Birth Doula
She is so good — with patience and kindness.
L.D., labor and birth doula client
Prenatal Visits
I offer birth clients prenatal visits (1.5-2 hours) for getting to know one another and your desires well, discussing how I may best serve you, and planning and preparing for birth. During prenatal visits we can develop a birthing plan, practice birth positions, relaxation exercises and set up some of your birth space if you plan a home birth.
Labor and Birth
24/7 on-call availability for continuous birth attendance between 38-42 weeks of gestation.
I provide emotional support, partnership, encouragement, normalization, advocacy and guidance during birth, physical assistance with comfort measures and sibling support during birth, and information specific to a family’s interests and concerns during my service. I do not preform clinical tasks or give clinical advice, but I do assist in decision making by helping to gather pertinent information.
If you are to go into labor before or after the 24/7 on-call window, I would still love to attend to you on the occasion that I am available.
Postpartum and Newborn Care
My job isn’t done once delivery is over. I will stay in close contact with you after your birth to provide any assistance –care logistics for you and your newborn, emotional support, referrals– you need for transitioning to having your baby in your arms.
To conclude our time together, I will make a postpartum visit to you in your home within a month of your birth to to honor your new way of living. This may include reflecting on your birth if you are ready, support with breastfeeding initiation, help assessing your postpartum needs, and tidying up a few ends around the home before saying our goodbyes.
Postpartum Doula
Alexandra’s intuitive approach to just knowing what was needed was the most valuable aspect of her support.
B.R., postpartum doula client
Serving N.E.A.R.
All births and postpartum experiences are unique to each family and your service will be tailored to compliment the environment you are creating for your family through these periods. I am able to serve N.E.A.R. families to support them through postpartum: to Nurture, to Educate, to Assess and to Refer.
Nurture
During your postpartum period, my first priority is helping your rhythms come and go smoothly, whether it be by providing an ear to listen about how your new way of life is developing, caring for your baby as you shower, tackling the laundry as you two rest together, or helping to prepare meals. Please note that a referral to a cleaning maid/housekeeper will be made for heavy cleaning tasks.
Educate
Services available include introductory education on your design as a mother, newborn care and development including their cues, babywearing, flat cloth diapering and establishing sustainable routines in your growing household.
Assess
In my time with families, I am trained and able to make on-going non-medical assessments of lactation and feeding, hydration/hunger satiation for mom, and periodic screening for postpartum mood disorders and general health of the family.
Refer
In the event that a medical assessment may be necessary, or you are hoping to find a great mommy-and-me group, I am able to make referrals to appropriate local professionals and groups. Also available for parents who have niche product interests: organic fibers, microbiome-friendly cleansers– I am also able to make referrals for where to find baby care products according to the family’s preferences.