While both people work in the birth space, a midwife is medically trained to facilitate the birth, whereas a doula is there for emotional and physical support. As a doula, I’ve been trained on comfort measures during labor, postpartum healing practices, and how to support birthing people and their families at every stage. Doulas and midwives work together to provide the most holistic care during your birth.

Besides the physical benefits of having multiple support people (running errands, taking turns supporting different laboring positions, resting when possible, multi-tasking in general) attending your birth, a doula will also often have more experience in the birth space. I can tell you what to expect in certain situations, how to troubleshoot common problems, and decode medical jargon.

As amazing as your partner may be, they might not be fully prepared for birth. Having another person to guide you through it will ease the burden on your partner to do it all, and ensure you both have the stamina to endure labor, as well as remain present during special moments.

Because doula fees are rarely covered by insurance, I will be an out-of-pocket expense you’ll have to budget for. With this in mind, I have tried to make affording my services as easy as possible.

First, I offer a sliding pay scale so you can determine what you’re comfortable paying. Second, you can arrange to pay through an FSA/HSA fund if you have one, or add the cost of my services to a baby registry. Third, while my usual payment schedule is 50% due at hire and the remainder due at 37 weeks, we can also set up a payment plan for lower but more frequent payments.

You can hire a doula as soon as you want support and advice. We will only have a few formal prenatal meetings, however I am always available via text or call for issues and questions that arise, and love to be involved with your pregnancy at any stage!

If you’ve hired me just for birth, I will visit a few times in the early days to offer postpartum support and advice, and remain available via text or call for 12 weeks postpartum.

If you’ve hired me for birth and postpartum, or just postpartum, I will also be available to you for 12 weeks after I start supporting you (even if you’ve used up your contract hours before that!)

I go where you go! Whether you choose to birth at home, a birth center, or a hospital, or end up transferring to any of them, I will be by your side the entire time.

COVID protocols at hospitals have changed frequently during the pandemic, but as of June 2023 no Twin Cities hospitals restrict doula support. In the rare case that I cannot join you, I will continue to offer support and encouragement virtually.

I will still be there for you! No matter when you go into labor (be it early or late) I plan to attend your birth. If it is well before 37 weeks and I am not yet on-call, my response window will not be as short. Therefore, if I am in town, it may take me more than the usual hour or so to get to you.

If I am not in town, I will send a backup doula to support you in my place. I have gotten to know other local birth workers with similar birth philosophies and models of care so that they can seamlessly step in if needed. Alternately, if you have other doulas in mind from the interview phase, let me know so that I may contact them first.

There is no additional cost for premature birth or backup doula support. If you have not paid the remainder of my fee yet, it will be due within 48 hours of birth. Then our timeline for working together will move up and postpartum support may look different.

While no pregnant person wants to think about this, miscarriage is always a possible outcome of pregnancy. By the time you are looking to hire a doula, your pregnancy is probably well-established, and therefore miscarriage chances are low.

However, complications can arise at any time that can result in a miscarriage or stillbirth. As a full-spectrum doula, I am prepared to support you throughout the experience and for the usual postpartum period, knowing that will look different for everyone.