We are happy to announce that Sweet Child O’ Mine is now offering Doula Services. No matter where you plan to deliver, a Doula is a valuable resource to a birthing mother and her family. We know that giving birth is often a vulnerable time for a family. Not only are birth outcomes improved when a Doula is present but overall satisfaction and peace of mind are as well. We will be offering Doula Services for all birth settings, whether it be in a hospital, in a birth center or at home.
Meet the Doulas Meeting
The Doula Team will be hosting monthly “Meet the Doulas” meetings at Sweet Child O’ Mine. These meetings are open to anyone and will provide you and your family a chance to meet the Doulas, ask your questions and better prepare yourself for your labor and birth. Each month’s meeting will have a unique topic that will be helpful to you while preparing for your birth. Examples of these topics are; How to Write a Birth Plan, Comfort Measures for Labor and Techniques to Get Baby in a Good Position. These meetings will be in a group setting so you will have the chance to meet other families and make new friends.
Our next Meet the Doulas Meeting is Wednesday, December 5th between 5:30 and 7:00 pm.
Feel free to drop in at any time during this meeting. There will be drinks and snacks and you will be given the opportunity to mingle and speak with the Doulas and other families. At 6:00 pm the presentation on the topic of the month, i.e “How to Write a Birth Plan” will begin and then more time will be given to talk, ask questions and mingle. The meeting will be held at Sweet Child O’ Mine in the Education Room. 215 Lithia Pinecrest Road, Brandon, Florida.
What is a Doula?
A doula is a Greek word that is translated to “Woman Caregiver.” A doula is also known as a birth companion or birth coach. She is someone who respects the decisions you make for your birth. A doula assists you and your family during your pregnancy, labor and childbirth in a non-medical capacity by providing emotional support and physical support by using comfort measure techniques. She is a resource of information for you and your family and can help you design and implement your birth plan. A postpartum doula provides resources to you as well as emotional and physical support, including breastfeeding help, after your child has been born.
Do I need a Doula if I have a Midwife?
A Midwife often provides a similar type of support in addition to being your primary care provider; however, a midwife may have multiple patients to care for and her services may be limited to the place where you plan to deliver. If you planned an out of hospital birth but were to need to deliver at the hospital for any reason, your doula goes with you to the hospital and stays with you throughout your labor. Your doula can also support you during early labor when you are still at home.
How Much Does a Doula Cost?
Doula services include monthly group meetings with the doula team, a private birth preparation meeting with the doula team, in person support throughout your laboring process, your birth and during your immediate postpartum hours. It also includes an in home visit from a doula from our team after your birth to assist you with breastfeeding and other postpartum needs. Your doula team is accessible to you by phone or email throughout your pregnancy and until two weeks postpartum. The introductory fee for doula services is $800. Please ask for a copy of our contract to see full information.
How Do I Get Started?
-First contact us at [email protected]. We will send you a questionnaire and a copy of our doula service contract.
-Attend our monthly Doula Meetings.
-Once you have met the doula Team and know you would like to hire us, complete the doula service contract and return it to us at our email or to the front desk at Sweet Child O’ Mine. Make all payments to Sweet Child O’ Mine.
-We will then contact you to see how your pregnancy is going and to schedule a private Birth Preparation Meeting between 34 and 36 weeks gestation.
-When you are in labor, call your doula team.
