Question 1

Why a doula?

Accepted Answer

As a doula, I am dedicated to bring confidence, skills, and knowledge to your pregnancy, childbirth, and early parenting experience. My goal is for you to feel confident in your ability to cope and achieve your goals.

I offer personalized support that includes emotional encouragement, childbirth education, pain management techniques, continuous labor support, and advocacy. I work closely with you to understand your goals, hopes, and preferences, ensuring that you feel empowered and well-prepared every step of the way. Whether you need guidance on breathing exercises, help in creating a comforting birthing environment, help with communication with your care team, or a reassuring presence, I am here to help you navigate this transformative journey with confidence and care.

Doula care demonstrates remarkably improved physical and psychological outcomes for pregnant, birthing, and postpartum people and their babies. Doulas have a positive impact on the well-being of the entire family during the perinatal period.
https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307859

Question 2

What is your philosophy?

Accepted Answer

Birth is a physiological process that goes well for the vast majority of the time, and sometimes needs help. We are experts in our own bodies, and given full information, we will make the choices that are right for us. Pain (not suffering) is an opportunity for courage and finding your power.

We all deserve someone who reminds us that we can trust our inner strength and guidance. Birth is unpredictable. Whether planning a home birth or hospital birth, low-risk or high-risk, first baby or not, feeling seen, supported, and confident during pregnancy, labor, birth, and the immediate postpartum time is very important. You will remember how you felt and how you were made to feel.

Question 3

What is your style?

Accepted Answer

Over the years, I have learned that to serve someone well, it is essential to develop a sense of what is unfolding in each labor and use detective skills as it were.

Tools can come in handy, and I certainly have many, but so do sitting, listening, and feeling. I observe the labor, the process, the smells, and the sounds to become aware of what is happening physically and emotionally. This then helps me to know and intuit what to do when and why.

My focus is on supporting the labor flow and creating balance and space in the pelvis, and yes, this is also important if someone needs an induction and/or has an epidural. Enhancing normal physiology can help improve your labor and birth.

Good prenatal preparation of body, mind, heart, and soul is also important, and I do not miss an opportunity to support my clients with tools and resources to support their whole being.

I approach things with a sense of humor, calm & groundedness. I am dependable, somewhat direct, and not too bothered with hierarchies.

Question 4

How will hiring you affect my partner's role during the birth?

Accepted Answer

My role as a doula is to support BOTH of you, albeit in different ways.

My support role is unique because I am not going through a personal transition like your partner is. My skills are grounded in training and experience, allowing me to bring a broader perspective to your labor, birth, and immediate postpartum time. I give supportive information to help you make decisions. I draw from my intuition when offering support, tips, and tools.

Your partner’s role is unique because no one else in the room loves and supports you emotionally in that special way. Their deep love for you is its own anchor for this transformative time. It can be hard to see a loved one go through labor, and I help partners be the best labor support they can be. Even the most well-prepared partner feels relieved when a doula is in the room!

Question 5

Are you covered under any insurance?

Accepted Answer

Yes!

State Insurance
I am a Traditional Health Worker (THW) in the state of Oregon, and my services are fully covered under OHP health plans, as well as MODA OEBB and PEBB.

Legacy Employees
If you are a Legacy employee with a Legacy+ plan, my services are covered with a 10% co-insurance.

Carrot Fertility Insurance
I am set up for you to be able to bill your Carrot insurance for reimbursement.

Private Health Insurance
Starting Jan 1, 2026, Oregon law mandates that commercial insurance plans cover birth and postpartum doula services. I can provide a superbill for you to get reimbursed. ​​​​

Question 6

I am planning a home birth/free-standing birth center birth. How would a doula benefit me?

Accepted Answer

Around the world and throughout time, we have known how to take care of each other through giving birth.

As a doula, I am there for you during early labor in your home, when medical attention is not yet needed, but comfort and know-how very much so! I help you set things up, prepare, and support your potentially nervous partner. I can help you decide when to call your midwives or go to the birth center and reassure you about normalcy.

During your labor, my sole responsibilities are your comfort and supporting your partner, undistracted and undivided. Midwives keep you safe and must be rested so they can't be with you the whole time. A doula has your back, literally! I also stay a little longer after birth so that you can ease into your new role.

It may also be reassuring to know someone would be there for you if a transfer becomes part of your labor or birth. I stay with you and am prepared to advocate for and support you through this plan change.

Question 7

I plan on having an epidural. Do I still need a doula?

Accepted Answer

Even if you plan on getting an epidural during labor, you can benefit from having a doula! I can help you cope with contractions before being admitted to the hospital. I can help you advance your labor as far as possible before you decide to get an epidural, and I can help you with comfort techniques while waiting for the anesthesiologist.

After you have relief from pain, I can also assist you in continuing to promote your labor progress with positioning and motion.

Suppose the epidural is not working effectively for you. In that case, I can help you handle the pain using non-pharmacological pain-coping techniques.

Lastly, I help you give birth in safe positions that promote the natural descent of your baby and can reduce tearing.

Question 8

What are your interactions with medical staff like?

Accepted Answer

Doulas are an integral part of the birth team, and I deeply value my role. I am confident in my scope of practice and work collaboratively with nurses and providers within this scope.

Besides physical and emotional support, I can provide information, help you with effective communication, and support you with advocating for yourself throughout your pregnancy, labor, birth, and immediate postpartum time.

As a doula, I bring a unique skill set to the table. Integrated and collaborative care built on understanding and respect between disciplines increases optimal outcomes for you, your baby, and your family.

Question 9

Do you perform any physical examinations? How will you know how to help me if you don't?

Accepted Answer

Performing any medical examination is outside the scope of practice of a doula. During labor, I observe patterns, behaviors, moods, sounds, and rhythms and respond to your emotional and physical needs in a non-clinical way. What you feel guides you and helps me guide you as needed.

Question 10

What if things change, and I need an unexpected planned c-section?

Accepted Answer

A lot of support and preparation are still needed when planning a c-section. I help you prepare with information about what to expect from the procedure and how to make the birth family-centered and gentle. I help you create a cesarean birth plan that you can discuss with your provider to be a more active participant in the process.

For the birth, I can join you at the hospital and support you until things are ready. There are many unknowns, and most of us do not know what to expect. The time from admission to birth can take hours sometimes. Depending on your providers, I may also be allowed in the OR to assist you and your partner, including documenting your birth with notes and pictures. I also offer assistance with immediate non-medical post-surgery needs, like latch initiation and ice chips.

My prenatal work with clients also involves postpartum preparations like breastfeeding or bottle feeding, what to expect during the first 6 weeks, core rehab, and baby care/health. These things do not change with the kind of birth.

After a cesarean birth, abdominal healing becomes more important, and I offer information and resources for this.

Why a doula?

What is your philosophy?

What is your style?

How will hiring you affect my partner's role during the birth?

Are you covered under any insurance?

I am planning a home birth/free-standing birth center birth. How would a doula benefit me?

I plan on having an epidural. Do I still need a doula?

What are your interactions with medical staff like?

Do you perform any physical examinations? How will you know how to help me if you don't?

What if things change, and I need an unexpected planned c-section?

Frequently Asked Questions

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