What is a Doula?

As a birth keeper and doula, I accompany women and their birth partner(s) in labor to help ensure a satisfying birth experience.  I am a  3x Certified Birth Doula with DONA (Doulas of North America).  I draw on my knowledge of the birth process and experience to provide continuous emotional support, physical comfort measures and, as needed, information that will help you communicate with other members of your birth team to ensure you have an understanding of the events that take place during your birth.  I can provide reassurance and perspective to you and your birth partner, hold space and make suggestions for labor progress and help with relaxation, massage, positioning and other techniques for your comfort.

What is a Birth Keeper ?

Birth keepers are doulas but not all doulas  are birth keepers as  most certified doulas are bound and limited in how they can support women by whatever scope their certifying organization has set. 

I certified 3 times with DONA and I learned much along the way but I wanted to encourage and offer more .

I believe in traditional instinctual  wisdom. I believe that birth is a right of passage. We are here to awaken the power in women so we can reclaim birth. We know that women are born with the wisdom of birth and motherhood in our DNA, after all, women have populated the entire earth.

I believe in mothering the mother. I believe in your body! I believe that women are wise and birth is sacred I believe in traditional instinctual wisdom.

Choosing me as YOUR Birth Keeper+ Doula

I will meet with you and your birth partner to get to know you and answer any questions you may have concerning the use of a doula for your birth.  There is no fee for this meeting, and it does not obligate you in any way to use my services.

If you do select me as your doula, I will want to meet with you again to go over your plans for birth and make final arrangements for care during your birth. I am using the Mobile Doula App and there is a link on my website that is password protected and will have you fill out the client intake forms.  I will also want to know your own best ways for coping and how you and your partner foresee working together and what my role in your birth will be.

Once you have hired me, I am available by telephone/text  to answer any questions you may have or to help you find resources in the area.  During your last two months of pregnancy, I prefer that you update me by email or phone/text after each of your appointments with your midwife or physician.  It is also recommended that you advise your midwife/physician that you have hired a doula. If you like I will go with you to your prenatal to meet with your care provider.

**I am also a photographer and we can discuss whether you would like specific photos taken in labor, during birth (if possible but I am hired as your doula first and foremost) also after the birth of your baby I can take photos of those first special bonding moments. Please visit my photography website to see my work:  http://lisaolschewskephotography.com/birth-photography

 

Childbirth is an emotional and spiritual experience with long-term impact on a woman’s personal well-being. A birth keeper + doula is constantly aware that the mother and her partner will remember this experience throughout their lives.

By “mothering the mother” during childbirth the birth keeper + doula supports the parents in having a positive and memorable birth experience.

SIBLING DOULA SERVICE:

Including your children  in your birth plan is an amazing way for them to begin their relationship with their new sibling. When they attend their sibling’s birth, older siblings feel like they are a part of the process while feeling less jealousy and more autonomy. Most hospitals, birth centers, and home birth midwives request that you have a support person there for your child if you plan on having them at your birth. As a sibling doula, I’ll provide:

• A three hour in-home date night session to read books, watch a short movie, look at some of my birth photos, and get to know your kiddo to help prepare for your birth and new family member while you take the evening for yourself (if you want!).
• Continuous emotional support for your children during labor + delivery
• Child-friendly explanations of your labor + delivery
• The ability for you and your birth partner/support person to focus on your labor without having to worry about your children.
• As a birth doula, I can also take over for your birth partner/support person if they want to take turns with your kiddo(s)
• A few photos during your labor, delivery, and postpartum hours
• A one hour postpartum follow up with your children to work on the transition to big sibling-hood.

A  deposit is required to reserve your spot on my calendar.

When You Are in Labor

I prefer that you contact me as soon as you think you are in labor, no matter what time of day or night.   I can answer any questions you may have and make suggestions for your comfort.  If you are in early labor, I will encourage rest for everyone and we will decide when you should contact me again for an update.  These decisions should all complement your instructions from your midwife/physician.  Once I arrive at your home, birth center or hospital, I will remain with you throughout your labor and depending on prior discussion, call in my back up doula.

After Your Birth; The Fourth Trimester 

After you give birth, I will stay with you for as long as needed.  If you need help getting started with breastfeeding, I will help with that and stay with you until your family is ready for some quiet time.  In the case of a cesarean in which I am not allowed to be with you for the birth, I will stay to see how you are doing and contact you the next day.  I am available by telephone after you give birth to provide support, encouragement, answer questions and provide resources as you become a family.  I will call and/or visit you at home a few days after your birth, and I will be glad to share with you all the details of the birth that I have in my own records.  I am always a phone call away.

I offer many services for the “4th trimester” time, also called the postpartum time. http://gracefulbeginningsdoulaservices.com/sacred-postpartum-bengkung-belly-binding/

As a Doula I Do Not…..

1      Make decisions for you.  I will help you get the information you need to make informed choices.  I will also remind you if there is a departure from your original plan, but you and/or your partner will make medical decisions with the guidance of your midwife/physician.

2      Perform clinical assessments.  I am not trained or qualified to perform clinical procedures such as checking blood pressure and fetal heart tones or performing vaginal exams.

