What does a birth doula do?​

• Provides non-medical, emotional, physical, and informational support during pregnancy and birth.

• Provides non-medical pain management comfort techniques during labor and birth. 

• Helps the birthing person advocate for what they want and supports them in their choices. 

• Provides suggestions for different laboring positions and techniques in order to help labor progress.

• Supports partners in various ways.

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What does a birth doula NOT do?

• Provide medical advice or diagnoses. 

• Perform medical procedures.

• Make choices for clients. ​​​​​​

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How do I hire you as a birth doula?

You can book a free preliminary consultation with me here.​​​

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How do I sign up for a childbirth education class?

• Check here for upcoming dates/times. 

• Private classes are also available.

• Feel free to reach out at DCAreaDoula@gmail.com if you would like to set up a class.​

 

If I am going to have a doula, do I need a childbirth education class?

A childbirth education class is a great idea, even if the birthing person plans to have a doula. Doulas help their clients advocate for what they want based on their individual needs and what they learned in their classes. 

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Who are your services for?​

With joy, I provide services to clients of all genders, sexualities, cultures, and family structures, including clients with or without partners. ​​

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Are there any circumstances in which you do not take a client?

• If the client will be laboring or birthing outside the area I serve.

• If the client has shedding pets in the home and/or if someone in the home smokes. (This restriction does not apply if the birthing person wants me to meet them at a birthing center or a hospital without laboring assistance at home beforehand.) 

• If the client will be birthing at home without assistance.

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What is your birth philosophy?

The doula's role is to support the birthing person fully and with joy! It is my job to respect your autonomy, provide you with evidence-based information, and to help you advocate for the birth you desire. ​​

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I am late into my pregnancy and just decided to have a doula; will you take me?

Please feel free to reach out; I may be able to help!​

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Can you guarantee that I will have a vaginal, unmedicated birth?

Because birth is unpredictable, no one can guarantee that someone will have a vaginal, unmedicated birth. However, research shows that having a doula can greatly reduce the risk of medical interventions, including cesarean section.

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Will you be my doula if I plan to use pain medication?

Absolutely! I believe a doula's role is to support the birthing person in their choices.

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Do I need a doula if I plan to have an epidural?

Doulas can be of great help during an epidural. They can aid the birthing person in using different positions, and they can provide advocacy support, emotional support, and other physical comfort measures.

 

Do I need a doula if I am having a planned cesarean?

A doula can provide comfort measures and help with advocacy during any kind of birth, including surgical birth. A birthing person's mobility is limited after surgical birth, and doula's provide a great deal of help during this time.

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What areas do you serve?  

Currently, I am taking clients in D.C. and the surrounding Maryland suburbs. 

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Do you have access to Walter Reed?​

Yes! I have my own military identification and can attend births at Walter Reed with ease. I know that when someone is in labor the last thing they want is for their doula to be stuck at the gate! I am very familiar with Walter Reed and would have no trouble getting directly to a client.  

 

Which hospitals do you attend?​​

• George Washington Hospital Center

• Holy Cross Hospital

• Howard University Hospital

• Medstar Washington Hospital Center

• Sibley Memorial Hospital

• Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

• Medstar Georgetown University Hospital 

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Do you attend home births?

Yes; I attend home births where the birthing person also has an on-call midwife. 

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Do you offer virtual services? 

Yes. Some people want the advantage of having a doula but do not want to increase the amount of people in the birthing space, or they want a particular doula who does not live in their area. A virtual doula can be a great fit in those circumstances!

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Will you drive me to the hospital?

I do not transport clients to the hospital; transportation is not a service usually provided by doulas.

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Are you vaccinated for Covid-19?

Yes.​​​