Knowledge Experience Wisdom
Professional Doula Support
René is a DONA-Certified Baton Rouge doula who has served families for over 40 years at more than 1000 births. She brings her experience, birth wisdom and expert skill to each birth. Over many years René has provided support for a variety of births, including medicated and unmedicated births, water birth, out-of-hospital births, multiples, VBACs, cesareans, high-risk births, birthing after a challenging or traumatic birth experience, and single moms. She stays informed through trainings such as When Survivors Give Birth with Penny Simkin, Spinning Babies, and Evidence Based Birth. René as primary doula: $1650
Ashton is a DONA-Certified doula who completed an extensive apprenticeship program with Birth Help doulas. Having a doula for support during her birth showed her the tremendous impact having that kind of encouragement and wisdom can have on a birth experience. She is passionate about helping other moms experience feeling empowered and supported, no matter what type of birth they wish to have or what complications arise. Ashton has supported more than 60 families. Ashton as primary doula: $1050
Birth Help doulas do not work on a rotating call basis. René and Ashton make a personal commitment as primary doulas for their respective clients. They offer hands-on comfort measures guiding dads and helping moms with coping techniques, information about making decisions, aid with understanding the process of labor and birth, and provide compassionate, nurturing support during labor in the hospital, at birth centers, and home births. Additionally, their training and experience enables them to create unique strategies personalized for each couple, responding to the specific challenges of that labor experience.
"I felt stronger in her presence. I was allowed to doubt because she trusted. I was permitted to feel weak because she knew I was not."
BIRTH HELP DOULA SUPPORT FEE
René as primary doula: $1650
Ashton as primary doula: $1050
The nonrefundable $400 deposit is due with your application, with the balance paid at the 35 week visit. If you have financial concerns, ask René about a payment plan.
Experienced DONA trained/certified doulas
With many years of experience supporting families
Offer free, no-obligation consultation visits
Regularly attend births in area hospitals and local birth center
Teach private and group classes
With René's or Ashton’s help, you will feel encouraged and confident to:
Create your own best birth.
Involve partner using suggestions and assistance from your doula.
Work with your partner and birth team to make decisions that are best for your family.
Speak openly about your needs, feelings and fears throughout the process.
Communicate confidently with your medical team.
Move through the labor and birthing process with guidance and professional support.
Feel empowered working toward your birth goals.
Birth Help's Doula Support includes:
Telephone, virtual, or in-person consultation
Prenatal visits to discuss your birth plan, goals, preferred comfort measures, and the doula’s, partner’s, and mom’s roles during labor
Assistance with preparation of your birth plan
Personal connection with your doula virtually or by telephone, email, text
Availability of experienced backup doulas
Optional attendance at a prenatal visit with your OB or midwife
24 hour on-call time beginning at 37 weeks
Phone, email, and in-person contact during pregnancy, on-call time and during labor
Unlimited support during labor and birth
Creative strategies based on Birth Help doulas’ experience and your personal goals
Postpartum contacts
FAQs
Working with a doula is an important personal decision. Here are some of the common questions parents-to-be ask. If you have a question that isn’t covered, don’t hesitate to contact me and I’ll be happy to answer.
I think I want a doula, but I’m not sure I can afford one. Can you still help?
If you have financial concerns, I’d be happy to explore alternate payment plans (i.e., installments) and find a workable agreement for services.
"My boyfriend and I were so grateful that René worked with us to have the kind of birth we wanted and it was a special experience to share with someone who cares so much."
What is a doula and what do they do?
Your personal helper that helps you to understand what to expect during labor and childbirth, your choices during both events, as well as from medical staff.
A doula attends the birthing family from early labor until the baby is born. She offers specialized emotional and physical care to the mother during labor and birth. She helps instill confidence in the father, giving him freedom to be as involved as he wishes.
