Birth doula
Photo by Andrea Oleson, Birth Photographer; used with permission.
Post birth
Photo by Shalyn Donofro; used with permission.

About Empowered Pregnancy & Birth's Doula Services

As your birth doula, my passion is to empower you by providing unbiased, evidence-based information, unwavering emotional support, and physical support before, during, and after birth. I am like a tour guide in unfamiliar terrain, supporting you to have your best birth (whatever that looks like for you). 

Birth Doula Services

Free Consultation:
I am happy to meet with you and your partner, if applicable, to explore whether I might be a good fit on your birth team. We can meet in a coffee shop or similar public place. I continue to offer consultations via Zoom as well. Email me to schedule.

​Phone & Email Support:
Once I receive your signed agreement and retainer fee (50% of the birth doula fee), I am available to you via phone and email. I love for my clients to contact me with questions, concerns, and celebrations as it builds our relationship. Once you are 38 weeks, I am on-call and can be reached day or night.

​Two Prenatal Visits: 
We will meet two times before your birth to build our relationship and discuss your preferences about labor and birth. We will also explore and discuss your priorities, fears or concerns, your birth plan and to plan how we might best work together. I also want to know your own best ways of coping with pain and fatigue and how you and your partner foresee working together.

Package Options

Birth Doula Package ($1000)*
  • Includes all of the above.
Birth Doula plus Basking Babies Consultation ($1075)
  • Includes all of the above plus a postpartum/lactation consultation in your home with Angela Swieter of Basking Babies. This fee is reduced ($75 plus birth doula fee) if purchased as a package with my birth doula services.
  • Postpartum/lactation consultation described below.
*Discount offered to repeat doula clients.
Continuous Labor Support:
By the time labor begins, we are a "well-oiled birth team machine". Please give me a "heads-up" when you think you are in labor. We will stay in close phone contact in early labor and then I will join you when you want my in-person support until the birth.

Immediate Postpartum:
I will stay with you 1-2 hours after baby is born to support you in initiating nursing (if desired) and ensure that you and your partner have food on the way.

Postpartum Follow-up Visit:
​I will check in periodically in the days/weeks following the birth via text and phone calls. I typically stop by for a visit 1-2 weeks postpartum - whenever is convenient for you. We discuss the birth, feeding, postpartum care, etc.

*As my birth doula client, you will enjoy $20 off each series of prenatal yoga that you join.
​

As a doula, I do not:

  • Perform any clinical tasks, such as blood pressure, fetal heart checks, vaginal exams, and others. I am there to provide only physical comfort and emotional/informational support.
  • Make decisions for you. I will help you get the information necessary to make an informed decision. I will also remind you if there is a departure from your birth plan.
  • Speak to the staff on your behalf. I will discuss your concerns with you and suggest options, but you or your partner will speak directly to the clinical staff.
  • Project any of my own beliefs onto your experience. I will support your decisions and the birth that YOU desire.

Additional Information

Backup Doulas
I am certified through DONA International and follow their code of ethics and scope of practice. I am happy to provide you with information about DONA, my training, and professional obligations as a birth doula upon request.

I have relationships with many professionals in the birth-related community and am happy to offer referrals to chiropractors, physical therapists, massage therapists, childbirth educators, medical care providers, acupuncturists, etc.

I work with several experienced doulas as back-ups. In the rare event that I am not able to join you in labor, one of my trusted back-up doulas will join you. We offer regular "Meet the Backups" events so you will have the opportunity to meet them prior to labor. Pictured left to right: Shannon Lee, Melissa Schnurr, Amy Lourido, Emily Alberhasky, Kelli Brus.

Postpartum/Lactation Consultation with Basking Babies

Lactation consultant
Angela Swieter, RN, BSN, IBCLC, ICD ICCE, ICPD with Basking Babies can help you with baby care, postpartum care, and lactation after the birth. 
  • Baby care includes cord care and jaundice assessment. 
  • Postpartum care includes: activity/exercise for the first 6 weeks, vaginal flow, healing of perineum, nutrition, postpartum blues vs. depression and warning signs.
Lactation consultation includes: history, accurate weight check, assisting with latch/positioning, pre and post feeding weight checks, feeding plan and liaison between patient/caregiver. 
She will visit you in your home for a one to one and a half hour postpartum/lactation consultation. Prior to birth, she will ask that you complete a physical history form so she can assist you to the best of her ability. After your baby’s birth, I will contact Angela to let her know your baby has arrived. You will also need to call Angela to set up the day and time of her visit at 515-210-1868. Angela is available for additional lactation visits, if you request them. The fee for those visits will be paid through her.