Our first “meet-and-greet” meeting is of no cost to you. We meet so you can
ask me questions, I can learn about your needs, so that we can get a feel for
each other and you can decide if you truly want a doula, and if I am the right doula for you.
Birth Doula Services Included
♥ Two prenatal visit to learn coping techniques, relaxation skills, and
practice communication strategies for during birth
♥ One prenatal visit with your medical provider, or with your family
and/or friends who will be at your birth, to build strong relationships
among the entire birth team (optional/could be replace/combined
with prenatal visit)
♥ Help writing and reviewing your birth plan or preferences
♥ Support via phone and e-mail from pregnancy to postpartum
♥ On-call availability for the month around your due date +/ 2 weeks
♥ Support laboring at home before moving to your birth location (if
applicable)
♥ Continuous support for you and your birth team during your labor
from a doula, with a second doula available for long labors (ie: over
48 hours)
♥ One postpartum visit for practical postpartum support and birth
reflection
♥ Perinatal resources and specialized referrals to professional local
practitioners
About your doula
As a doula service provider, I help women stay strong and calm during birth.
I will offer comfort measures, coping techniques, and constant presence to help you create a satisfying birth experience. I want to get to know you and your birth companion(s) prenatally, and will continuously support you and your loved ones during the birth. I will work to provide comfort and perspective to you and your partner, make suggestions as issues arise, and assist with massaging, positioning and relaxation techniques as required. As your doula, I work for you directly, not for your caregiver or hospital.
My goal as your doula is to be completely present for your birth experience–physically, emotionally and energetically. Through using active listening techniques, I will adjust my role per your needs and seek to promote communication among all members of your birthing team.
Before labor
After our initial meeting, I will meet with you and your birth companion(s) for
one prenatal visit. This gives us a chance to get to know each other before the birth. During the prenatal visit, we will discuss your priorities for the birth as well as any concerns or hopes you may have. I am always happy to meet with your midwife in advance. I can come along to one of your appointments with you. The doula role is new in the Netherlands, so it is important that we take time to have an open dialogue with care providers, and that we build up trust and a good working relationship. I want to know how we can best work together to create a positive birth experience. I can support your preparations for birth and
parenthood by offering exercises, activities, roleplays, and referrals to other resources as necessary.
I will want to remain in touch by telephone and/or e-mail in the weeks leading up to your birth.
I highly recommend taking a childbirth preparation course.
When you are in labor
Please call me when you think you are in labor, even if you do not need support at that time. If I am unable to pick up the phone, please leave a message and I will call you back shortly. I will decide with you if I should come then or wait for further change. In the case of a long early labor, or an induction, I can check in periodically and come when you are moving into active labor. I need approximately 60 minutes to get to you from the time you ask me to come. We
will also decide together where to meet–at your home, the birth center, or the hospital. Except for extraordinary circumstances, I will remain with you throughout labor and birth. In the rare circumstance that I cannot attend your birth, I will call a back-up doula to attend. If you go into labor before 37 weeks, I will make the best effort to join you as soon as possible, or make back-up arrangements as necessary.
During labor
I offer a variety of comfort measures, including massage, counter
pressure, guided visualization, positions and movement, breathing techniques, hot and cold packs, focus points, verbal encouragement, and other logistical support. I bring my knowledge of the stages of labor and can offer reassurance and suggestions as labor progresses. Depending on our conversations prenatally,
I can either be your primary labor support or assist your partner in supporting you. I believe that women can successfully cope with labor in a variety of ways, and my goal is to support you in finding the method that works for you in each moment.
After birth
I will remain with you for an hour or so after the birth, until you are comfortable and ready for quiet time with loved ones. I am open to listen to your birth story.
Taking the time to process joyful or difficult moments from the birth with your birth team and your doula can influence how you remember your baby’s birthday for years to come.
As doulas, we do not:
– Perform clinical tasks. This includes tasks like taking blood pressure, fetal heart monitoring, and vaginal exams.
– Make decisions for you. I will help you get the information necessary to make an informed decision. I will also remind you if there is a departure from your birth plan.
My role is to observe, listen and reiterate rather than to give opinions.
– Speak to the staff on your behalf. I will discuss your concerns with you and suggest options, but you or your loved ones will speak directly to the clinical staff. I am there to encourage communication with your care provider.
Explanation of Fees
I will make every effort to provide the services described here. If I show any symptoms of contagious illness, I will call on the back-up doula to attend your birth. If the back-up doula attends your birth for this or any other reason, my fee is due in full so that I may pay the back-up doula.
If your medical care provider or the policies at your birthing location prevent me from providing services, my fee is still due in full. If hospital policy prevents me from being with you during a cesarean birth, I will still provide immediate postpartum support, and my fee is due in full. I recommend you discuss your plans for doula support with your provider before the birth. If you have a cesarean birth that is planned before you go into labor, I will be available to support you before, during and after the birth.
It is your responsibility to call me when you are in labor and to leave a message if I am unable to answer the phone. My fee remains the same no matter the length of your labor and birth. If you call me when you are in labor, and I am unable to attend your birth and you were not attended by a back-up doula, there will be no charge for birth services and I will refund the un-used portion of your birth fees. In any of the circumstances, I will always be available for postpartum visits, if needed. This contract may be terminated by any party, at any time, for
any reason.
Fees
The fees for the birth doula service package are outlined below. The registration fee and deposit are due with the signed contract, and the balance is due two weeks before your due date. The €150 part of registration fee is non-refundable as once you have contracted my services, I will be declining potential births with other clients for the same timeframe. Also, please indicate if you are interested in any of the additional services and we will discuss them at the prenatal visit.
Birth Doula Services:
€250 Registration: paid when an agreement signed
€850 Balance paid till end of 37 week
€0,25/km Costs of travels for a birth (Haarlem, no costs)
Additional Services:
€75 Pregnancy massage 60 min.
€120 Pregnancy massage 90 min.
€75 Additional prenatal or postpartum visit
€120 Overdue treatment; invitation of the baby (41+4 days)
€275 Placenta encapsulation
€170 Rebozo closing ritual
