What area do you serve? I attend births in Ottawa Carleton region (Including rural) and Gatineau. Please note that my service is English only
Do you only support home births or will you attend me in the hospital? I love home births, I have had two myself. They offer a chance for mom to relax and be comforatble in her own setting, making and following her own body without "protocol" I also attend hospital births and have had two myself. This is YOUR labour and I will go wherever you feel you need to be. I attend births the Ottawa Hospital (Civic and General campus), the Queensway Carleton and the Montfort.
Do you provide references? I would be happy to provide professional references
I want a natural as possible birth but I am afraid I can't do it, can you help me? I sure can! I will help you remained focused by using relaxation measures such as walking, massage, imagery, water, position change. We will always discuss if you change your mind and your plan deviates. Ultimately you are in charge and can do anyything you think can and the reverse is alsp true so stay focused on your reasons for your choices
I don't like pain, will you still support me if I decide to have an epidural? Of course, this is your show and you call the shots. In our 2-3 pre-natal visits we will discuss all options and reasons why. I want to make sure your choice is informed and is not fear talking.
I have a midwife do I still need a Doula? Midwives are wonderful and are great sources of information and support, but they have a lot of clinical tasks to do such as fetal heart tones, record keeping and they do not usually arrive until you are in very active labour. I have worked with a range of midwives and they are very welcoming to doula support.
If I decide to give birth in the hospital won't the nurses always be there? Nurses are great and a lot of nurses are doula's as well but when they work for the hospital they are there to work within the system. They also have a lot of clinical tasks as well as even more paperwork. They have machines that they monitor and often they have more then one paitent they work with at a time. They take breaks and another nurse will look in on you and most importantly babies don't usually arrive precisely during one nurses shift, often you will labour with one nurse and deliver with another.
What about the role my partner will play I don't want them to feel left out. I would never do that in fact I LOVE having a partner there. I can help them learn how to help you and we can spell each other for food or bathroom breaks. Their job is to love you and the baby and provide emotional support. My job is to provide you with the best physical support you can have so we are a team!
What I am in labour and I am afriad to speak for myself can you do it? No that is not something I can do. Only you and your partner can make those decisions, but pre-natally we will discuss your preferences and help you come up with a birth plan and ways to ensure that it is both kept to and also fluid enough for any unforseen difficulties. I will also help you find ways to find your voice to speak for yourself.
If I go into labour when do you come and how long will it take to get to me and will you come to my house or join me at the hospital? I join my clients typically whenever they feel like they need me. Some women want me there are soon as they start to feel regular contractions +5 minutes apart and some women cope really well and want me there later. I follow your lead but typically before you would call the midwife or head to the hospital. It usually takes me about an hour to get to you (after getting my kids safely taken care of and travel) but if you are in the country it takes a little longer.
What if I end up having a Caesarean? If it needed to be planned in advance I would help you understand why, and have a plan of action for the birth and post-partum and if possible attend you and if not directly before and directly after. If unplanned I would have discussed in the pre-natally all the unforseen outcomes and help you cope and if possible attend you during the operation and directly after. I also make one more post-partum visit
How many births do you attend in a month. Usually 1-2 but occasionally I will do a third, but this is because of a friend or family's birth or because of volunteering. 1-2 is the norm however.
What if you get sick and can't come do you have a back-up? Yes I do have 2 back ups that I use (but have never had to). You can meet them if time permits, sometimes it is simply a phone call. She will have your birth preferences just in case.
If you are on call from 37 weeks what happens if I go into before then? I will attend you however I will make sure that you know if there are times that I will be unavailable from 36 weeks. Sometimes it make take me a little more time. If I can't make it the back-up doula will make it .
What do you charge? I charge $600. I offer a payment plan that upon agreeing to hire me 50% is due and 50% is post-dated to your due date. If there are only financial reasons stopping you from having a doula please let me know and we can try to work something else.
Do you only support home births or will you attend me in the hospital? I love home births, I have had two myself. They offer a chance for mom to relax and be comforatble in her own setting, making and following her own body without "protocol" I also attend hospital births and have had two myself. This is YOUR labour and I will go wherever you feel you need to be. I attend births the Ottawa Hospital (Civic and General campus), the Queensway Carleton and the Montfort.
Do you provide references? I would be happy to provide professional references
I want a natural as possible birth but I am afraid I can't do it, can you help me? I sure can! I will help you remained focused by using relaxation measures such as walking, massage, imagery, water, position change. We will always discuss if you change your mind and your plan deviates. Ultimately you are in charge and can do anyything you think can and the reverse is alsp true so stay focused on your reasons for your choices
I don't like pain, will you still support me if I decide to have an epidural? Of course, this is your show and you call the shots. In our 2-3 pre-natal visits we will discuss all options and reasons why. I want to make sure your choice is informed and is not fear talking.
I have a midwife do I still need a Doula? Midwives are wonderful and are great sources of information and support, but they have a lot of clinical tasks to do such as fetal heart tones, record keeping and they do not usually arrive until you are in very active labour. I have worked with a range of midwives and they are very welcoming to doula support.
If I decide to give birth in the hospital won't the nurses always be there? Nurses are great and a lot of nurses are doula's as well but when they work for the hospital they are there to work within the system. They also have a lot of clinical tasks as well as even more paperwork. They have machines that they monitor and often they have more then one paitent they work with at a time. They take breaks and another nurse will look in on you and most importantly babies don't usually arrive precisely during one nurses shift, often you will labour with one nurse and deliver with another.
What about the role my partner will play I don't want them to feel left out. I would never do that in fact I LOVE having a partner there. I can help them learn how to help you and we can spell each other for food or bathroom breaks. Their job is to love you and the baby and provide emotional support. My job is to provide you with the best physical support you can have so we are a team!
What I am in labour and I am afriad to speak for myself can you do it? No that is not something I can do. Only you and your partner can make those decisions, but pre-natally we will discuss your preferences and help you come up with a birth plan and ways to ensure that it is both kept to and also fluid enough for any unforseen difficulties. I will also help you find ways to find your voice to speak for yourself.
If I go into labour when do you come and how long will it take to get to me and will you come to my house or join me at the hospital? I join my clients typically whenever they feel like they need me. Some women want me there are soon as they start to feel regular contractions +5 minutes apart and some women cope really well and want me there later. I follow your lead but typically before you would call the midwife or head to the hospital. It usually takes me about an hour to get to you (after getting my kids safely taken care of and travel) but if you are in the country it takes a little longer.
What if I end up having a Caesarean? If it needed to be planned in advance I would help you understand why, and have a plan of action for the birth and post-partum and if possible attend you and if not directly before and directly after. If unplanned I would have discussed in the pre-natally all the unforseen outcomes and help you cope and if possible attend you during the operation and directly after. I also make one more post-partum visit
How many births do you attend in a month. Usually 1-2 but occasionally I will do a third, but this is because of a friend or family's birth or because of volunteering. 1-2 is the norm however.
What if you get sick and can't come do you have a back-up? Yes I do have 2 back ups that I use (but have never had to). You can meet them if time permits, sometimes it is simply a phone call. She will have your birth preferences just in case.
If you are on call from 37 weeks what happens if I go into before then? I will attend you however I will make sure that you know if there are times that I will be unavailable from 36 weeks. Sometimes it make take me a little more time. If I can't make it the back-up doula will make it .
What do you charge? I charge $600. I offer a payment plan that upon agreeing to hire me 50% is due and 50% is post-dated to your due date. If there are only financial reasons stopping you from having a doula please let me know and we can try to work something else.