other pivotal moments in your life.
I hope that you have
a satisfying and transformative birth experience!
I service all of
Kitsap Counties, and parts of Mason and Pierce counties. I attend
hospital, home and birth center births. I am open to attending local
clients in Seattle hospitals (Swedish, etc.) with consideration to
travel costs, etc.
After
you contact
me and we set up a consultation appointment, I will send you a
packet
of information that is yours to keep whether or not you hire me. This
allows you to review the information before we meet and formulate any
questions you might have ahead of time.
If you decide to hire me, we will fill out the contract and 1/2 of the agreed upon fee (see "Rates" below) is due at that time. This holds your place on my calendar and covers my expenses. This portion of the fee is not refundable and holds your place on my calendar. The remainder of the fee is due by the 2nd prenatal visit or 39 weeks, whichever is sooner.
We will meet several times during your third trimester to discuss several aspects of your upcoming labor, including but not limited to, fetal positioning, hydration, comfort measures, fears and expectations, your relationship with your care provider, and more. My goal is to help you feel prepared once we enter the labor room to make decisions about your care. I truly believe that if you do not know your options, you do not have any- my goal is to help you understand what options are available to you. You may elect to meet with me as many times as you like before the birth.
When you go into labor I will come as soon as you are ready for some support. I will remain with you during the entire labor and the immediate postpartum. I will take photos if you , and detailed notes of your labor.
After the birth (days to weeks, depending on your needs) I will meet with you to give you postpartum resources, your photo CD and discuss the labor and birth with you, and get feedback on my role.
If you decide to hire me, we will fill out the contract and 1/2 of the agreed upon fee (see "Rates" below) is due at that time. This holds your place on my calendar and covers my expenses. This portion of the fee is not refundable and holds your place on my calendar. The remainder of the fee is due by the 2nd prenatal visit or 39 weeks, whichever is sooner.
We will meet several times during your third trimester to discuss several aspects of your upcoming labor, including but not limited to, fetal positioning, hydration, comfort measures, fears and expectations, your relationship with your care provider, and more. My goal is to help you feel prepared once we enter the labor room to make decisions about your care. I truly believe that if you do not know your options, you do not have any- my goal is to help you understand what options are available to you. You may elect to meet with me as many times as you like before the birth.
When you go into labor I will come as soon as you are ready for some support. I will remain with you during the entire labor and the immediate postpartum. I will take photos if you , and detailed notes of your labor.
After the birth (days to weeks, depending on your needs) I will meet with you to give you postpartum resources, your photo CD and discuss the labor and birth with you, and get feedback on my role.
When
I go on call it means
several things. When
you are full term, you can be assured that if you go into labor, I
will
not be out of town and will be available to you. Because of
the unpredictable nature of labor, I make a commitment to:
- remain within close proximity to you
- abstain from alcohol - not even a glass of wine with dinner!
- keep and
answer calls
at all hours for emergencies
- be prepared to leave any function (including birthday parties, Christmas, etc.) at a moments notice
- have child
care established
- have a full gas tank and access to a vehicle at all times
- have a back up doula available to you in the event I am sick
My fees are based on a sliding scale, and I have had several clients ask me how the sliding scale works. My intention in using a sliding scale is to meet the needs of clients of all ranges of financial abundance; you decide what you can afford and what the services are worth to you, and we settle on a rate. It is not based on your income or living expenses - your financial situation is not my business!
I accept a
sliding
scale between $350 and $800. I
am also willing to work in trade. I
really enjoy talking with my clients on an
individual basis to find a
financial arrangement that is mutually beneficial. I encourage
you to interview doulas as if you have just won the lottery and are not
limited by money; choose one with whom you have a connection and then
work out the financial details from there.
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