Frequently Asked Questions
Are you wondering what exactly does a doula do? Explore the various answers to your questions and common "Doula Scenarios" to help you in your journey of hiring the birth and postpartum support your family deserves.
A Doula is a trained professional who provides emotional, physical, and informational support to expecting parents throughout pregnancy, labor, and birth. Doulas do not provide medical care or make any medical decisions but rather offer comfort measures such as breathing techniques, massage, and positioning to make the birthing process easier. They also serve as advocates for the parents, helping them understand their options, childbirthing rights and make informed decisions that align with their birth preferences.
While a midwife, doctor, or nurse provides medical care during childbirth, a doula is a trained professional who provides emotional, physical, and informational support throughout pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period. At Maternal Affinity Birth Services, our doulas work in collaboration with healthcare providers to ensure that clients receive comprehensive, holistic care during this transformative time. We believe that every birthing person deserves personalized, compassionate support, and our team is dedicated to helping clients achieve their goals for the birth experience. Whether you are planning a hospital birth, home birth, or birthing center delivery, our doulas are here to advocate for your needs, provide comfort measures, and offer evidence-based guidance to empower you in the decision-making process. With Maternal Affinity Birth Services, you can expect to have a knowledgeable and compassionate partner by your side every step of the way.
Having a doula provides many evidence-based benefits to mothers during childbirth, such as: - A reduction in the likelihood of a cesarean delivery by 28%, and a decreased length of labor by 25%
- A lower incidence of the use of pain medication and epidurals, as well as a reduction in the use of oxytocin to speed up labor
- A reduction in the incidence of postpartum depression and an increase in successful breastfeeding
- Increased satisfaction with the overall birth experience, and improved maternal-infant bonding
- Continuous support throughout the birthing process from an experienced and knowledgeable professional, who is focused solely on the mother's physical and emotional well-being
I do not work directly with insurance companies. However, I encourage you to check with your insurance plan to see if they have doula reimbursement programs. I will be happy to provide an invoice and receipt for our services that can be submitted for possible reimbursement. At Maternal Affinity Birth Services, we believe that every family deserves access to doula support regardless of financial constraints. That is why I offer a variety of payment options and am always willing to work with families to create a payment plan that meets your needs. My priority is to provide personalized and compassionate support throughout your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journey.
Doulas can still provide valuable support during epidural births. Here are some ways I can support a client during an epidural birth: - Emotional support: Doulas can provide emotional support to clients who may be feeling overwhelmed or anxious about the birth process. They can offer reassuring words and be a calming presence in the room.
- Position changes: Although clients with epidurals are typically confined to a bed, doulas can still suggest position changes that can help with labor progress and comfort. For example, using a peanut ball between the legs or changing to a side-lying position can help with fetal descent.
- Help with communication: Doulas can help clients communicate their preferences to their medical team during an epidural birth. They can also help translate medical jargon into terms the client can understand.
- Provide comfort measures: Even with an epidural, clients may still experience discomfort during labor and birth. Doulas can provide comfort measures such as massage, aromatherapy, or guided relaxation to help manage discomfort.
- Prepare for postpartum: Doulas can discuss with clients what to expect and offer suggestions for postpartum care, such as breastfeeding support or coping with sleep deprivation. I am trained to support clients during all types of births, including those with epidurals. We believe in providing holistic and personalized care to help clients have the birth experience they desire.
A doula can provide support during a cesarean birth in various ways, both for planned and emergent situations.
For planned cesarean births, a doula can help prepare the mother for the procedure by providing information on the process, potential outcomes, and helping her explore her choices and preferences. I can assist in creating a birth plan and communicating it to the medical team. During the surgery, I can provide emotional support and reassurance, help with relaxation techniques, and facilitate early bonding and breastfeeding with the baby. In the case of an emergent cesarean, I can accompany the mother to the operating room and provide comfort and reassurance during a potentially challenging and overwhelming time. I can advocate for her choices and preferences, communicating with the medical team while the mother is under anesthesia or nervous. I can also help facilitate the early initiation of skin-to-skin and breastfeeding when possible and provide support during recovery.
Overall, a doula can provide continuous emotional, physical, and practical support during a cesarean birth, tailored to the unique needs of each mother and family.
Taking a childbirth class with Maternal Affinity Birth Service's exclusive Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class can provide numerous benefits for your birth and postpartum experience.
Our classes are evidence-based, and the online content is curated by the top evidence-based researchers on all tings birth and postpartum meaning that the information and techniques we teach are supported by scientific research. Here are some ways in which a childbirth class can benefit you: - Education: Our classes provide in-depth education on childbirth, including information on the stages of labor, coping mechanisms, and medical interventions. Having a solid understanding of what to expect during childbirth can help you feel more confident and prepared.
- Communication: Our classes emphasize the importance of communication with your healthcare provider and birth team. We teach you how to effectively advocate for your wants and needs during childbirth, helping to ensure that your experience is personalized and tailored to your preferences.
- Comfort measures: We teach a variety of comfort measures for labor and delivery, including breathing techniques, massage, and positioning. These techniques can help you manage pain and discomfort during labor and may even shorten the length of your labor.
- Postpartum support: Our classes also provide information and resources for the postpartum period, including lactation support, infant care, and emotional wellbeing. We want to make sure that you feel supported through all stages of your journey into parenthood. Overall, taking a childbirth class with an experienced birth worker like Adisela, can provide you with the knowledge and tools you need to have a positive birth and postpartum experience.
