Antenatal Services

Island Doula offers a wide variety of al la carte services to expectant parents. These services include planning, organization, and help around the home (such as when a parent is on bed rest, not feeling well, or simply too busy). Some of the things we offer:

• Complementary initial visit to discuss needs and services desired

• Attend your doctors visits and/or childbirth education classes with you. We can be a companion or guide to accompany and support you. (*Please note we are unable to transport you or your family, but are happy to join you there).

• Baby clothes organization, including taking off all the annoying little plastic tags(!), washing, folding, and putting away.

• Nursery organization and/or set up

• Assistance creating baby registry

• Baby shower planning services

• Help with creating Birth Plan/Wishes and plan for after birth

• Postpartum planning assistance

• Pick up groceries, run errands, bring you a meal.

• Laundry, dishes, light cleaning and organization

  We are available to help with just about anything. Contact us to inquire about your specific needs.

Labor & Birth

• Complementary initial prenatal visit (no obligation to move forward with services). We will usually meet in a cafe or similar public place for this first meeting.

• 2 prenatal visits, typically around 2 hours long, in which we get to know each other and discuss your wishes and desires for labor, birth, and afterwards. The second visit typically takes place at your home.

• Evidence-based information and packet

• Review of the birth process and knowing your options

• Comfort measures and techniques

• Tips for informed decision making

• Help with creating a “birth plan” or “birth wishes”

• Help with creating a postpartum plan

• Partner support. We are not there to replace your other support person/people, but to enhance their support of you, as well as providing them their own unique support.

• Unlimited phone or email contact from the time of signing our contract until birth (within the hours of 8am-9pm). Close contact any time of day or night from 37 weeks until delivery.

• In-person support for entire duration of your labor and delivery, plus around two hours after to help you get settled in and assist with first feeding.

• Picture taking during or after your labor and delivery, if you desire, as time and situation allows (*please note we are not yet a professional photographer and cannot guarantee quality of your pictures, as we are there primarily in the role as your doula and not solely as a photographer).

• 1 postpartum visit, typically 1-2 hours long, within the first week after delivery, to debrief following your birth experience, as well as to make sure you are settled in and to offer assistance in any way we can. Takes place in your home or the hospital. (*For additional postpartum services, please see various postpartum options below.)

Postpartum Daytime

• Complementary initial phone call and/or in-person meeting to discuss wishes and needs

• In-person support at your home during the first days, weeks, and even months after birth

• Support is typically between the hours of 9:00am to 4:00pm, with a 3-4 hour/day minimum, depending on where you live.

• Support of the birthing/postpartum person, whatever that may look like on that particular day

• Birth story listening

• Care of infant so parent(s) can eat, rest, shower, or spend time with older children

• Assistance with all aspects of newborn care, including hands-on support, education, resources (such as help bathing, tips for diapering, swaddling instruction etc.)

• Feeding support: including breastfeeding, chest-feeding, bottle feeding, SNS (supplemental nursing system), cup feeding, pumping, milk storage

• Promotion of safe sleep practices and assistance with creating safe-sleep space for baby

• Baby wearing support and instruction

• Support for siblings

• Resources and referrals to other professionals

• Mental health support in the way of listening, validating, and referring to mental health specialists and support as needed

• Household and/or nursery organization

• Light housework, such as doing dishes, sweeping, cleaning counter tops, etc.

• Cleaning/sterilizing of bottles, pump parts, other infant supplies

• Laundry, including baby laundry and linens

• Meal preparation and help with meal planning, if desired

• Pick up groceries, run errands, bring you a meal.

• Accompany you to appointments or other activities outside of the home to help offer support as you navigate the world with an infant

Postpartum Overnights

• Complementary initial phone call and/or in-person meeting to discuss wishes and needs

• Overnight in-person support, typically during the hours of 8:00pm-6:00am. 8-10 hour shifts.

• The focus and goal of overnight support is to keep the household calm and quiet and to facilitate the parent(s) getting as much sleep and rest as possible.

• Infant care while parents sleep (including diapering, feeding, comfort techniques)

• Promotion of safe sleep practices and assistance with creating safe-sleep space for baby

• Very light/quiet chores can be done as time/infant allows (see Postpartum Daytime above)

• Resources and referrals to other professionals

• Birth story listening and mental health support in the way of holding space, validation, and referring to mental health specialists and support as needed.

  *Please note Island Doula offers limited overnight shifts per week, so it is imperative to plan ahead and book early!

For more information and package pricing, please Contact us to inquire about your family’s specific needs.