Labor Doula Care

 

A “Blessing Song”  for Moms & Babies – Snatam Kaur 

Read Birth Stories “Click Here”

” For me attending a birth, whether at home, birth center or hospital, as a doula is indeed a sacred honor.  I like to know my clients and have a connection/friendship with both mom & dad.  Not just anyone should attend your birth, so choose a certified professional with experience for the best birth possible.”  DG

Debra specializes in Labor Doula Care & has taken
Midwifery Assistant’s Training

learning to palpate where baby is

Midwifery Assistant Training with Ina Mae Gaskin at The Farm in Tennessee

Labor Doula Care Reservation Form

WATCH MSNBC.ON DOULA CARE

WHAT IS A DOULA?  (click here)

In sharing so much time with prenatal yoga moms, working with couples together through childbirth education and preparation workshops, including breast feeding, newborn baby care and happiest baby on the block, for Debra, being able to provide physical, emotional, informational and non-judgmental support beginning in early labor with monitoring, together in active labor, throughout the birth and early postpartum is both an honor and blessing. I would like to thank each and every couple for honoring me in sharing this most amazing, intimate experience, the birth of your baby. I am proud to be part of the Miami-Dade community working closely with all birth settings and open minded practitioners.

Debra is a certified labor, birth & postpartum companion (doula), certified and member of both DONA & CAPPA.   Trained as a midwife’s assistant with many additional abilities to help during labor.  Successfully birthing with couples at most miami dade hospitals, and attending some home births. My belief is that a woman should have a connection with her doula, a one on one relationship which can be established through prenatal yoga classes, with couple’s during workshops and childbirth classes. Sharing time together with mommy and daddy-to-be in order to feel comfortable in sharing this very intimate experience. If not attending classes, Debra will personally go to your home and meet with you, establish a connection/relationship, reviewing your birth plan, desires and go over any medical terminology explanations needed. This ONE on ONE is most important to relax and enjoy the birthing experience, knowing your birth companion and your doula are both there to love and support you all the way.

CHILDBIRTH/HYPNOBIRTHING CLASSES HELP PREPARE YOU AND YOUR PARTNER FOR THE EARLY BEGINNINGS OF LABOR,

TYPICALLY A 2-3 DAY PROCESS THAT BEGINS AT HOME.

Childbirth Education Classes/Hypnobirthing

During postpartum care, Debra is there at your home either daytime or night, to help bridge the beginnings of parenthood with newborn baby care, meal planning, gentle massage, tea time, breast feeding support (together with a lactation specialist on hand),  light housekeeping and more. Postpartum Doula Care (click here) will give the details.

Doula is a “Greek” word meaning “mothering the mother”. Providing mothers and fathers to-be continual support throughout labor, birth and early postpartum. A wonderful way of achieving a more relaxed, natural birth using special comfort measures while supporting Mom 100% during each phase of labor. Assisting with the preparation and implementation of birth plans. Answering questions, offering educated information of risks and benefits to medications and supporting the choices of each client. Reassuring and helping couples to labor longer at home, avoiding potential medical interventions if requested by suggesting position changes, using breathing/relaxation techniques, music and massage. Working together with Dad so he can relax and enjoy this”Celebration of Life” without tension, frustration and fear, knowing mother and baby are calm, supported, focused and able to follow the “natural instincts” of her body. Letting go of the tension-fear-pain syndrome while relaxing & meditating during contractions, tapping into a deeper consciousness, saving energy needed to breathe while birthing your baby. No matter what turn your birth path takes, your Doula is there for you.

Studies have shown that having the support and care of another woman present during labor, the laboring woman is more likely to have a shorter, safer more satisfying birth experience. With doula support, allowing women to labor in the comfort of home through early labor, avoiding potential interventions that may take place when arriving too soon to the hospital setting. Fathers-to-be relax more with this caring doula support in knowing there is a professional advocate present to assist mother, physically, emotionally & spiritually.

Some benefits of Doula Care:

• Achieving a more relaxed comfortable birth using all of the above-mentioned techniques therefore avoiding drugs and potential major abdominal surgery
• 60% reduction in cesarean rate
• Reduced duration of labor
• 40% reduced use of pitocin
• Reduced use of forceps and vacuum extraction
• Reduced chances of maternal fever and infection
• Fewer episiotomies
• Increased chance of successful breastfeeding
• Increased chance of spontaneous vaginal birth

“If a Doula were a drug, it would be unethical not to use it.”
John H. Kennell, M.D.

 

The Role of a Doula

Your doula is there to help you through childbirth with love, physical, emotional and informational support. No matter where you choose to birth, a labor support guardian is helpful for mother’s comfort.  This in no way leaves out partners, they actually relax and enjoy the process more with someone close who has experience with the birthing process.

Providing continuous reassurance emotionally throughout this time. A doula specializes in non-medical skills, such as massage, breathing techniques, position changes and perform no clinical tasks, such as vaginal exams etc.  A doula does not make any decisions for her clients and does not project personal values & goals upon a laboring mother. With many possibilities of how labor may begin, at home, with your fluid intact, or maybe the membranes release and you have no contractions…what to do? There are things to be aware of and questions your doula will go over with you at the prenatal visit which takes place approximately three weeks prior to the EDD (estimated due date).

