Supported Birth Doula Services

Supported Birth offers sliding scale Doula services, based on the doula’s experience and specialized skills (massage, acupuncture, acupressure, hypnobirth, VBAC, etc). A list of currently active doulas is given out in class, along with resources for doulas from other organizations.

Prices range from $250 – $3500.

What is a doula?

A professional labor support companion (“doula”) is a woman who remains with you and your partner during labor and birth, and is trained to provide continuous emotional and physical support during active labor as needed: massage, birthing positions, natural ways of helping labor progress, a calm and reassuring presence, advocacy for your wishes in the hospital setting, help with decisions, initial breast feeding guidance, and more. She does not have an “agenda” for your birth. She is there to accompany you on your journey, assisting in the unforeseeable ways that will best empower YOU as an individual and as a couple. She is not a replacement for your partner, rather she is an experienced, reassuring presence for both of you.

A postpartum doula is a woman specializing in helping new moms after birth at home. She has knowledge in baby care, breastfeeding, mom’s psychological changes, etc. A list of postpartum doulas is given out in class or available upon request.

Doesn't this make my husband feel inadequate or not good enough to help me through labor? Won't having another person there detract from our intimacy? What if she "takes over"?

Throughout history women have always attended other women during birth. When husbands are expected to anticipate and fulfill their partner’s intense needs throughout labor, they may feel anxious and overwhelmed. Most fathers are immensely relieved to have an experienced support person with them. One father said “It was like I had been given a map [in class] of Laborland, but once Kathy was there, I realized that I’d never been there. The doula had been there – she knew the language and the way.” Studies show that couples feel an increase in intimacy when the pressure on the father is removed and he is free to experience the birth of his child. A good doula is sensitive to the couples’ relationship and understands that her role is to empower rather than to take charge.

How can I trust a stranger? I don't want an outsider at my birth.

When you meet and talk to several doulas, you will hopefully find someone with whom you feel comfortable. True, you don’t have long history between you, but in labor it is very normal for women to let down their guard and rely on others who are there for them.

How do the hospitals view this?

Nurses are generally very grateful for the continuous support to laboring women that they no longer have the time or resources to offer. As long as they do not feel threatened or challenged, hospital staff are positive toward the added presence. Mutual respect is key.

What if I want pain medication?

Supported Birth doulas are objective and nonjudgmental about how labor unfolds. She is there to empower you in the conscious choices you may need to make. This is your personal journey, and whatever you choose is right for you.

Supported Birth Doula Training

Are you passionate about supporting women and their partners through a positive birth experience? Would you like to assist them in finding their own strength and in beginning parenthood with joy and confidence? Become a Supported Birth Labor Doula!

Part One

Attend the seven-week Complete Course with pregnant couples ($475)

Part Two

Complete an approximately 20-hour Doula Training workshop ($900), which includes:

Advanced review of physiology and stages of labor
Advanced study of medical interventions
Advanced study of complications in labor
Issues of REAL WOMEN: personality traits, fears, husbands, partners
Factors that influence labor
Yourself as a doula
Women's birth experiences; doulas' experiences
Advocacy vs. empowerment; rethinking "labor support"

Being open to the unpredictable
Pain-coping techniques and tools
Prolonged labor, posterior presentation
Alternative, noninvasive measures for inducing & stimulating labor
Hospital environments
Postpartum issues
Breastfeeding
Practical issues for the doula: contracts, fees, backup, marketing

Doula trainees have the opportunity to be matched with couples from Supported Birth classes on a sliding scale basis, and are able to gain initial labor support experience from these referrals, under the supervision and mentoring of the Supported Birth Director. Your fees increase as you gain experiences. Currently, full price doulas are charging between $900-$3, 5000 per birth.

Many Supported Birth Doulas already were or have been inspired to become:

Midwives
RNs (Labor & Delivery)
Massage Therapists
Lactation Consultants/Educators
Childbirth Educators
Postpartum Doulas
Chinese/Naturopathic Medicine (acupuncture, acupressure, herbology)
Chiropractic/cranial sacral
Infant Massage
Prenatal/Postpartum Fitness / Yoga
EMT (Emergency Medical Technician)
Writers on Birth
Filmmakers on Birth and Postpartum

"I think you are wonderful and I am always grateful that I chose to train with you. I really don't think I could have found a better teacher and mentor."

"I loved Jana & Supported Birth so much that I attended her doula training as well. I previously attended DONA training and loved it but found that the close-knit group that Jana's class provided was so important to my growth as a doula. In addition to being open and knowledgable, she challenged us to move outside of our comfort zone and really examine who we are as women so that we can better support our clients. Jana has remained an amazing resource - doulaing her doula's and providing amazing guidance. She's no-nonsense with a heart of gold. I absolutely adore her."

"After your doula training, I know my decision to change professions was the right one. Your open approach to birthing, not stuck on one way, but informing couples of so many options and variations, really changed many of my own views, which I discovered had been restricted and limited. After attending my first four births, I can say that the information learned in the doula program was 100% applicable to each one. I feel confident in my knowledge and have definitely grasped the message of your training of continuing my technical education, while supporting women emotionally."

"The doula training was comfortable, personal, and extremely educational. We delved much further into technical topics and continued on to the true nature of helping someone through labor... Jana is there for us 24-hours a day during the first 3 births we attend. I personally took advantage of this invaluable mentoring. My first birth as a doula went so very smoothly, with no interventions or complications, and I was able to apply everything I had learned. I worked very hard, feeling confident in what to do and how to be creative with all the tools and comfort measures we had learned. It was so rewarding - the experience and outcome affirmed for me that this woman would not have had the birth she wanted had I not been there."

"I went to my first birth and it was amazing. It was very challenging and I feel blessed because now I definitely know I can and was meant to do this work. I feel like I made strong decisions, and the result was my client having a positive birth experience. I love this work, and I look forward to a lifetime of it!"