Yes! I have been blessed ti have worked alongside some awesome birth photographers. Here's a Youtube video link to a birth I supported:
Doulas can provide invaluable support for families adjusting to life with a newborn. Here are some ways that a doula can help during the postpartum period: - Emotional support: Doulas are trained to offer emotional support and help parents navigate the many emotions that can come with parenthood. They can provide a listening ear, offer advice, and be a source of comfort. - Breastfeeding support: Doulas can offer guidance and support with breastfeeding, which can be a challenging process for many new parents. They can help with latching, positioning, pumping and troubleshooting common issues. - Newborn care: Doulas can assist with newborn care, such as diaper changes, baths, and soothing techniques. They can also provide education on newborn behavior and development. Overnight postpartum support includes total newborn care and building healthy sleep associations to encourage positive sleep habits. - Household tasks: Doulas can help alleviate some of the stress of household tasks by doing things like laundry, meal prep, and light cleaning. This allows parents more time to rest and bond with their baby. - Referral to resources: Doula can connect families with local resources and support groups that can be helpful during the postpartum period. They can also provide information about infant feeding, development, and other important topics.
A Doula provides a variety of emotional, informational, and physical support to help new mothers successfully breastfeed their babies. In particular, as your Doula I can: - Provide education on breastfeeding techniques, positions, common difficulties, and how to overcome them.
- Assist with latch and positioning, helping the mother find a comfortable and effective way to nurse her baby.
- Encourage the mother to breastfeed frequently, on demand, and for as long as the baby needs.
- Help the mother recognize hunger cues and signs of satisfaction from the baby.
- Offer reassurance, empathy, and practical solutions for breastfeeding challenges, such as sore nipples, low milk supply, engorgement, clogged ducts, or mastitis.
- Provide referrals to International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) for more specialized help if needed.
- Recommend other healthcare providers that may support breastfeeding, such as Craniosacral therapists or Occupational therapists who can help address any oral function or body tension issues in the infant.
-Encourage partners to play an active role in breastfeeding, you may not directly be making milk but there are so many ways to show up for your partner who does
-Provide formula suggestions, pumping equipment suggestions and bottle recommendations as everyone's journey is different.
-If you have booked overnight support, I will bring baby to you when baby is ready to nurse and oversee all the diaper changing, burping and soothing so you can maximize rest and go right back to sleep when baby is finished. If pumping, I will wake you during your set times to pump and bring all equipment to you, store milk properly and handle all the pump washing and sanitizing.
Overall, my goal is to empower new families and provide them with the resources and confidence to breastfeed successfully.
Absolutely! Doulas support families in whatever feeding choices they make, including formula feeding. Here are some ways a doula like myself can help:
- Provide information on different formula options and help families choose the most appropriate formula for their baby's unique needs.
- Offer tips on bottle feeding techniques to promote comfortable and efficient feeding, such as ensuring proper positioning and avoiding overfeeding.
- Connect families with oral motor function specialists who can help babies improve their sucking and swallowing skills, which can enhance the quality of eating and reduce feeding difficulties.
I understand that every family has different preferences and needs. I am committed to providing non-judgmental support that helps families feel confident and empowered in their feeding choices.
Please book your encapsulation no later than 2 weeks prior to your due date. This gives ample time to review our Placenta Prep Checklist, as well as time for us to plan for your due date. Babies come on their own time, and we do our best to accommodate last-minute bookings, but I cannot guarantee immediate availability. Please know that there is a $50 Under 24-hr Notice Fee that will apply for last-minute processing.
Our fee ranges from $275-300. This includes pick-up from your place of birth, your placenta capsules, an umbilical cord keepsake and delivery of your capsules.
Optional add-ons:
Placenta Art Print - +$25
Color: +$10
If you are out-of-service range (35+ minutes), an additional $25 travel fee applies.
I offer a drop-off discount of $50 if families would like to bring the placenta to my doorstep and pick it up when it is ready.
I offer placenta pick-up 7 days a week. If i happen to be at an overnight postpartum shift when you give birth, I will be by to pick-up the following morning. If not, I aim to be there within 2-4 hours.
In most circumstances, we aim to have your capsules ready within 3-4 days. The need to thaw a placenta if frozen adds an additional 1-2 days processing time.
The amount of capsules you receive depends entirely on the method you choose (Raw Method yields more than TCM Method) and the size of your placenta. An average amount is 100 but anywhere from 60-180 has been processed.
When do I pick-up? Just kidding. :) Neither of those are reasons that stop the ability to process your placenta. You may benefit even more from your placenta magic after having one.
Florida does not have any laws set in place that specifically address the release of you placenta. Hospitals in this state deem placentas as "medical waste" and dispose of them if not requested to keep.
Let your healthcare provider know you will be keeping your placenta. On the day of your birth, inform all staff members you will be keeping your placenta and include it in your birth plan if you have one. Some hospitals may have you sign a release waiver. This is for liability protocol on the hospital's end.
While we make no promises as everyone is different, women have reported:
-enhanced mood
-quicker recovery time
-better breastmilk supply
-balanced hormones
-increased energy
-higher iron levels
Your safety is my absolute top priority. I am a Certified Placenta Encapsulator, taught by a local doula trainer with over 15 years of experience. I also am Food Safety Handlers' trained and Bloodborne Pathogen trained as well.