Doula Support

The first time I heard the word “doula” was during an episode of Gilmore Girls. For those of you that are familiar with the show… Lukes sister, Liz, hires a doula for her birth. In the episode Luke is informed by his brother in law that “Sandy the Doula” has done 200 home births and that statistically they are just as safe a hospital births. Now I have watched the episode nearly 1000 times and love the mention of this “birth coach” on what I consider mainstream media… and mainstream media cerca 2006 at that! However, there are a few inaccuracies. A doula would not be the main provider of a brith and doulas also serve a purpose for hospital births... not just home births. (homebirths are statistically as safe as hospital births)

So let’s get a little deeper. What is a doula? A birth doula is an individual who provides evidence based information during pregnancy as well as continuous emotional and physical support during labor and birth to a birthing person(and their partner, if applicable). A doula is a non medical support person. Now, you might be wondering “why a doula?”

A doula provides informational support.

Informational support keeps the birthing person(and partner) informed throughout the course of labor, providing evidence-based information about options throughout your journey. Studies show birthing persons that received continuous support were more likely to have spontaneous vaginal births and less likely to have any pain medication, epidurals, negative feelings about childbirth, vacuum or forceps-assisted births, and cesareans.

A doula provides physical support.

Physical support helps the birthing person maintain a sense of control, comfort, and confidence. Examples of physical support from a doula may include.

• assisting with support in and out of the shower/bath

• creating a calm space

• applying warm or cold compresses

• soothing touch via counter pressure or massage

• physically holding the birth person as they deliver

• and more!

What a doula doesn’t do…

A doula cannot make decisions for a client. A doula will consult and provide evidence based information to the client(and partner) so that they can make empowered, educated decisions that will best serve them. A doula will not put pressure, create bias, or judge decisions made by the birthing person.

It is not in the scope of work of a doula to preform any clinical tasks such as fetal monitoring or cervical checks or catching your baby.

A doula is not there to replace or take over the role of the birthing persons birth partner.

A doula does not judge. However you became pregnant and however you want to birth. If you want a low intervention birth or want to schedule a surgical birth… I am here to support your choices and to give you unbiased evidence on the choices. No matter your family background or dynamic. No matter your race, religion, immigration status, or gender identity.

click the button below to book a consult or visit the contact page for more information and additional availability

Lactation Consultation and Support

Body-feeding is biologically natural. However it is a skill that needs to be learned by both the lactating individual and baby. It is easy to become frustrated, confused, and anxious about this journey.

As a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist I am here to support you through all aspects of your journey. Body-feeding and the support needed can look vastly different person to person.

I was driven to this line of work due to my own personal experience.

Freshly postpartum, holding my child in my arms I had expressed that I wanted to exclusively breastfeed to the labor and delivery nurse. Not five minutes later a hospital lactation consultant walked into my room with a nipple shield, supplemental nursing system(SNS), and a bottle of premixed formula. All without accessing me or my child. I was tired, unsure how often to feed my child and unaware of what cluster-feeding even was…

An hour later I sat with the information that my daughter was a “lazy eater” and I had medical tape holding a long, thin tube to my chest connected to a bottle of formula. This lactation consultant spent less than 15 minutes with me. Didn’t explain exactly what this device was she taped to my body. Didn’t ask if I was okay with formula. She made me feel that colostrum isn’t milk and it wasn’t enough to feed my baby. My brain felt a little melty as I sat with all the instructional information she had bestowed upon.

I was lucky three days from discharge I had a wonderful postpartum doula who had suggested an excellent lactation consultant.

However, even with the available resources - a ‘lactation consultant’ at my pediatrician office told me I had ‘skim milk’ and that my baby was not gaining properly. However, the advice she gave me was to supplement with formula and to eat ice cream. This nurse didn’t do a weighted feed, ask diaper count, watch my daughter suck and swallow, or access latch like my hired lactation consultant had.

I felt as if there were too many barriers to entry, in order to bodyfeed.

My child has always been healthy and the perfect size for their body. Regardless of the poor bodyfeeding advice received at the hospital and even my own peds office - I was lucky enough to be encouraged to seek outside support that looked at the two of us as a whole.

Bodyfeeding is a deeply personal journey that should be supported. However you choose feed.

So, what does a lactation consultant do?

A lactation consultant is a health professional who specializes in bodyfeeding. Lactation consultants enroll in specialized training and certification to offer support, advice, and guidance to chest-feeding individuals.

Lactation consultants are helpful to all lactating individuals — whether you are a first-time parent, a surrogate lactating parent, or anyone who has had previous experience body-feeding. You can visit lactation consultant while pregnant, right after you give birth, or several months into breastfeeding.

What specifically can a lactation consultant help with?

Anything breast/chest/body-feeding related!

• inducing lactation for a non-birthing parent

• under/oversupply

• lip and tongue tie assessment

• latch and positioning

• sore, cracked, or painful nipples

• bodyfeeding in a baby-carrier

• pumping & flange fitting

• returning to work & creating pump schedules

• bottle feeding

• milk storage

• & even formula education and supplementation

• SO MUCH MORE, if you can believe it!