Birth Doula  Services
		"We have a secret in our culture, it's not that birth is painful, it's that women are strong."  ~ Laura Stavoe Harm

A free consultation is offered to all potential clients to determine if my services will meet your needs and if we are a good “fit” as a birth team. This meeting can take place at your home, or another location of your choosing and will be anywhere from one to two hours. 

Birth Support includes: 
:: Two meetings at your home or another location of your choice to discuss your wishes and needs for labour and birth, your priorities, fears or concerns and to develop a plan for working together during labour and birth, as well as to practice various coping techniques, review standard interventions and the elements of informed choice.

:: An information package on normal pregnancy, labour and birth, coping techniques, postpartum issues, a community resource list and reading/information guide (pregnancy, labour and birth portion to be returned after birth, community and reading resource lists to be kept).

:: Phone support as needed during pregnancy.

:: Labour support at home and/or hospital as needed, including emotional, physical and informational support during labour and birth and for two hours postpartum.

:: A follow-up postpartum visit to discuss your birth and any further assistance you may require. 

Fees: 
The fee for birth support is $900, with $450 due as a retainer to reserve your space in my schedule upon signing of the contract. Those with a demonstrated need may be eligible for reduced fees.

Please be aware that labour support doulas do not:
-Perform clinical tasks, such as blood pressure, fetal heart checks, vaginal exams, or other medical procedures that fall outside their scope of practice.
-Provide information, dosages or advice concerning prescription or alternative medications, or medical advice pertaining to you or your baby.
-Make decisions for you. A doula will help you get the information necessary to make an informed decision. Your doula will also remind you if there is a departure from your birth plan.
-Speak to the staff or physicians on your behalf. Your doula will discuss your concerns with you and suggest options, but you or your partner will speak on your behalf to the clinical staff and physicians. 

When You Are, or Think You Might Be, In Labour
Call your health care provider when you think you are in labour, or when your water breaks. Then call me, even if you do not feel you need support yet. Together we will decide if I should come right away or wait for further change. Other questions and concerns can be addressed over the phone, as well. It will take me approximately one (1) hour to get to you from the time of your call, depending on traffic conditions and the distance from my home to yours, or the distance to the hospital where you are giving birth if you need to go there immediately. Except for extraordinary circumstances, I will remain with you throughout labour and birth.


Cesarean Section
If you give birth by scheduled cesarean section (scheduled at least two weeks in advance of your EDD), and do not wish my support during the surgery, you will be refunded $450. The retaining fee will not be refunded in light of the prenatal meetings we will have had and my inability to take other clients around your due date. If I support you during labour and you have an unscheduled cesarean section, no part of my fee will be refunded. 

After the Birth & Postpartum
I will remain with you for one to two hours after your baby is born, until you are comfortable and your family is ready for quiet time together. I will take pictures and assist with breastfeeding during that time if you wish. 

I will be available by phone to answer questions about the birth or your baby for up to two weeks following the birth. I would also like to meet with you again during that time at your convenience to see how you are doing, to go over your birth (a written birth story is available for a fee of $25), to admire your baby and to get feedback from you about my role. 

	Postpartum Doula Services

Postpartum Doula Support includes: 
:: One meeting at your home to discuss your wishes and plans for the first six weeks postpartum and to set up a tentative schedule for at least the first week of postpartum support with the first visit to occur no more than 24 hours after you return home (for hospital births) or within 24 hours of the baby’s birth (home birth)

:: Feeding assistance and information if needed.

:: Information on normal infant behaviour and needs.

:: Hands-on instruction in basic baby care – bathing, dressing, diapering, safety, sleeping, soothing, swaddling, feeding.

:: Light housekeeping (laundry, dishes, sweeping, surface cleaning); simple meal & snack preparation; short errands (pick-up or drop-off of older children, grocery shopping, dry-cleaning, dog-walking, etc.); child-minding so you can rest/sleep, shower etc.

:: Assisting you with ways to limit visitors and get the time you need to bond with your baby and rest and recover from birth.

:: An information package on postpartum issues, a community resource list and reading/information guide (postpartum portion to be returned at the end of the contract, community and reading resource lists to be kept).

Fees:
The fee for postpartum doula support is $30/hour, with a retainer of $300 due upon signing of the contract to reserve your space in my timetable. Those with a demonstrated need may be eligible for reduced fees.


Please be aware that postpartum doula support from Trinity Doula Care does not include:
-Major household cleaning such as scrubbing floors, cleaning toilets, etc,.
-Babysitting while mother and partner leave the home.
-Driving older children to and from school, classes, events etc. without proper car seats/booster seats.
-Telling family and/or friends if you have problems with them.
-Taking any children to doctors or other types of appointments without at least one parent present.
-Speaking with health care professionals or child welfare professionals (with the exception of reporting suspected abuse) on your behalf.
-In-depth breastfeeding counseling.
-Overnight care.