Birth Doula Support

 
Birth Room

Labor and Delivery Room, NYU Langone (Winter 24’ Birth Client)

An empowered birthing experience means having choice and the support in making those choices from an informed, intuitive, and evidence-based lens.

Our work together is rooted in discovery, education and support to uncover what you want to prioritize in your birth experience. We are all individuals, and so it stands that while birth follows a similar physiological tempo, how we envision the way we embrace it will be unique to each of us.

To ensure we have a great connection an initial consultation is made to get a better sense of whether we would be a match. For consultations, please book through the connect page. At this time, I do not take same-day birth support clients but can refer out to “on-demand” doula services.

 

NYP Cornell, Alexandra Cohen (Summer’22 Birth Client)

Birth Support Structure

Prenatal Meetings:

Prenatal 1 (Virtual) : Crafting Birth Intentions + Birth Basics

Prenatal 2 (Virtual) : Lactation Basics + Postpartum Preparation

Prenatal 3 (In-Person) : Comfort Measures + Labor Positions

Unlimited Client Check-Ins:

Throughout the journey, I am able to be reached via phone/text/email for questions that may arise during our time together.

The Birth Hub

The Hub serves as a comprehensive birth resource space for us as we begin our work together. It holds an abundance of resources on birth, lactation and the initial postpartum which is able to be utilized as a reference point in between sessions. The Hub is also a living space, which means it’s updated after sessions with follow-up materials that are relevant to each client that align best to the hopes they have for their birth experience.

In-Person Labor Support

At 38 weeks, I enter a 24/7 on-call window. Both myself and my back-up doula are on stand-by for birth. For high-risk clients whom may need earlier on-call windows, accommodations can be made to honor preterm deliveries. After birth, I remain present for at least 1 hour to ensure all is well and help offer hands-on support for the first latch or newborn feeding support for those that are choosing not to breastfeed. For clients building their families via surrogacy, I can support with maneuvering a feeding plan that feels best for all, and help facilitate efforts for harvesting colostrum/shifting to early pumping if it is in your early postpartum plans.

Postpartum Visit

A one hour postpartum visit in your home after birth within the first 2 weeks home to ensure everyone is settling in well at home and recovering well.

Fees + Insurance

The birth fee is split into two payments, 50% at signing and 50% remaining by 35 weeks. All payments are electronically facilitated via Square and the platform accepts debit/credit/ACH payment methods. Please refer here for up to date rates/fees.

At this time I can help facilitate reimbursement for the following employer sponsored fertility benefit plan: Carrot, Maeve, Progyny. For health insurance reimbursement, I have been able to support clients receive reimbursement from BCBS, Aetna, and UHC. Please note, the extent of your coverage is dependent on your specific health insurance plan.

I offer sliding scale for families in need so please connect if you are experience the following: financial hardship, recent loss of employment, planning for a home birth OOP, are a single/solo parent, teen parents, experiencing unexpected homelessness/leaving an unsafe environment, underemployment, etc. Extended payment plans are also available for those receiving sliding scale birth support.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Countless clinical studies have found that the presence of a doula at birth tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications, reducing potentially negative feelings about the birthing experience. The presence of a doula is especially beneficial in situations with unplanned circumstances and reduces the need for Pitocin, forceps or vacuum extraction, requests for pain medication including epidurals, as well as incidents of unnecessary cesarean sections. When a doula is present during and after childbirth — women report greater satisfaction with their birth experience, making more positive assessments of their babies, fewer requests for medical interventions and less risk for postpartum depression.

  • Studies show that babies born with a doula present tend to have shorter hospital stays with fewer admissions to special care nurseries, breastfeed more easily and have more successful bonding with mothers during the postpartum period.

  • Yes! I have attended births at home, in birth centers, in hospital and even in more unique locations alongside wonderful midwives or OBs. I do not attend unassisted births at this time, meaning births that are not attended by a licensed medical professional such as a midwife or OB.

  • Yes! I have many clients seek support with the hopes of a VBAC.

    I encourage all potential VBAC clients to begin prenatal prep early on, and to ensure they have received confirmation of being VBAC eligible from their provider.

    VBACs offer the opportunity for clients to experience a vaginal birth if they strongly desire to, but they often require more mental preparation to ensure the last birth experience is has been processed, along with selecting a supportive VBAC provider

  • No. A doula does not make decisions for clients or intervene in any medical care. Doulas provide informational, physical and emotional support, while respecting a client decisions. Doulas only present information and support.

  • No, a doula is a support person to both the birthing person and the partner, and plays a crucial role in helping a partner become more involved in the birth to the extent he/she/they feel most comfortable. Through our work together, building a space of safety is crucial to understanding the comfort levels of all involved and how to best support the duo together.

  • We will decide before hand upon a window of time that everyone is comfortable with. By week 38, I am considered on call in preparation to provide labor support.

  • Yes! Virtual doula support was truly refined during the COVID-19 pandemic.