FAQ

What is your "style" as a doula?

I would describe my doula style as educational, understanding, and intimate. I deeply value forming close relationships with my clients, and not just being someone who gave you a good hip squeeze, but as a known face and presence throughout the journey of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. As a huge birth nerd, I also love the educational side of things, I firmly believe knowledge is power, and when we understand process and decisions more deeply I can help us see the beauty and strength in your birth story no matter how it unfolds. Birth is an intimate and unique space, and I do not take that responsibility lightly. That being said, I like to think I am a friend to my clients, not just a meaningful presence but also as someone to bring light and goofiness to all the crazy things people experience in their journey to parenthood!

What areas do you serve?

I live in central Seattle and travel anywhere within 1hr of my home! I will also make exceptions to this on a case-by-case basis, so please reach out no matter what :)

Are there any kinds of births or clients you do NOT support?

I truly believe in everyones right a=to make individualized decisions about their own bodies and babies, and believe any decision made by parents is a sacred one that should be respected. That being said, I have two boundaries that I hold to for my personal and professional safety. One, I do not attend "free birth/wild pregnancy" births, or birth with no form of medical care involved. I do loooove home births and low/no intervention births, just require my clients to also have access to a midwife/midwifery team! Secondly, because I am constantly working with newborns from many families, I generally do not currently take on clients who do not vaccinate. I do not care what your planned vaccine schedule is for your newborn, but I do ask that the parents are up-to-date as to not put my other client's babies at risk!

What if I cannot afford your services?

Doula support in my eyes is a right, not a privilege. Because of this I offer "pay what you can" (often pro-bono) services a few times throughout the year! Please always reach out and I will either take you on myself of help you find someone who can. As a community-oriented person I also am open to labor exchanges/bartering services, so if you have a service you provide and would be open to swapping services for a reduced/free rate that I would love to chat! My first birth I ever attended I was payed with a jar of homemade jam (which was delicious), and I love providing services in whatever way works for you.

Can I hire you as my birth photographer, but not a doula? Or as my doula, but not a photographer?

I am not offering these services independently at this time. Since I started photographing births, the way I was able to approach birth, and help my clients process changed drastically. Because these are intertwined roles for me I am not willing to split them, though I am happy to talk about any questions/concerns you may have.

Do I need a doula even if my partner is very supportive?

Having a supportive partner is wonderful, but is not the same as having a doula. Your partner has a very important role in labor support, but they have likely not been around birth, hospitals, etc. A doula can help your partner understand how to be supportive in the birth space, and allow them to relax and fill that necessary role without thinking about logistics, or worrying about advocacy. I call my work 'family-centered' because birth is a transformative experience for everyone involved, and my goal is to support you and your support people as a whole.

What if I end up needing a c-section?

Cesareans are necessary in many circumstances, and desired in many as well! I support c-section the same way I support a vaginal birth. I often say c-sections often have many of the same feelings as the transition phase of labor (panic, shaking, nausea) and we use all the same coping techniques there as we do in any other birth. There are a few hospitals in the area that typically don't allow doulas into the OR, so make sure to ask your provider about that as you choose between hospitals + teams!

Is a doula the same thing as a midwife?

This is a super common confusion, but we are very different things! Doulas are support people who help with informational, physical, emotional, and advocacy support. Midwives on the other hand, are your medical team! A midwife checks your cervix, administer antibiotics or anti-hemmorhage meds, and sends you for ultrasounds! A doula typically won't do any of those things. We are both valuable parts of a team, but are different roles.

I don't feel aligned with my care provider, can a doula fix that?

Short answer, no. Long answer, maybe? Any disagreement with a provider takes some amount of advocacy and questioning to help both parties understand each other, and as a doula I support though these instances regularly. However, I do think your care team, and how you feel about them has a huge impact on your birth experience, and I do push clients to switch care teams if they do not feel cared for, and have access to switching care! I do not agree with the notion that getting a Doula will make having an unsupportive team a non-issue, and think taking time to go "shopping" for a provider is often the difference between an empowering and a traumatic birth, or a cesarean and vaginal birth. A supportive doula in addition to a supportive team is a dream birth scenario, and if it is an option for you I will highly suggest you do what you can to be with the best!

How often are we in contact throughout my pregnancy?

As often as you want! I check-in if we haven't talked in a while, and of course we communicate lots closer to your due date. But besides that and scheduling prenatal visits, it depends! My clients sometimes don't chat much, but sometimes will text me every day and I loooove either option, I want you to be as supported as you want, and I am here whenever needed :)