While I feel my role in your birth space is best served through the empowerment of documentation (see: the rest of this site), I also can join you as a doula. To combine those two roles is a balancing act - at times, the priority is images. At other times, the priority is support. We will go over what this might look like and what your priorities are in your initial consultation.
My interest in becoming a doula felt like an organic outgrowth from my birth photography - getting to join families in their most sacred and vulnerable and powerful experience, and to support them in another way. My doula philosophy is to provide information and resources so that families feel ready (as “ready” as you can be for an unpredictable and out-of-your-control experience) and equippped as both birthing person and partner (if applicable) to welcome a new baby.
What does a doula do?
A doula’s role is to provide physical, emotional, and informational support to parents before, during and shortly after childbirth. A doula is not a medical professional, so, as your doula, I would not perform clinical tasks (blood pressure, exams) and I would not deliver the baby for you. A doula also does not make decisions for you, but, rather, I aim to equip you with information to advocate for your own decisions.
According to extensive researched performed on more than 15,000 patients (source: Evidence Based Birth), researchers found that people who receive continuous support during childbirth experience:
25% decrease in the risk of Cesarean; the largest effect was seen with a doula (39% decrease)*
8% increase in the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth; the largest effect was seen with a doula (15% increase)*
10% decrease in the use of any medications for pain relief; the type of person providing continuous support did not make a difference
Shorter labors by 41 minutes on average; there is no data on if the type of person providing continuous support makes a difference
38% decrease in the baby’s risk of a low five minute Apgar score; there is no data on if the type of person providing continuous support makes a difference
31% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience; mothers’ risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience was reduced with continuous support provided by a doula or someone in their social network (family or friend), but not hospital staff
my doula packages include:
You can also purchase the childbirth class sepArately here.
(Photos on this page by me, birth photographer.)