Frequently Asked Questions
What does a birth doula do? How is a doula different from a midwife?
As birth doulas, we provide emotional, educational, and physical support to the birthing person during labor and delivery. We can also facilitate communication with the staff to ensure that you have the information you need to make informed decisions regarding your baby’s birth. We can provide reassurance and perspective to you and your partner, make suggestions for labor progress, and help with relaxation, massage, positioning and other techniques for your comfort. We are independent and self-employed, and as such, are working for YOU, not your caregiver or place of birth.
A doula does not provide any clinical tasks such as fetal monitoring or cervical checks. We work alongside your clinical team, not in lieu of them.
How does having a birth doula impact my partner or other support person's role?
What if I'm planning a medicated birth, induction, or c-section?
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How do I choose a doula? What if my doula isn't available during my birth?
When should I hire a birth or postpartum doula?
It's generally never too early to start your search for a doula. If you are expecting a baby (or babies) it can take time to discover what your plan is for your labor, birth, and postpartum- working with a doula early means we can provide resources and support along the way while you’re deep in your decision making process. Birth doulas can book quickly and Tend doulas take a restricted number of clients to ensure we can provide the most in depth and present support to our clients. While we occasionally will have last minute openings for people who are in the third trimester, it is most common that we are contacted in the first trimester or early second trimester.
You can also contract a postpartum doula as early as you’d like- or just contact us to see what that might look like for you and your needs. Postpartum is forever, and we love to work with families wherever they are in their postpartum journey.
What is the cost? How do I pay? Do you take insurance?
What does a postpartum doula do?
A postpartum doula is a non-medical support and caregiver during the postpartum period. A postpartum doula provides evidenced based information on topics such as infant feeding, emotional and physical recovery from birth, parent-baby bonding, infant soothing, and basic newborn care. The postpartum doula is there to help a new family during the
recovery and adjustment period after birth or when a new baby joins the family.
Why Tend? What’s different about you?
Will Tend keep my private information safe?