3      Take the place of…. (a) your primary support person unless asked to do so by you or that person.  If your primary support person does not want to be active in your birth, I may ask your permission to bring in a back-up doula so we may serve you better; (b) the medical staff, including the midwife, physician, midwife’s assistant(s), nurses or lactation consultants.  They have a very important role in your birth, too, and we will work cooperatively to help you achieve your goals.

4      Speak to the medical staff on your behalf.  I will discuss your concerns with you and suggest options, but I will not speak for you or interfere with the birth process.  You and/or your partner will need to communicate your desires to the medical staff.

Doula + Photography Services Packages

Did you know most insurance reimburses for doula services and you can use your HSA + FSA to pay for your doula services read more here or call me  http://gracefulbeginningsdoulaservices.com/2019/07/how-to-file-for-insurance-reimbursement-for-doula-services/

I am happy  to go over my doula packages and fees over the phone or in person in more detail, but just a little information. I will offer an hour rate if so desired .

 Doula Service Package:  My doula services as described ( please call for details) 

Doula & Childbirth Education Package: Doula services as described  and Childbirth education in your home.

Doula & Photography Package:  Doula services as described and Photography services. Please call as I offer many photography options with this package and fees vary. 

Doula/Childbirth Education/Photography Package:  Birth doula service, Childbirth education in your home and photography. 

Complete Doula Package: Includes unlimited txt/email/phone support during pregnancy, Childbirth education in the privacy of your home, photography, unlimited labor support with me or my back up doula, 12 hours of postpartum service/support (no overnight broken down with 3-4 hrs a day)  and a Sacred Postpartum belly binding session.

Virtual Doula Service: $900.00 or $60.00 per hour Includes unlimited text/email/phone support during pregnancy. As well as the option of Skype, FaceTime or Zoom during pregnancy, labor and postpartum.

* Sibling Doula Service: $600.00 or $30.00 per hour option  

Including your children in your birth plan is an amazing way for them to begin their relationship with their new sibling. When they attend their sibling’s birth, older siblings feel like they are a part of the process while feeling less jealousy and more autonomy. Most hospitals, birth centers, and home birth midwives request that you have a support person there for your child if you plan on having them at your birth. As a sibling doula, I’ll provide:

• A three hour in-home date night session to read books, watch a short movie, look at some of my birth photos, and get to know your child to help prepare for your birth and new family member while you take the evening for yourself (if you want!).
• Continuous emotional support for your children  during labor + delivery
• Child-friendly explanations of your labor + delivery
• The ability for you and your birth partner/support person to focus on your labor without having to worry about your children.
• As a birth doula, I can also take over for your birth partner/support person if they want to take turns with your children.
• A few photos during your labor, delivery, and postpartum hours
• A one hour postpartum follow up with your children to work on the transition to big sibling-hood.

Gift Certificates are available and make GREAT baby shower gifts. Just ask me about it. 

HALF  of my  fee is a non-refundable retainer fee that is  due along with a signed copy of the agreement when you select me as your doula. If you choose to pay in full when agreement is signed there is a discount.

I am now offering a NON on call  doula service . ASK ME MORE . It gives you my service options and you pay my fee when I am called to your birth .

The Balance of the fee is due by the 36^th week of your pregnancy. I shared this  article breaking down doulas fees http://gracefulbeginningsdoulaservices.com/2014/10/breaking-down-and-understanding-a-professional-doulas-fee/

If this payment plan poses a problem for you, I am happy to discuss other payment options and will amend the agreement to reflect our payment plan. I also offer a few scholarships and slide scale based on needs. There would be a more in depth interview about your needs. 

**Photography (we can discuss my packages and options ) I am also a professional photographer. Please visit my Photography website: http://lisaolschewskephotography.com/birth-photography

Postpartum Doula Services 

I offer a variety of postpartum doula services (and packages)  read here what a Postpartum doula does http://gracefulbeginningsdoulaservices.com/2015/01/what-is-a-postpartum-doula/

Refund Policy

If for any reason beyond my control you give birth before I or my back-up person make it to your birth, none of the fee is refundable.  This would include a fast labor or your decision not to call me or my back-up once labor begins.  In either case, I will support you to the best of my abilities when I do arrive.  If it is necessary for you to have a planned or emergency cesarean and I am not allowed to attend due to hospital policy or your preference at the time, none of my fee is refundable.  If you wish, I will be at the hospital with you before and after the surgery and will assist you in any way I can at that time.  In any case, I will help you get settled as you begin bonding with your baby and get started breastfeeding.  If, through some fault of my own, neither my back-up nor I arrive for your birth, we will make every effort to be with you afterwards to help you get settled, begin bonding with your baby and get started breastfeeding, and we will stay with you until you are comfortable.  If a back-up attends your birth, I will reimburse her. We will go over more details in the agreement.

The retainer submitted with the signed agreement reserves your spot on my calendar and is non-refundable since I may turn another client down whose estimated due date is near yours.

All contents here were created and owned by Lisa Ellis Olschewske CD, CST, CLC  & Graceful Beginnings Doula Services. Please do not copy in any way the information found on this site. Thank you!

Happily Serving  North and South east Florida  including  Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach,  Palm Coast, Flagler County, Daytona, Port Orange , New Smyrna ,Ocala, Orlando ,   Orange Park, Ormond beach and St Augustine Birth Doula Services and Postpartum Doula Services 

904-806-3778