Labor Doula

As a Labor Doula we are trained and certified to assist new parents with the labor and birth of their infant(s). 

We will stay and labor at home with the mom and help her and her husband to work through the first stages of labor, then continue to help the parents at the hospital or at home with the birth of their new baby.

Services

• A Prenatal Meeting

• Ongoing phone and e-mail support prior to your due date

• Birth Plan/Preferences Consultations, as needed

• 24 hour on-call labor support prior to your due date

• Continuous emotional, physical, and informational presence during your labor and birth

• 4-week on-going remote support after birth, including breastfeeding, infant care and parenting 

Packages: Discounted rates apply for combined services. 

In addition to the labor doula, this package can include breastfeeding or sleep training or postpartum doula services.

From our first meeting, Mary was very easy to talk to & made me feel comfortable & less frightened.

"When I found out I was pregnant, I decided from the beginning that I wanted an all-natural birth – no drugs or unnecessary intervention. I wasn’t sure if my husband would provide the support I needed so I decided to get a doula. My sister recommended Mary because she had used her for both her births & told me she couldn’t have done it without her. From our first meeting, Mary was very easy to talk to & made me feel comfortable & less frightened. She listened to my birth plan, answered all my questions & concerns & visited with me at least twice in the months leading up to the delivery (in addition to answering phone calls & texts). She helped educate & prepare me with DVD’s, books & by sharing her own experiences as well as other moms she’s worked with. When I went into labor, I was in complete denial but I called Mary to tell her it would be soon. While we were on the phone, she timed my contractions & told me that she would head over shortly even though I kept insisting there was plenty of time. Thank goodness she did because within a half hour of her arrival, my water broke & it was time to go to the hospital. When we arrived, I was fully dilated & my contractions were very intense. In a moment of weakness, I looked at Mary with tears in my eyes & told her I wanted the epidural & hoped I wasn’t disappointing her. She looked at me & said very gently, “you’re already there, hon. You don’t need it”. She stayed by my side during the delivery & she & my husband helped hold my legs in position because I was too exhausted to hold them myself. Her very presence calmed me & I was so thankful she was there to share in my experience. Because she is a certified lactation consultant, she stayed with me afterward to show me correct positioning & techniques for baby to latch on. She made 3 follow-up visits to my home & eased numerous concerns. She checked in on me via text every few days to make sure all was well & see if I had questions. She even helped me establish a routine for pumping before I returned to work. She had the perfect balance of being there for me at the moments I needed her while giving me space as I began to feel more comfortable in my new role as a mom. I couldn’t have asked for a better, more positive experience. I would recommend her to any mom-to-be, no matter what their birth plan. Her kindness, knowledge & support was a Godsend. Thank you, Mary!!!"

- Nancy Wallace

Working with Mary as our labor doula was one of the best decisions my husband and I made for the delivery of our son.

She met with us several times before our due date and really listened to our desires, expectations and fears for labor. She was very encouraging to the idea of a drug-free delivery, but was also open to other scenarios and encouraged us to be so as well. As a result, we went into the hospital with confidence and a host of techniques and ideas, no matter what the situation.During the delivery, Mary was a calming and supportive presence, and she knew exactly when to get involved and when to allow my husband and me time to work together. Her knowledge and assistance were instrumental in allowing me to have a smooth, drug-free vaginal delivery. She really brought out the best in us and helped us to stay calm and focused, with incredibly rewarding results. Following the delivery, Mary provided invaluable guidance with breastfeeding and helped me work through a latch issue that had almost made me give up nursing entirely. She is a fount of knowledge about everything from nursing to bathing and sleep who continues to check in on us months after the birth. I recommend her without reservation for both the delivery and beyond. We look forward to working with her again!

- Jennifer Walvood