Why Use Birth Support?

Studies have shown that when birthing folks have labor support from a birth worker, labors are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they breastfeed more easily. Providing extra emotional and physical support helps give short term and long term health and wellness to the entire family unit. Giving birth inherently is not a medical event, and is commonly over medicalized. No matter what level of medical intervention one ends up requiring, birth itself is a much more dimensional rite of passage that opens much opportunities for personal reflection and growth one could use more personalized support around.

Take a look at the below loose agenda for what we would work together on planning for your birth. It would be an honor to support you through this important time.

Prenatal

Sessions #1 &2: Labor & Birth Preparation

  • Get to know each other and your lifestyle, build rapport and move through details off of the Intake form

  • Develop a birth plan/preferences- including discomfort management techniques, hospital norms (if applicable) for what you could expect including client advocacy

  • Practice/ discuss movement and positions in preparation for labor, as well as individualized relaxation tools, comfort measures, plan elements of a cozy birth environment

  • Discuss culturally significant practices you would like to incorporate and at what stage moving forward

  • Draft a hospital go bag packing list & review early signs of labor to look out for

  • Review and align on doula expectations, collaboration and bonding with birth partner (if applicable)

  • Discuss fears & concerns, and help to find solutions or resources to help bring comfort, peace and safety

  • Access to my shared resource drive for continued learning that covers a variety of prenatal, birth, breastfeeding, diapering, postpartum topics, advocacy, birth planning templates etc.

Home Visit #3: Postpartum & Fourth Trimester Preparation

  • Assess baby gear/postpartum supplies, help provide modest recommendations that would help support a newborn parent for optimal healing (and filter/edit what you DON’T need), including in-depth baby registry recommendations

  • Practice skill building with a variety of baby carriers to learn which styles are the best fit for you and your family, helping to boost confidence to carry your little ones safely

  • Postpartum Planning education & preparation, utilizing the Build Your Nest Workbook together, centering on birthing parent’s healing and restoration, as well as helping navigate how to lean into your rings of support within your existing community

  • Discuss/educate in detail the importance of prioritizing 5 postpartum essentials- rest, warming therapies, postpartum specific nourishment/food prep, bodywork, and the foundation of community

  • Demystify unknowns for the birthing person and their family on how to actually care for the newborn parent in the early days of postpartum- including healthy boundaries for family and friends

Labor and Delivery

(TYPICALLY NOT YOUR DUE DATE, SURPRISINGLY!)

  • Once you feel you are in labor or consent to induction, give me a call and we will decide together where and when I will meet you

  • Emotional and physical support, relaxation and breathing techniques, massage, comfort measures and labor positioning the entire duration of labor and delivery

  • I will be an active advocate for you and your birth preferences

  • Breastfeeding support from initial latch

  • Approximately 2 hours of immediate postpartum support to ensure you that you and baby are off to the best start to protect your sacred golden hour.. Then leaving you to have quality, intimate family time! Expect a phone call from me the next day checking in

Postpartum

POSTPARTUM HOME VISIT (WITHIN 1 WEEK OF BABY’S ARRIVAL)

  • Moving through your birth story together, through active listening, aid in filling in any gaps of memory or any questions about the circumstances

  • Hold space to allow birthing parent to have time to process, celebrate, grieve, and express exactly how they feel after this major milestone

  • Postpartum nutrition check in

  • Assistance with infant feeding and newborn care

  • Discussing any concerns about your home base, postpartum healing set up

  • Assess and provide additional resources would be supportive and restorative such as: pelvic floor therapy, lactation consultants, chiropractic care, therapists, postpartum support groups, Acupuncture, massage therapy, movement specialists, etc.