Frequently asked questions

What is your doula training or experience? Are you certified?

I have completed training and am certified through Childbirth International (CBI) for birth and postpartum doula care. I have also mentored with Shannon Bacus Birth Doula Services and have attended multiple births in hospital, birth-center, and home-birth settings under her guidance. I also routinely participate in continuing education classes such as Spinning Babies.

What is your philosophy about supporting mothers and fathers during labor?

Labor, birth, and the postpartum phase are all precious and particularly vulnerable times where you welcome your baby. This is a phase of life mothers are uniquely gifted to handle in a way that only mothers can. My job is not to direct this process for you, but to encourage and empower you to make your own decisions for birth and postpartum. I am also there to protect this time for you and to honor your wishes to ensure things happen as close as possible to the way you picture them. The mother is the center of the room during labor and birth: my job is to support her to the best of my ability in the ways she finds helpful. If the father or other support person wants to be more involved in supporting the laboring mother, I can teach them how best to do this by giving direction at prenatal as well as during the labor.

What hospitals/care providers do you work with?

I am willing to work in Memorial Health, SIU, HSHS, OSF, and Carle Health system hospitals as well as in the Birth Center of Bloomington-Normal. If you are planning to have a home-birth, we can discuss your specific details at our consult.

At what point in labor do you like to be called?

I can be contacted at anytime by phone call or text starting 2 weeks before your due date for help on how to differentiate between Braxton-Hicks vs. true labor contractions. We will prepare you to handle early labor mostly on your own at our prenatal appointments if your labor plan allows this. I begin in-person support when signs of active labor are becoming apparent, which we can discuss ahead of time at our prenatal visits. The time nearing active labor can often be determined through a phone call.

What labor comfort measures are you willing to offer?

I offer massage particularly of the back, neck, shoulders, head, face, arms, legs, feet, and hands, hot/cold therapy, labor positioning suggestions, TENS unit therapy, coaching, emotional support, and prayer. I am also willing to try comfort measures you have found helpful in previous births or in other areas of life.