What is a Full Spectrum Doula?
A Full Spectrum Doula is a community care worker who offers support to mothers during the full spectrum of pregnancy – from preconception, to birth, to abortion support, to miscarriage, to adoption, and to postpartum.Full spectrum doulas practice being open and aware of the diverse reproductive needs of each woman. I prioritize being accessible, inclusive, and culturally appropriate. When (not if) there’s a client that is not a good fit for my doula services, or if I don’t have the capacity or skills to serve the mother, I will do my very best to make an appropriate and vetted referral.
The Role of a Birth Doula
A Birth Doula provides continuous physical, emotional, informational, and logistical support before, during and just after the birth to the mother and support team. Studies have shown that when a Birth Doula is present, there are fewer medical interventions done, such as inductions, forceps, vacuum extraction, and cesareans, with fewer complications, labors are shorter, and babies breastfeed more often. Doulas are those extra eyes, ears, & hands. I can bring awareness to things that could potentially outside the range of normal that may require extra care. As a Birth Doula I understand the physiology of birth and the emotional needs in labor and can assist you in planning for your labor and birth to help you achieve your goals as most effective as possible. I can stay to support throughout the labor, birth, and immediate postpartum period. I can provide an objective viewpoint and continue to provide non-judgmental support no matter what the parents choices and decision are. I can provide emotional support as well as help with physical comfort measures during labor to include breathing, relaxation, movement, positioning. I can help to get the information that may be needed to make informed choices and decisions about your care and your baby’s care. I can help to facilitate the communication between the medical staff and the laboring family. I can help the partner and other support team by showing them how to care for the mother during labor and keeping them aware of what’s going on with the birth process, while keeping them involved in the care and nurturing of the parent. Overall, my role as a Birth Doula is to nurture and protect the memory of the birth experience while helping the parent’s voice be heard.
The Role of a Postpartum Doula
A Postpartum Doula assists families who have just given birth and/or are bringing home a new baby, whether that is through birth or adoption. A postpartum doula is there to help the new family in those first days and weeks to adjust. Even experienced parents benefit from the support of a Postpartum Doula. I not only work to ensure postpartum adjustment, but I also work to make sure that the parent’s perinatal mood and mental health is good, and that the family is well nourished. I can also help to reinforce, great newborn care practices, positive parenting skills and care strategies for everyone involved. As a Postpartum Doula I can help to ease the transition when a new member of the family has arrived. I can help to reduce the parent’s risk of experiencing postpartum mood disorders with the uses of Reiki and crystal therapy. I can offer information on infant feeding including breastfeeding assistance and infant care including bathing, changing, soothing and bonding, safe sleep, car seat safety, baby wearing and more. I can help with the physical postpartum recovery needs, whether you’ve had a vaginal or cesarean birth. I can provide nonjudgmental support no matter what choices and decisions are made regarding your body, your care, or your babies care. I can assist with light household tidying and nutritious meal preparation to assist with postpartum recovery. Overall, my role is to assist with the entire family’s adjustment when baby arrives.
Virtual Pregnancy Support
My Virtual Pregnancy Support supports you no matter where you are in the world. I will walk with you through the rest of your pregnancy, the actual labor, birth, and even postpartum, with follow-ups to ensure you, your baby, and your family adjusts well. We can also provide Distant Reiki sessions for further emotional support.
Bereavement Doula Support
My Bereavement Support Services are for individuals and families who are experiencing grief & loss during or after a pregnancy due to a difficult decision, loss of pregnancy, difficult diagnoses, stillbirth, newborn loss, infant loss up to age 1, or loss of the mother up to 1 year postpartum. I will walk with you through this difficult process of grief, and support you on your way to healing physically, mentally, and emotionally. I can provide customized assistance depending on your specific situation and what you may desire. Reiki is also included with this service.
Fertility Support
My Fertility Support Services provide an awareness and re-education of the pregnancy process through a lens of empowerment, which can be linked to increased confidence. I include an integration of tools to include meditation and overall self-care practices that support mental and emotional wellbeing during your fertility journey. I assist with clearing out toxic home items and replacing them with non-toxic products including kitchen wares, beauty, cleaning supplies and more. This service is also available virtually and can also include Reiki support and crystal healing if needed.