FAQ’s for Birth and Postpartum Doulas
Birth Doulas
What is the difference between a doula and midwife?
Great question! In the simplest way, a midwife is someone who cares for mother and baby in a medical way. Typically a midwife is more comfortable with natural/ normal labor progression and is therefore typically more prone to a better emotional or bedside presence than an OB. A doula is a person who fully supports a birthing person and their partner in the birth process in a completely un-medical way. A doula’s scope is to concern herself with supporting a family emotionally, physically, informationally and through advocacy.
Do you only attend home births?
No. Doulas are birth supports for any birth experience. We are trained and capable in supporting families through home births, non-medical hospital births, epidural/induction births, and even c-section support (as long as the policies of the hospital allow a doula present in the OR)
Does Insurance cover doulas?
Unfortunately Michigan insurance companies currently do not cover doula support. However, Tricare is beginning to experiment with possible doula coverage and some Christian share communities cover a portion of doula support.
What happens if I book doula support and I miscarry?
In the unfortunate event that a baby is lost in a miscarriage, a full refund will be offered back to the family (minus the retaining fee and the 3% taken by Square Space). For this reason, many people wait to pay a deposit until after the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Other alternatives is to maintain doula support by one of our bereavement doulas, or transfer your contract to a postpartum contract and have support as you heal.
What is involved in a birth doula package?
Each birth doula package includes the same features: two prenatal meetings to prepare for the labor, on-call support at 38 weeks of pregnancy, attendance for labor and delivery, immediate postpartum support for up to two hours, and an in-home postpartum visit.
Do doulas replace the partner?
By no means! One of our passions is to support the whole family through the birth process, this includes coaching and encouraging the partner to be as involved in the process as he wants to be. You could say, we help that person be the “best” support they can be.
What happens if my doula can’t make it to my birth?
We try our very hardest to have the doula you choose to be at your birth. In the rare coincidence she is unavailable, a back-up doula will be provided to you. You have every right to choose which of the GLD doulas you would like as a back up as well as meet with that doula before your labor.
Do you have a time limit for supporting me in labor?
Never. The fee you pay for birth support is the only fee you will pay for birth support regardless of a birth that lasts 40 hours or 40 minutes. However, in the case of an extremely long labor, a back-up doula may be called to relieve the original doula. The fees to pay that doula will not be your responsibility.
Postpartum Doulas
When will a postpartum doula come to support me?
A postpartum doula will come when you ask her to come. It could be as early as the day after birth or any time inside of baby’s first year.
Is night support an option?
Night support is currently not something GLD formally offers. However, please feel free to connect with us and explain your situation and we can possibly find a way to support you.
What is included in postpartum support?
Postpartum support covers a wide range for parents, family, and baby. We support with maternal healing, breastfeeding/bottle feeding, sleep, food preparation, infant behavior and development, light housework, older sibling care, pet care, nursery prep, birth processing, PMAD management, and more.
Can you help me with feeding my baby?
Absolutely, every postpartum doula has training to assist with proper latching, nipple care, bottle selection/management, and bottle feeding. We love supporting babies with tongue ties, and several of our postpartum doulas have advanced training as a certified breastfeeding community educator.
Can a postpartum doula watch my older kids?
Unfortunately a postpartum doula is not a babysitter, so a legal parent or guardian must be at home at all times. However, postpartum doulas are happy to help with daily duties with big kids such as lifting, dressing, meals, play time, and nap times.
How do I schedule a session with a postpartum doula?
Connect with us through our website! We will reach out to you to schedule a consultation so we can meet each other and discuss your needs. From there, we will arrange a time to come to your home to learn your processes and help you prepare for postpartum. Finally, book the hours you desire with your doula and schedule with her when you feel it would be beneficial to have her in your home.
What is your agenda as a postpartum doula?
Our biggest goal is your safety and satisfaction in your postpartum experience regardless of the story you had in your birth experience. Postpartum doulas are there to support you as needed and slowly move away in order to allow the family to move into the adjustment of a new baby gingerly. It is not our desire to tell you how to parent your baby, guilt you for a messy home, or judge you for the decisions you make.
