How is a doula different than a midwife?
A midwife is a medically trained care provider. As a doula I am not medically trained, I do not perform medical tests or procedures, and I do not diagnose or treat conditions in pregnancy. !I also do not perform vaginal exams or fetal heart tone checks. I do provide emotional, physical, and informational support before, during and after the birth of your baby. I am specifically trained to support you during this transitional and intense time and can serve as a guide for you on your journey.
I have already had a baby, is there any benefit to hiring a doula this time around?
Every woman and every birth is different. What does not change is the fact that women deserve to feel loved and supported during their pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period. Whether your upcoming birth will be your first or you've given birth many times already, doula support can benefit you.
When is the right time to hire a doula?
The right time to hire a doula is different for every woman. Most women hire a doula sometime in their second or third trimester but there is no wrong time to make a connection and hire the doula that is right for you. !It is important to keep in mind that we will be meeting several times before your labour and delivery and that it can be helpful for those meetings to be spaced out to give us enough time to work through any questions you may have or issues that need dealing with. That being said, if you decide to hire a doula later in your pregnancy, I will make all efforts to ensure that you receive the same prenatal care and attention from me as would a client hiring in her second trimester.
How did you become a doula and what training or experience do you have?
I trained and certified through CAPPA Canada to become a Labour Doula and maintain my certification and am in good standing with them. You can view more of my education and training details here and visit CAPPA's website here. In the time that I have been working as a doula I have gained experience working with many different mothers and situations including teen mothers, high risk pregnancies, advanced maternal age, single mothers, primiparas (women who are having their first child), multiparas (women who have given birth two or more times), expected still birth, breech vaginal delivery, as well as my own three children's births.
Will my insurance cover the cost of hiring a doula?
Every insurance company is different and I suggest you check with them regarding your specific coverage. !In most instances in Saskatchewan the cost of hiring a doula is out of pocket.
Are you willing to accept payment plans or barter for your services?
I believe that every woman deserves a doula and am willing to offer payment plans if necessary. I am also open to bartering up to fifty percent of my total fee. Please contact me to discuss the many options I have available to you.
What will happen if you can't make it to my birth?
If for any reason, within my control, I am unable to attend your birth I will arrange for a backup doula to assist you. For more information regarding my backup doula please contact me. While I do have a reliable backup system in place, I do everything possible to ensure that I will be the doula attending your birth. I currently take no more than 3 clients per month and do my best to stay very available to you during your final weeks and up until the birth of your baby.
I am not a client. Can I still access your lending library?
The sharing of knowledge and resources is very important to me which is why I have decided to open up my lending library to anyone interested in learning about pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and the postpartum period. Please visit this page for more details on my lending library program.
