If you are experiencing a loss, I am so sorry. I am glad you are seeking resources. A StillBirthDay doula helps families who are experiencing or anticipating a miscarriage, stillborn delivery or brief life expectancy. I have experienced 2 miscarriages and have also had to say good-bye to 2 foster babies after 366 days and 105 days. Those losses were very painful and I have extreme compassion for anyone having to say good-bye to their baby, regardless of how old it is. The training I received through StillBirthDay helped me understand the importance of acknowledging the birth of our babies, regardless of how old it is. Days, weeks, months or years old, a baby has value in mom’s heart. Our society doesn’t do well in recognizing and empathizingwith a mother who has lost a baby. Our friends and family often don’t know what to say or do. Well-intentioned comments often cause deeper pain so we shut ourselves down and inward and move forward the only way we know how. I won’t have the magic words to make you feel better, but I have been there and sometimes just another understanding mother being present in your sorrow and journey is helpful and allows you the vital task of working through your experience in your own way. I can take care of details while you focus on healing and processing.
The job of an SBD doula is to offer support for mom emotionally, physically and practically, like coordinating special moments parents want, along with the logistical details. I can offer ideas, and then help facilitate, how to help welcome baby, acknowledging their birth, and then how to transition to the good-bye moments.
Please visit: www.stillbirthday.com There are many more resources for you there as well.
Doula Services Provided:
- Lots of hugs, a shoulder to cry on, and a listening ear
- Physical, emotional and informational support for pregnancy, labor and birth for anyone within about 25 miles of Glendora, CA
- Prenatal visit
- Be on-call 24 hours a day until delivery
- My personal phone number
- Be available by email, text or phone
- In-person labor support
- About 2 hours of after birth in-hospital support
- Take photographs during labor and birth, if requested
- Suggested use of essential oils for labor and postpartum, if requested
- Binder of resources
- Postpartum visit 1-2 days after discharge to offer support with recovery
Doula Services Not Provided:
- Perform clinical tasks, such as blood pressure, fetal heart checks, vaginal exams, etc.
- Make decisions for the client. The doula can help the client get the information necessary to make an informed decision and can also remind the client if there is a departure from their birth plan or if things are going differently then what was talked about concerning the clients’ wishes, but the decisions are the client’s responsibility.
- Speak to the staff on the clients’ behalf regarding matters where health care decisions are being made. The doula will discuss the client’s concerns and suggest options, but the client or partner will speak directly to the clinical staff.
Birth Package:
- Prenatal visit
- In-person labor support
- Postpartum visit
- Binder of resources
Care Package:
Birth package plus:
- 20 hours of postpartum doula support.