If there is no medical reason for rushing to the hospital, establishing labor contractions and a labor pattern may benefit a mother so the body and baby have a chance to “start the journey”. Even if a mother knows that she may want medication during her labor, spending early labor in the comfort of your own home, with your doula and birth companion, allows mom to relax, rest in between contractions, establish a good labor pattern, be comfortable, eat and drink. This helps her to avoid pitocin (artificial oxytocin) to re-establish or augment her labor pattern once at the hospital. Early labor does not necessarily bear the need for medication, so comfort measures work great during this time instead of pain medication if this is your choice. Your doula will work with you using relaxed breathing techniques, comfort positions, her loving touch, energy and more…

Once at the hospital, having your doula with you allows for constant support. Nurses can be very supportive;  yet it is unusual for you to be her only patient.  Her time spent in your room is used to assess and document your well being and that of your baby. Some nurses are not trained in alternative techniques and hands-on support for comfort so are more likely to suggest medication instead of trying alternative, non-medicated techniques for discomfort.  Also, nurses change shifts so during a long labor you may see several nurses, but knowing that your doula will remain with you constantly through all of those changes can be very reassuring to mother. You may even see a different caregiver from the one that was on call when you began your labor!  The doctor/ midwife is called in on occasion and usually is there when mother is ready to actually bring baby into the world.

Do health insurance companies pay for doula services?

Some insurance companies cover doula services, and the numbers are increasing gradually as providers are beginning to recognize the benefits of improving parental satisfaction and the savings when parents employ a doula for their birth. Insurance companies are more likely to pay if the OB/Midwife writes a prescription for professional labor support and/or postpartum home health care.  Also, if a doula provides doula care/services with a birth center and midwife,  together as a reimbursable service, this can increase the chance for coverage. If your doula is also a childbirth educator providing both services the insurance companies may reimbursement for either the doula care service, childbirth education provided or both.

Also, postpartum home health care is something covered by insurance companies so ask Debra for more information if you are interested in postpartum doula/home care.

Factors that may increase your chances of reimbursement include:

• • Using a certified doula and submitting the doula’s credentials with the claim to the company.
  • Submitting a doctor or midwife’s referral or prescription for professional labor support services.
  • Submitting well documented statistics of the doula’s influence.
  • Actually achieving a low intervention, low cost birth.
  • Submitting a bill/invoice for doula services complete with diagnosis and treatment codes.
  • Resubmitting with more documentation if the first claim is denied.
  • Talking to a person at the company to explain what you do if your services are denied payment.

Cost of Doula care: Some Insurance Companies have been reimbursing 60-75% of Doula Care Service, and now Doula Care Service is more acknowledged than ever, saving them thousands of dollars. Please ask Debra about the form to submit to your insurance company.
Debra provides INSURANCE CLAIM FORMS FOR REIMBURSEMENT NOW WITH BETTER QUALIFICATIONS TO HAVE YOUR LABOR DOULA CARE SERVICE COVERED.  PRO BONO SERVICE ALSO AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO QUALIFY.

Labor Doula – Care Cost

Ultimately, it is most important that Any mother has the support she wants during labor and birth so I am happy to work with each family, to provide the best experience possible.

$625.00 base fee includes: prenatal doula visit approximately (4-6) weeks prior to EDD, virtual, or in person.  Early labor telephone communication for monitoring.  Once ready for doula she will be there at your home with you for (5) hours.  Additional time is allowable (fee applies).

$1,250.00 base fee includes: prenatal doula visit approximately (4-6) weeks prior to EDD, telephone communication for early at home support, once active, continuing doula care at home, or hospital throughout birth of your baby and 30-45 mins. postpartum, assisting with breast-feeding and comfort. Also includes follow-up postpartum visit virtually two weeks after birth. Breast feeding support is available.

If Postpartum Doula Care is requested, Debra will be there when once scheduled.

Labor Doula Care Reservation Form

Please return form with $200.00 (non-refundable) deposit. Deposit is applied to total cost of Doula care. Balance due 4 weeks prior to EDD.

Please feel free to contact Debra with any questions. (305) 498-6722.

The Birth Ball for Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond
A wonderful tool to assist moms during pregnancy, help to go through early labor easily and ease back and pelvic pressure, allowing pelvic rotation and movement therefore helping baby’s journey down the birth path. Different positions to rock baby, positioning and rotation so labor is in fact shorter and more comfortable.

FOR USE DURING PREGNANCY, BIRTH AND BEYOND!!! Highly recommended for pregnancy, labor, and postpartum (to calm baby!)

A 65cm or 75cm ball – target or online for purchase.

Benefits of Using a Birth Ball:
• Starting at any time during pregnancy, the Birth Ball relieves lower back and pelvic pressure
• Relieving back discomfort and pelvic floor pressure during labor the Birth Ball is soft and allows movement of the sacrum easily.
• Allows less hand and wrist strain when on all fours taking baby off the back and swaying from side to side
• Relaxing muscles in the lower extremities to allow mother less stress and strain
• Mother labors in different positions depending on what she is feeling i.e. back labor, pelvic floor pressure etc.
• Widening the pelvic outlet to encourage descent of baby
• Using the Birth Ball Postpartum to bounce your baby into a peaceful, calm state, Dad loves this one!!!
• Using the DVD (included) for abdominal strengthening 4-6 weeks postpartum. Work with your postpartum Doula Debra on postnatal w/baby yoga.
• Sitting on the Birth Ball while your Birth Companion, Doula or partner massages your neck, shoulder and back feel great!!!
• Kneeling over the Birth Ball taking all pressure off the hands and wrists allows pelvis to sway and baby to rock into a better position for birthing. Great position for counter pressure for the back and hip massages from your birth companion, doula or partner!!!

A mother should always have someone close by and assisting during labor when utilizing the Birth Ball. As labor progresses it is important to hold someone or lean on a bed to support you during a contraction while using the ball. With any anesthesia it is suggested not to use the birth ball for risk of sliding off or injury.

“It’s not the life that matters, it’s the courage that you bring to it.” 
Yogi Bhajan