Childbirth Education, Support & Doula Care

I’ve supported births at Sutter General in Sacramento, Sutter Davis, Sutter Roseville, and Kaiser Roseville. I delivered my own two children at Sutter Davis and I’m good friends with the folks at California Birth Center in Rocklin. (Check them out – they have a wonderful natural birth package!) I would love to support your birth at any of these facilities and others in the Sacramento area.

A trauma informed professional has received training that helps them recognize and acknowledge the role trauma plays in an individual’s life. The goal of a trauma informed professional is to help others feel and recover from their trauma experiences in healthy ways.

I’ve received training to help new parents talk about their birth and postpartum experiences in a safe environment so they can get the validation and support they deserve to process their feelings in a constructive way.

A postpartum doula offers support that’s similar to a nanny but different from a babysitter. For instance, a doula doesn’t take children to the park or watch them while the parents are away from the home. A doula can provide overnight care similar to a night nanny, with the added benefit of helping with some household tasks to make the mother’s job easier.

Specifically, a postpartum doula helps you adjust to that wonderful, challenging time when a newborn comes into the family. As the baby gets older and the family moves to the next phase, the doula can offer referrals for support care that can help with that exciting new time.

Yes. I can offer a full care package for birth through postpartum, depending on my schedule. Send me a message to learn more!

No. A doula can help you access the medical information you need to make informed decisions, but a doula does not make medical decisions for you.

Also, importantly, a doula does not do medical procedures or diagnose.

Yes, most doulas go through certified training programs for childbirth education, labor support, breastfeeding support, and family mental health support. Doulas will often get certified by national organizations after they are trained.

Some health insurance companies are just beginning to reimburse for doula expenses. Before hiring a doula, call your insurance company and ask about their policies. They may require you to provide them with a paid invoice from your doula and then the company will reimburse you.

If you have a HSA or FSA (Health Savings Account or Flexible Spending Account), you may be able to use it to pay directly for doula services. First, you might need to get a letter from your doctor stating that you’ll need doula services and then share that letter with your HSA/FSA. Your best bet is to call your HSA or FSA customer support to ask about their policies.

While your health insurance or HSA/FSA may require certain steps and paperwork before they pay or reimburse you for doula care, it’s worth it! Doula care is valuable in helping you have a positive birth and postpartum experience.

It varies depending on the support the doula will be offering. A doula will meet with a family to talk about their needs and expectations, and the doula will explain her services and fees. If the relationship is a fit, the family and the doula will enter a contract for the doula’s services.