FAQs

 

What is a doula? 

From DONA.org:

The word “doula” comes from the ancient Greek meaning “a woman who serves” and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period.

Women used to be surrounded by other women as they labored and gave birth. We were passed wisdom from our mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, and friends who had given birth before us. Unfortunately, we have lost a lot of this community and this knowledge today, for a variety of reasons, and the doula profession has grown to help fill in these gaps.

A professional doula brings this personal, first-hand knowledge and experience back within women's reach. The doula spends time getting to know her clients during the prenatal period, learning about their hopes for the birth, developing a comfort and comaraderie that will carry into the delivery room, and helps to answer questions and provide resources along their journey. When labor commences, she joins her clients and provides physical and emotional support to the family through to the delivery of their new baby. Once the baby is born, the doula stays with her clients for a short period after, helping to establish breastfeeding, if desired, and making sure everyone is well before she leaves them to enjoy their honeymoon period together. In the weeks after the birth, the doula remains available to offer emotional support, answer questions, and/or find needed resources. The professional relationship is eventually wrapped up with an in-person postpartum visit within the first month after birth, though friendships often continue.

A doula does not interfere in the relationship between a woman and her medical caregiver; nor does she replace a husband, father, partner or other family members or friends in the delivery room. A doula’s role is to support the laboring mother throughout her pregnancy, labor, and birth — working with the rest of her support team — and to help empower women to make informed personal decisions about their care.

 

What is the difference between a doula and a midwife?

A midwife is a clinical caregiver, trained to care for healthy women with normal, healthy pregnancies. They are often trained as advance practice nurses (though not always). Typically, a pregnant woman will choose to work with either a midwife or an obstetrician for the duration of her pregnancy and birth.

A doula, on the other hand, is not a clinical practitioner. Women hire doulas in addition to their midwives or OBs, not in place of. We do not carry out clinical tasks, monitor fetal heart tones, perform vaginal exams, etc., but instead provide emotional, physical, and educational support to our clients from the prenatal period, through the birth of the baby, and for a short postpartum period afterward.

 

Why hire a doula? 

A doula “mothers the mother” and helps provide continuous, individualized care based on her personal circumstances and preferences.

In addition:

Numerous clinical studies have found that a doula’s presence at birth

  • tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications;
  • reduces negative feelings about one’s childbirth experience;
  • reduces the need for pitocin (a labor-inducing drug), forceps or vacuum extraction and cesareans; and
  • reduces the mother’s request for pain medication and/or epidurals.

Research shows parents who receive support can:

  • feel more secure and cared for;
  • are more successful in adapting to new family dynamics;
  • have greater success with breastfeeding;
  • have greater self-confidence;
  • have less postpartum depression; and
  • have lower incidence of abuse.

[From DONA.org]

 

Are doulas only for women interested in natural/unmedicated birth? 

No. Doulas can provide valuable support to all laboring women, regardless of their choice to use/not use pain medication or accept other interventions. A doula’s job is to support women through their births and help them have positive, healthy, and empowering experiences. This means different things to different women and doulas do not place personal judgement on their clients, nor advocate for care options based on personal opinion. As your doula, I can help you sort through all of the information out there and make the decisions that are right for you.

 

What services do you provide? 

Please see my “Services” page for more information.

 

Where do you attend births?

I attend births in all settings — hospitals, birth centers, and home — in Brooklyn, Manhattan, & Queens. If you live outside of these three boroughs and are interested in my services, please contact me directly to discuss it.

 

Can I get insurance reimbursement for your services?

You will have to contact your insurance provider to find out, but generally, doulas are not covered by insurance. You may be able to get reimbursement through a flexible spending account, however, though this depends on your particular plan. Contact your account administrator for more information. I am happy to provide an invoice or receipt, if needed.

 

I have other questions. How do I contact you? 

Email me at info@jogreepchildbirth.com. I will do my best to get back to you within 1-2 business days. Thanks!