Hannah's Joy

Women have specific needs during childbirth and the weeks that will follow. Along with medical care and the love and companionship provided by their partners, women need continuous reassurance, comfort, encouragement and respect. They need customized individual care based on their circumstances and preferences.
 

Hannah’s Joy doulas are ed

Women have specific needs during childbirth and the weeks that will follow. Along with medical care and the love and companionship provided by their partners, women need continuous reassurance, comfort, encouragement and respect. They need customized individual care based on their circumstances and preferences.
 

Hannah’s Joy doulas are educated and experienced. We are prepared to provide physical (non-medical), emotional and informational support to women and their partners during labor and birth, as well as to families in the weeks following childbirth. We offer a loving touch, positioning and comfort measures that make childbearing women and their families feel nurtured and cared for.
 

Numerous clinical studies have found that a doula’s presence at birth:

• Often tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications.
• Reduces negative feelings about one’s childbirth experience.
• Reduces the need for Pitocin (a labor-inducing drug), forceps or vacuum  
  extraction and cesareans.
• Reduces the mother’s request for intervention pain medication and/or epidurals.
   

As a mother’s doula, we will not replace her support person. Instead, we will educate and teach her designated support person who perhaps would be a spouse, boyfriend, mother, sister, or best friend how to understand how they can love and encourage the birth mother while in labor. Our goal is to help take the pressure and stress off her support person on how they such support and comfort the birthing mother, allowing them to enjoy the experience as well.

This is your BIRTH day and I am there to help you make well informed decisions either way. Every decision has a pro and con, with the information provided to you, you are free to decide knowing you are doing what is best for you and your baby.  

Services as your birth doula will include:

• Free initial interview
• Two prenatal visits
• Assistance i

This is your BIRTH day and I am there to help you make well informed decisions either way. Every decision has a pro and con, with the information provided to you, you are free to decide knowing you are doing what is best for you and your baby.  

Services as your birth doula will include:

• Free initial interview
• Two prenatal visits
• Assistance in writing your birth and postnatal plan.
• Support through phone and or email addressing any questions and concerns.
• Available 24 hours a day, beginning two weeks prior to due date and two weeks after birth. 
• A backup doula is prepared in case of emergency.
• Being on call for your birth, often joining you at home.
• Continuous support for mother and her support person during labor and birth as well as assist and support for children if they are present during birth.
• Immediate postpartum assistance initiating breastfeeding support.
• Helping create a calm, peaceful and supportive birthing environment for the laboring mother and support person.
• Labor techniques included, but are not limited to: position changes, relaxation, massage, and birth ball or peanut ball.
• One postpartum visit to reflect on your birth and to provide you with additional resources following birth.
• Photos during pregnancy, labor, and birth, if desired.
  **Select clients may be offered 2 doulas at their birth.

BONUS!

As a client of Hannah’s Joy, you may add one service FREE of charge and unlimited services at a rate of $200 per month.

Additional services:

• Assistance with freezer meal preparation (includes 7-14 meals and 3 desserts).
• Additional postpartum visits to help in light household chores, breastfeeding tutorials, errands to run or nap/breaks for mom.

Choosing a doula can be slightly overwhelming. You are choosing someone that you can have a connection with, who is knowledgeable and trained, and who you would like to include in your birth experience. Women have many reasons for choosing to use a doula. Below are a few questions that have been asked and ran across both on-line and in pe

Choosing a doula can be slightly overwhelming. You are choosing someone that you can have a connection with, who is knowledgeable and trained, and who you would like to include in your birth experience. Women have many reasons for choosing to use a doula. Below are a few questions that have been asked and ran across both on-line and in person by clients and potential clients. Hopefully it will help you ask the questions that can help you decide if there is a personal connection with your potential doula. 

Questions to ask when Interviewing a Doula
 

1. Are you certified?
2. What training did you go through to be certified?
3. Do you have any additional training?
4. What would you consider your strongest area as a doula (calming, positions, advocacy....)?
5. What would you say is the area you work hardest at improving in?
6. What are your fees and what does it include?
7. Do you offer any discounts or payment options?
8. When is payment due?
9. Do you offer any other services?
10. Will you meet with me before the birth?
11. What is discussed or covered in these meetings?
12. Will you meet with me after the birth?
13. How long do you stay after the actual birth?
14. Do you offer breastfeeding support?
15. If you’re not available for the birth, do you have a back-up?
16. How often does your back-up doula have to step in for you?
17. May I meet with your back-up or speak to her over the phone?
18. How many upcoming births do you have, and what are their estimated birthing dates?
19. Do you take pictures during the birth?
20. What are your thoughts about birth?
21. Do you know if the hospital when I will give birth will allow you to be there?
22. What all do you bring to the birth?
23. What happens if you miss my birth?
24. What comfort techniques do you offer for the birth?
25. Will you meet me at home during labor or do you prefer meeting me at the hospital?
26. We will be delivering at ____ Hospital, have you delivered there before and/or is the distance a problem for you? 

These are basic interviewing questions. Feel free to pick and choose or add a few that are important to you.