Fig Leaf Birth Services Hello! Congratulations on your impending birth and your decision to look into the options and choices that surround birth. An ordinary miracle, birth is a process that is both profound and normal; every day, thousands of women are giving birth and welcoming new life. Continuous support can be very helpful in facilitating a birth that is both safe and rewarding for mothers and their partners. My goal and role as a doula is to ensure that every woman has the best birth experience possible. As a doula, I provide a compassionate and knowledgeable support system for women and their partners and offer informational, physical, and emotional encouragement and support throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. I believe that informed parents are able to make the best decisions for themselves and their children and I strive to teach the families I work with about all their options and choices for birth. I offer support for births of all types including un-medicated, medicated, cesarean, VBAC, home, and hospital.   Numerous clinical studies have found that a doula’s presence at birth: tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications reduces negative feelings about one’s childbirth experience reduces the need for pitocin (a labor-inducing drug), forceps or vacuum extraction and cesareans reduces the mother’s request for pain medication and/or epidurals (from DONA's Why use a doula?) My birth doula services include: a free one hour interview so that we can get to know each other 1-2 prenatal meetings (more if necessary) to discuss labor techniques and   help formulate a birth plan/birth preferences phone and email check-in leading up to the birth continuous labor support photography services available if desired at least one hour of immediate postpartum support and breastfeeding assistance 1 postpartum visit once baby is home that includes birth reflection, assistance with baby equipment, baby-wearing techniques, co-sleeping basics, and organizing/light housekeeping My fees for birth support are on a sliding scale and, in some cases, free of charge. Payment plans are available and I accept a number of Medicaid clients each year. I would be happy to discuss these options with you and welcome any other questions you may have. Every woman deserves a doula!