My role as doula at your home birth will depend entirely on the unique needs and desires of your family.  Women’s desires for their births vary as much as women themselves. Fortunately, by choosing to give birth at home, you’ll have much more control over those details that are so important to you.

In the weeks leading up to your birth, we will meet to talk extensively about your hopes, fears, and wish lists for your birth.  While you will have many such conversations with your midwife, she may not be able to dedicate the time necessary to cover it all.  By educating yourself and creating a birth plan (better named a “wish list”) with me, you’ll be better prepared for your prenatal appointments and have a clear vision to present.

Your midwife will certainly need to hear about your desire to avoid an episiotomy, for instance, but she is not likely to be able to help you with other, non-clinical details that are matter to you, such as keeping the cat out of the room, or locating a specific bathrobe, or playing particular music.

Who will keep the other kids happy?  Do you want your favorite smoothie to be ready in case you’re hungry?  Are you sure you’re going to want continuous pressure to your lower back during active labor?  I work with the rest of your birth team to make sure you are comfortable and your desires are fulfilled as closely as possible.

My fee for a home birth is $900 (or $________________as per individual circumstance), $200 of which is due the day you hire me, and the rest of which is due one week after your birth. As with all of my birth fees, one massage is included, to be received whenever you choose.