What makes Birth Partners so special?

We are very proud that the birth doulas who serve our clients are the most highly qualified, professional, and experienced doulas available!  They bring to each client’s experience, an unbiased perspective and a broad understanding of pregnancy, labor and birth choices.

Many doula services and hospital programs offer birth doulas on an “on-call” basis, meaning that the client is served by whom- ever is on call at the time she goes into labor. There is no assigned doula or prenatal meetings. Though these services may be offered at a reduced rate, many women still hire Birth Partners for our individualized services.

What is the difference in the tiers of service and why do you offer them?

Cost:  We want everyone who wants a birth doula to be able to afford one, while offering the highest level of service and care. We don’t see the use of a well trained, professional birth doula as a luxury, but as a necessity, and strive to make that available to everyone. 

Visits:  The comprehensive option offers unlimited in-home doula visits prenatally with most clients scheduling three visits, averaging about two hours each.  One postpartum visit is also included. 

Prenatal visits build the doula/client relationship by allowing the doula to see clients in their own home and build trust and rapport.  Because labor and birth are intensely personal, multiple visits allow the doula to best serve the client, as she will have a better understanding of their specific needs and desires, expectations of her role, the partner’s role and their preferences.    

Because we recognize that the comprehensive option is not right for everyone, we believe in giving our clients choices that best fit their family’s preferences and financial needs while maintaining the highest standards of care.

Why choose Birth Partners as opposed to an independent birth doula?

Personalized care:  We recognize that every client is an individual with unique needs, and believe that making the right match  is the foundation of a positive birth experience. After speaking with a each prospective client, a great deal of time, care, and thought goes into recommending the ideal doula, based on personalities, location, preferences and needs.  Clients then have the opportunity to meet with the doula to be sure they agree with our assessment before making a commitment. 

Reputation:  Because Birth Partners has been serving clients since 1990, we offer our clients the benefit of years of experience, and collaboration with a variety of care providers and hospitals/birth centers.  Our clients also enjoy Birth Partners’ reputation for professionalism and unbiased support. 

Resources, training:  Because the doulas working with our clients also work closely with one another, the client enjoys a wide knowledge base of childbirth techniques, approaches, hospital policies and protocols, current research  and experiences. Each client receives not only the experience and training of her assigned doula, but also that of her peers. Each doula serving our clients chooses to enhance her skills through workshops, seminars, and other continuing education, beyond basic certification requirements.

Backup: Doulas working with our clients are committed and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a weeks, including holidays. On the rare occasion when backup is needed, our clients can be assured of a doula who is unbiased in her philosophy, and will give them the level of care they would get from their own doula, and expect from Birth Partners. 

I have a midwife.  Do I still need a birth doula?

The roles of the midwife and birth doula are both valuable, but unique. 

The doula provides continuous emotional and physical support throughout labor and the postpartum period, including the transition from home to hospital, or when the partner needs respite.   She is available directly, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week throughout pregnancy, meets with clients prenatally at home, and attends clients at home during early labor, creating a comfortable, relaxed frame of mind.  The doula also will help clients decide when to leave for their birth place, with the input of the midwife or doctor. In addition, the doula helps to clarify the roles and expectations of the partner and other friends and family members, to insure participation which meets the client’s preferences.   In the event of complications, she provides continuous support to the mother during the postpartum period, allowing the partner to focus on the newborn.  She may also meet with clients at home during the postpartum period, and is available directly, by phone, for questions following the birth.   

While midwives provide emotional support and are often present upon arrival at the birth place, they often work in rotation with other midwives and/or doctors, and may provide care to more than one patient at a time.  Their primary role is to ensure the health and safety of the mother and baby, which, as expected, would take priority over other comfort measures and support.    

The Doula & the Partner: Working Together
            One of the most common concerns we hear from couples considering a birth doula involves the role of the
doula . Some couples worry that the partner will be pushed aside, relegating the partner to a more minor role. Some women are hesitant to suggest a doula for fear of hurting their partner’s feelings. Some partners feel pressured to
take on a role that they are not comfortable assuming, but are hesitant to share with their loved one that they feel insecure about supporting her in the ways that she needs to be supported in labor and birth.
             Birth Partners doulas share the philosophy that one of our most important responsibilities is to support the couple’s choices for their pregnancy, labor, birth. For some, that may mean that the doula is a “coach for the coach”, helping with suggestions and reminders, perhaps acting as an advocate. For others, it may be that the doula is the primary “coach”, freeing up the partner to be caring, loving, and supportive, without the pressure of being the sole support of the laboring woman. This is for each couple to determine--and for each Birth Partners doula to respect and honor.
              While each well trained, professional Birth Partners doula likely knows more about the process of labor and birth than does the partner, the partner is the one who knows the woman best, knows her personality, her preferences. The doula and the partner both work together to contribute in unique ways to give the laboring mother a comfortable, well-rounded, safe, and secure atmosphere in which to labor and give birth.




             A postpartum doula is a woman who nurtures and supports the new family during this very special time--the birth of a new baby.In the comfort and security of the client's own home, the doula helps ease the transition the new mother, as well as the rest of the family, may be experiencing through individualized care, encouragement, and
practical information.
            We assist the new family in the ways that are most important to them, allowing them to rest and care for their baby or providing an “extra set of hands” when necessary. Services often include education, baby care, including bathing, diapering and cord care, breastfeeding assistance when applicable, errands, grocery shopping, light housekeeping, meal preparation, overnight & care of twins or triplets, & sibling care. Most importantly, postpartum services are geared toward each client’s individual needs and are as flexible as they need to be to provide each
family with precisely what they need to make a smooth transition to parenthood.
             Research has shown that direct support in the home plays a role in decreasing postpartum depression and increasing the commitment to breastfeeding.