A few FAQs —

Okay so first, WHY a doula?

What is a doula and why would I need one? A doula is a non medical birth professional that becomes a part of your care team from the moment you hire them to offer resources, education, advocacy, and physical and emotional support. During pregnancy they can assist in answering questions you might have about things at your appointments with your care providers. They can offer nutrition resources, connections to groups and classes, assistance in birth planning and postpartum preparation. During labor and birth they are there to help guide and protect you and your space from beginning to end to ensure you are cared for and listened to. I once had a friend describe it as a “birth best friend” and I love that. 

Are we a good fit?

I’m sure you visited the “about me” section. But I get that it’s hard to get the full picture from reading someone’s bio. I offer free consultations in person or virtually and I’d love to meet you and chat! There is no pressure in that. I’m a huge advocate for people feeling 100% comfortable with the doula they choose to work with because it’s such a vulnerable time, and I want to be comfortable with you too! I support a wide variety of birth styles, but because of my personal experience and focused education on specific issues, I definitely specialize in blood sugar management and high risk pregnancy situations. 

You want to move forward… now what?

Head over to the “connect” page and send me an email and we can get started! We will set up that free consult, chat for a bit and I’ll send you home with some information and my contract. If you decide to book with me from there, I’ll have you pay the down payment, sign the contract, and you’ll be on my calendar! Then moving forward I’m yours to communicate with anytime you need, and I’ll give you a timeline of when we can start meeting to chat about your hopes and plans to create the best experience for you! 

For the dads —

I get it dads, why a doula for YOU? Instead of trying to explain it myself, here is a note from my husband, who has experienced birth with and without the presence of a doula:

“When my wife first mentioned she would like a doula for the birth of our second child, I immediately thought, “Wait, did I do something wrong the first time?”

​I think most dads would feel that way. However, after the birth experience, I have come to realize that that question is rooted in a misunderstanding as to what a doula is and isn’t.

A doula is not a substitute for a partner, loved one, or father. A doula is, in the simplest form, an advocate.

There were many times during both birth experiences neither my wife or I knew we had options, or knew we could ask questions about the care that was being provided. Additionally, there were times the fear of contention with medical professionals kept us from asking for clarification or explanation. However, with the help of our doula, we were able to better understand what was happening and therefore, be more emotionally present during the birth of our second daughter.

She provided coping techniques, pain management strategies, and an extra set of hands that no book could teach or no medical professional could provide.

The personal touch she provided allowed us to transition our daughter from womb to world smoother than we could have imagined. Even after our daughter was born, she stayed with us ensuring the best possible care was rendered to both mom and baby, gently reminding medical professionals to explain exactly what was happening to our baby in those first few moments.

I cannot imagine being a birth partner again without the presence of doula.

— Keirsh Cochran