What is Birth Support?

 What Is a Birth Doula?

A birth doula is a trained professional who provides continuous emotional, physical, and informational support before, during, and immediately after childbirth.

The goal of a doula is to help families feel calm, confident, and supported throughout their birth experience, whether at home, in a birth center, or in a hospital setting.

Doulas complement the work of your medical team by ensuring you are informed, empowered, and emotionally supported at every stage of your journey.

Doulas provide care across the three pillars of labor support:

Physical Support – Hands-on comfort, positioning, and pain management techniques.
Emotional Support – Encouragement, reassurance, and presence throughout labor.
Informational and Advocacy Support – Helping families make informed choices and communicate effectively with their care providers.

Research consistently shows that continuous labor support from a trained doula can lead to improved birth outcomes, including:

• 39% decrease in the likelihood of cesarean birth
   
• 15% increase in spontaneous vaginal birth
   
• 10% reduction in the use of pain medication
   
• 31% decrease in reports of negative or traumatic birth experiences
   
• Shorter labor by an average of 40 minutes
   
• Lower rates of assisted deliveries (vacuum or forceps)
   

In addition to these measurable benefits, families frequently describe their birth experience as more empowering, calm, and connected when supported by a doula.

Childbirth is not only a physical process but also an emotional and psychological journey. Your doula provides:

• Steady reassurance and encouragement throughout labor
   
• A calm, compassionate presence that helps reduce fear and anxiety
   
• Validation of your wishes, boundaries, and feelings
   
• Encouragement for both the birthing person and partner to trust the process
   
• Gentle debriefing and emotional support after birth to help process the experience
   

Whether your birth plan includes an epidural, an unmedicated delivery, or you’re unsure what to expect, your doula’s presence provides stability and confidence.

Knowledge is power. Your doula ensures you and your partner understand the process and your options by:

• Offering evidence-based information about pregnancy, labor, and postpartum care
   
• Explaining medical procedures or interventions before they occur
   
• Helping you communicate your preferences and advocate for your needs
   
• Encouraging your partner to participate meaningfully and confidently
   
• Suggesting techniques, positions, and tools that support labor progress and comfort
   

Your doula’s goal is not to replace your medical care team, but to help you navigate your options and maintain a sense of agency and control.

During labor, your doula provides hands-on comfort and helps create a calm, safe environment. Examples include:

• Gentle massage, counterpressure, and acupressure
   
• Warm or cold compresses for comfort
   
• Assistance with breathing, movement, and position changes
   
• Creating a soothing atmosphere with dimmed lights, soft music, or quiet focus
   
• Helping with hydration, snacks, and comfort measures as permitted
   
• Supporting transitions such as getting in and out of bed, the tub, or shower
   

Every technique is adapted to your individual needs and preferences to help you remain comfortable and focused.

A doula is not a medical provider and does not perform clinical tasks. Doulas do not:

• Perform vaginal exams or fetal heart monitoring
   
• Provide medical diagnoses or advice
   
• Make medical decisions for clients
   
• Replace the role of your healthcare team
   

Instead, your doula works alongside your nurses, midwives, and physicians to provide continuous non-medical support that enhances your care experience.

Doulas also play an important role in supporting families through planned or unplanned cesarean births. Support includes:

• Helping you prepare a personalized cesarean birth plan
   
• Explaining surgical procedures and answering questions beforehand
   
• Providing calm, continuous reassurance in the operating room (when permitted)
   
• Remaining with you if your partner accompanies the baby to the nursery or NICU
   
• Offering immediate postpartum support, including assistance with breastfeeding, skin-to-skin contact, and emotional recovery
   

Your doula ensures that you feel informed, connected, and supported throughout your cesarean experience.

The Crescent Package:

Essential Support for Experienced Parents or Late-Stage Planning
Designed for families who have previously given birth or are seeking doula support closer to their estimated due date.

