A midwife is a licensed healthcare professional who provides medical care during pregnancy, labor, and birth. In contrast, a doula offers non-medical support, focusing on emotional, physical, and informational assistance. A doula works alongside your midwife, doctor, or healthcare team to complement medical care.
No, doulas do not replace your partner or support people. Instead, we work together to ensure that you have the best possible experience. Doulas often support partners by providing guidance on how they can assist you and be involved in your care.
Doulas support all types of births, including natural, medicated, and cesarean births. Our role is to ensure that you feel informed, supported, and empowered, no matter what kind of birth you plan or end up having.
You can contact your doula whenever you feel the need for support. We typically meet with you during pregnancy to prepare and discuss your birth plan, and we are on call for you in the weeks leading up to your due date. During labor, we are available to provide support at any point.
It depends, some insurances do cover partial or most doula services cost. You can call your insurance to verify. In some cases you may be able to use Health Savings Account (HSA) or a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to pay for services. If you are a resident of Berks County you can qualify for FREE doula services, message me and ask me how.