Questions

What is your experience?  I have experience with both hospital birth and homebirth, epidural and natural, midwife and obstetrician, very hands-on and very hands-off mothers.  Doulas are supposed to adapt ~ that is what I strive to do.  I have been a doula for two births.

What about teen moms?  Teen moms need prenatal, labor, and postpartum support like nobody else does, in my opinion.  Young mothers, under the age of 20, get free support from me in some cases, in all others, the fee is greatly decreased.  I am here as a service to you, and I wish to serve you in any way that I can.  If your boyfreind/husband is involved, he gets the utmost respect from me.  I am not your granny, and the last thing you will hear from me is a lecture.  Circumstances are circumstances.  The whole reason that I began my Doula service is specifically for unwed/teenage mothers.

What about postpartum?  Although not trained as a postpartum doula, I certainly offer postpartum support to my clients.  A postpartum doula's services range from running errends for thier client to helping them breastfeed thier baby.  I don't charge extra for postpartum care, it's included in the fee, however if you want to have more postpartum care than what is included in your Doula package, I do ask for compensation.  This is discussed at the consultation meeting.  You may decide that you want more postpartum care later on, even after the baby is born.  This is encouraged as well.  My job is to adapt to you and your needs.

So what is this "Doula Package" that you offer?   My doula package consists of this:

• Prenatal meetings, to go over things like doctor's visits, concerns you have about pregnancy and birth, to talk about your expectations for the birth, and the baby. 
• Being there for your birth, offering you the physical and emotional support.  We will discuss what I do and do not offer at the consultation meeting, and what you expect from me and how you want me to support you. 
• Postpartum care, which is three postpartum visits, to discuss the birth, any concerns you had, anything you were not happy with.  To talk about breastfeeding if that is how you choose to feed your baby, and any issues you may have with this. 

It is completley up to you as to how we handle this.  For example, if you do not want the postpartum care, I will not insist that I give it to you.  If you change your mind at any time, however, that is your perogative.  I do not charge less if you decide to omit one of the elements.