Doula Services

Margy has been a practicing Doula since 1999. She has supported many birthing families at McMinnville, Newberg, Salem, and Portland-area hospitals and has a good working relationship with the Willamette Valley Medical Center. Clients who need or want a hospital birth find that her physical, emotional, and informational support help them make the most of the experience.

For more information about Doulas and Professional Labor Support, please visit the DONA (Doulas of North America) Website at http://www.dona.org.

Fee
My fee is $500 for prenatal appointments, 24-hour on-call availability, labor (as short or long as it may be) and about 2 hours after birth, breastfeeding support as needed, and postpartum appointments. Payment arrangements can be made.

Benefits of Labor Support
Research has suggested the following benefits of having a trained labor support Doula:

  • Partners are enabled to participate with greater confidence and intimacy.
  • Mothers feel a greater sense of accomplishment, regardless of labor events.
  • New mothers find the transition into parenthood smoother and have fewer difficulties with breastfeeding.
  • 50% Reduction of cesarean rate
  • 25% Shorter labor
  • 60% Reduction in epidural requests
  • 40% Reduction in oxytocin use
  • 30% Reduction in analgesia use
  • 40% Reduction in forceps delivery
  • Information was obtained from Mothering the Mother: How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter, Easier, and Healthier Birth, Klaus, Kennell, and Klaus (1993).

My Role as Doula
I support a family’s preferences for labor, as expressed in their birth plan and discussed prior to labor. If the realities of labor require a change in plans, I will provide information and emotional support, but I will make no medical evaluations or decisions.

I provide informational support to my clients through prenatal meetings and phone consultations. As labor begins, I am available by phone for questions and suggestions, and join the laboring mother as soon as she feels she wants personal support at home or hospital. As labor builds, I help interpret labor events and prepare for upcoming experiences and options for comfort measures or medical care.

I provide emotional support to a laboring family through verbal encouragement, guidance, and calmness. I find that there are times in labor when the words and touch of someone who has “been there” provide great comfort.

I provide physical support for the mother in labor through massage, back pressure, or the suggestion of effective positions and tools (such as the birthing ball, hydrotherapy tub, aroma therapy, heating pads, or ice packs). I also support fathers and/or partners by modeling effective comfort measures, then helping them to assume the position of primary support.

Fathers and Doulas Fathers often find that labor is an emotionally stressful time. Feelings of concern for wife and baby, in an unfamiliar environment, can make it difficult to provide effective support. As a result, many fathers find that they are more able to enjoy the experience of their child’s birth when responsibility for their wife’s comfort is shared with a doula . In addition, I have found that many laboring mothers find it helpful to have more than one companion who is devoted to her needs. A doula will never replace a devoted husband, instead she must supplement or guide his support to ensure the birth of a healthy family.

Comments from my Clients
“We can’t thank you enough for all the wonderful knowledge, wisdom, common sense, love and support you brought to the birth and delivery of our perfect daughter. You went above and beyond our expectations.”
~Janet and Ted

“Most helpful, though, was the calmness that you imbue to the birth experience.”
~Shanna

“I felt much more confident going into labor with you there. Just knowing I had someone to consult, was the most important part.”
~John

“I was nervous about the birth of our baby and when we met Margy and she put me and my husband at ease. We no longer felt alone in preparing for the birth.”
~Shannon

“I felt so much more relaxed having you there. You explained what was happening at all times and reassured me that everything was going well, which helped a lot.”        
~Jennifer

“I don’t think I would have made it as far on my own and more importantly felt as good about how I dealt with the labor if you hadn’t been there supporting, encouraging, and believing in me”
~Julie