Included in the Basic Birth Doula Package:

• One (1) complimentary consultation.
• 24-hour on-call telephone support from date of hire. Going forward, we are available by phone or email to answer any questions about your pregnancy and your upcoming birth.
• Two (2) prenatal home visits, usually scheduled at the32nd and 36th weeks. Sessions include discussion of birth plan, birth preferences, comfort techniques, medical history, labor and delivery options. Additional visits can be arranged for a fee. (Birthing Hands is committed to providing 2 prenatal visits for a client who retains a birth doula prior to her 34th week. If our doula services are retained at or after the 34th week, Birthing Hands is committed to providing the client one prenatal visit.)
• "Labor sit" with you by telephone during early labor to offer reassurance, informational, emotional, and physical support. Provide guidance on the signs and symptoms of early labor and offer coping and comfort techniques.
• Attend to you at your home once labor is established. Services include informational, emotional and physical support before leaving for the hospital or birth center. Techniques to ease labor discomfort include: massage; heat and cold therapy; hydrotherapy; acupressure; rebozo; guided imagery; various position changes; other comfort and relaxation techniques; and other labor tools.
• Remain with you throughout labor and delivery. Provide physical, informational, and nurturing support at the hospital or out-of hospital birth setting throughout labor and delivery by using various position changes, comfort and relaxation techniques, emotional support, information on the labor and delivery process, and provides understandable explanations of various medical techniques and procedures to facilitate discussion with your doctor/midwife and medical staff.
• Stay with you for a minimum of one (1) hour after the baby's birth to provide emotional, physical or informational support for mother. Help you initiate breastfeeding and bonding; provide information on hospital resources and other resources for new baby care, post partum care, and breastfeeding support services. In the case of an out-of-hospital birth, remain for a maximum of 4 hours.
• Call you once while you are still in the hospital. In the case of an out-of-hospital birth, call once within 24 hours after the birth of your baby.
• Visit you once within 3-7 days after the birth of the baby to provide advice and referral information on infant care, mother care, bonding, breastfeeding, and other issues that may arise as a new mother. Provide telephone and email support as needed for up to two weeks post partum. 
• Access to the Birthing Hands of DC Lending Library of videos and books.

Basic Service Package Fee:   $1,000

Arrangements for special circumstances can be made for families who cannot afford to pay the basic service package fee. Please talk to us before you, decide a doula is not for you due to financial concerns.

Basic Midwife Birth Assistant Package—information is available upon request, please contact us.

Click here for information on other special services (massage, breastfeeding support, postpartum assistance)...