Includes:

• 24/7 On-Call Support (text, phone, and email) from time of contract until birth
   
• Comprehensive Resource Sharing (birth planning templates, provider referrals, hospital tips)
   
• One In-Home Prenatal Visit focused on labor preparation, comfort measures, and birth preferences
   
• Labor Support beginning at home or hospital, depending on family preference and labor progress
   
• Continuous Physical and Emotional Support throughout active labor, delivery, and the immediate postpartum period
   
• Assistance with Baby’s First Latch and Breastfeeding Initiation
   
• Up to Two Hours of Immediate Post-Birth Support (monitoring, comfort, transition assistance)
   
• One In-Home Postpartum Visit (within 7–14 days of delivery for recovery check-in, newborn care questions, and emotional support)
   

The Full Moon Package:

Comprehensive Birth Support with Newborn Education
Recommended for first-time parents or families seeking more in-depth prenatal education and preparation.

Includes:

• 24/7 On-Call Support via phone, text, and email from contract signing through birth
   
• Access to Evidence-Based Resources including local and virtual referrals, articles, birth plans, and lactation guidance
   
• One to Two Prenatal Home Visits tailored to your goals, comfort measures, and partner involvement
   
• Labor Support beginning at home or hospital as labor progresses
   
• Uninterrupted Physical and Emotional Support during the entirety of labor and delivery
   
• Support During Baby’s First Feeding/Latch
   
• Two Hours of Post-Delivery Care immediately following birth
   
• One Postpartum Home Visit to discuss recovery, infant feeding, sleep patterns, and emotional well-being
   
• Private In-Home Newborn Care Prep Class (90-minute session covering newborn behavior, safe sleep, feeding, diapering, and calming techniques)
   

The Constellation Package:

Premier Birth Support with Overnight Postpartum Care
Best for families seeking full-spectrum support through delivery and the early postpartum period.

Includes:

• 24/7 Phone, Text, and Email Access beginning at time of agreement
   
• Extensive Resource Library and Referral Network for prenatal, labor, postpartum, and infant care
   
• One to Two Personalized Prenatal Home Visits for hands-on education, positioning, and labor planning
   
• Start-to-Finish Labor Support at home or hospital, adjusted to your comfort and timing
   
• Uninterrupted Birth Doula Presence for labor and delivery
   
• Support with Initial Breastfeeding/Latching Techniques
   
• Two Hours of Immediate Post-Birth Care
   
• One In-Home Postpartum Visit (focus on recovery, emotional check-in, feeding support, and family adjustment)
   
• Private Newborn Education Class held in your home (customized to your parenting goals and concerns)
   
• One Eight-Hour Overnight Postpartum Shift (offering rest, feeding support, newborn care, and emotional reassurance during early recovery)
   

The Eclipse Package:

Scheduled Cesarean Birth Support Intentional, steady, and nurturing care for your planned surgical birth.

The Eclipse Package is designed to provide calm, confident, and continuous support through every stage of your cesarean experience before, during, and after surgery.

Package Includes:

• 24/7 On-Call Availability: Ongoing phone, text, and email support from the time of contract through delivery
   
• Personalized Resource Sharing: Evidence-based guidance, planning tools, provider referrals, and emotional preparation specific to cesarean birth
   
• One In-Home Prenatal Visit: Birth planning session tailored to your scheduled cesarean, including comfort measures, expectations, and recovery tips
   
• Day-of Birth Support: Up to 6 hours of continuous in-person support at home or hospital prior to surgery, including help with emotional preparation and logistics
   
• Operating Room Presence (hospital policy permitting): Supportive presence in the OR when allowed, or advocacy and reassurance from pre-op through recovery if OR access is restricted
   
• Two Hours of Immediate Post-Birth Care: Support during the initial recovery period, including assistance with baby's first latch, skin-to-skin bonding, and emotional reassurance
   
• One In-Home Postpartum Visit: A dedicated session within 7–14 days postpartum for physical recovery check-in, newborn care guidance, and emotional wellness
   

Your birth is one of life’s most unforgettable moments, and you deserve to feel calm, confident, and fully supported throughout the journey. A doula is there to guide you with gentle reassurance, practical comfort, and a steady presence, so you can focus on what really matters: welcoming your baby.

With a doula by your side, you’re never alone. Every touch, word, and suggestion is tailored to your needs, helping you feel empowered, informed, and ready to embrace your birth experience exactly as you imagine it.