A doula offers on-site education during labor, encouraging clients to participate in their medical care decisions. She offers continuity of care and can ease the transition into the medical environment. A Birth Help doula stays with her clients during the entire labor, through changing hospital shifts and alternating obstetrician or midwife schedules.
A doula does not impose her personal beliefs on her clients or make decisions on their behalf. And she doesn’t provide medical or clinical skills.
A Birth Help doula helps mothers determine their emotional needs during labor and childbirth and spouses navigate and identify their support needs throughout the process.
Why would I need a doula?
An obstetrician or midwife delivers the baby and makes sure mother and baby get the medical care and support they need.
A doula complements the care a mother receives from her partner, nurses and the obstetrician or midwife during labor.
As doulas, we’re not restricted by standard hospital or obstetrician schedules. Unlike a nurse, we focus on one family at a time so we’re not distracted by other clients, or tied down to mounds of paper work. And because we’re employed by our clients, our primary objective is to serve their needs and be present through the entire labor and birth.
Because a Birth Help doula fully supports the mother, she can make the best decision for herself and baby without judgment and with confidence.
"Having a doula present throughout the entire labor and birth gave us the security we needed to get through the times when the nurses or doctors weren't able to be there to guide and support us."
What does a doula not do?
A Birth Help doula will not:
Make decisions on behalf of a client and/or her partner
Perform any medical procedures
Act in an unprofessional manner with medical staff
What are some of the benefits of using a doula?
Women who have a doula's support feel a greater satisfaction with the birth experience and a positive perception of their strength and ability to face challenging circumstances.
Doula support also boasts the following benefits:
50% decrease in cesareans
25% decrease in length of labor
40% decrease in Pitocin use
60% decrease in epidural use
30% decrease in forceps use
In addition, studies show the presence of a doula decreases medication use and medical complications during labor and postpartum.
Birth Help's statistics reflect the following:
12% cesarean rate
85% of women desiring an unmedicated birth achieve their goal
95% of women wanting a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) are successful
“I’m the dad/partner. Will you take my place? What will I do?”
That’s a common question and the short answer is No. A doula’s role is to give the partner additional confidence to play the role they wish. I support the partner by gauging their desired level of involvement prior and during labor, no matter how deep or limited. This way, the partner will always feel like part of the process. Besides, I could never replace a partner; even the well-prepared are surprised by the amount of work involved and become overwhelmed by the forces of labor, long hours, and the hospital environment.
In short, we help take some of the pressure off the partner so they’ll feel confident in supporting the mother, whether they need to use massage, help reposition the mother, or offer words of comfort. Think of us as your tour guide as you travel through "Labor Land", one you can rely on during the entire process.
"Our doula allowed me to provide emotional support for my wife without having to worry about the technical details."
What kind of techniques do you use?
We offer many choices to help you during labor and birth and we’ll discuss different crucial points during your visit: childbirth classes you may have taken or thinking of taking, your normal preferences for comfort, massage or counter-pressure techniques, sleeping comfort, water therapy (laboring in the tub or shower), and visualization and breathing techniques.
"Our doula really got to know us before the birth and always had a new suggestion to help me cope with the contractions. No matter what happened during the labor, she was right there to help and show my husband how he could make me feel better."
Do I have a choice over interventions such as an epidural?
Doulas don’t impose their personal beliefs on their clients, nor make decisions on their behalf. My role is to help you experience the kind of birth you want. Therefore, I help clients work toward their goals.
"Our doula's help exceeded my expectations and fully supported my personal birth plans."
Who are your clients and who uses a doula?
Any laboring woman and her partner
Women who want a unmedicated birth or with minimum use of technology/procedures
Women and their partners who desire an experienced caregiver's continuous nurturing presence during this unique experience
A partner who wants to better understand how to support the mother, and wants to be supported throughout the process
"My birth experience was almost exactly as I had envisioned it. Without a doula, I don't think it would have been. She reminded me that I was in charge and everyone was there to support and help me to accomplish my goals."
If you have further questions, please contact me to set up a consultation.