Doulas are trained and experienced labor companions that provide continuous emotional support, physical comfort and assistance in obtaining information before, during, and after childbirth. To put it simply, I am an unbiased resource and friend that your family can rely on throughout your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum stages. This exciting period of life deserves attentive, loving, and personalized care, which is exactly what I’m here to provide. Doulas support you in your right to make decisions about your body and baby, making them an amazing addition to your birth and postpartum team!

Absolutely! Research shows that individuals who receive continuous support from a professional birth doula are:

28% less likely to have a cesarean section

31% less likely to use synthetic oxytocin to increase the pace of labor

9% less likely to utilize any form of pain medication

34% less likely to rate their childbirth experience negatively

Birth doulas provide support throughout pregnancy, labor, and delivery, while postpartum doulas provide support once your baby arrives earth-side. Both birth and postpartum doulas strive to give specialized emotional, physical, and informational support curated to your individual needs.

Doulas work alongside doctors and nurses to ensure your needs are met. This can present itself in a multitude of ways, including situating your body in laboring positions specific to the location of the baby, helping families to navigate their options to ensure informed decisions are made, and creating a calming and comfortable environment within the laboring room. Doulas also serve as an advocate within the hospital and communicate your birth preferences to your medical team. It’s important to note that I will not interfere or go against medical advice - my role is to support you mentally and physically, not medically.

The options are really endless! My role is to help you feel prepared and comfortable for labor and the journey beyond.

Prenatally, we can create a birth plan by discussing you and your partner’s birth preferences, and I can offer practical suggestions regarding pain management and comfort during each stage of labor. These suggestions can include beneficial laboring positions, various breathwork techniques, and physical assists to relieve pressure and tension in the body. We can also dive into all of the medical interventions available to you in a hospital setting, such as the epidural and pitocin.

In the postpartum period, I can assist with breastfeeding techniques, light housework, cooking, or simply holding the baby while you take a shower or nap. I also serve as a listening ear and can help to navigate and normalize the early postpartum experience. Additionally, I can always provide incredible resources within Asheville should you need support in an area outside of my scope of practice.

Absolutely! While I am not a medical professional, I am still considered a part of the labor and delivery team and am allowed to be with you in all areas of the hospital. This includes the OR should the need for a cesarean section arise.

While the majority of births that I attend take place at Mission Hospital, I am absolutely able to support home births. Please note that a licensed midwife must be in attendance as well.

A birth plan is a written summary of your preferences for your labor, delivery, and immediate postpartum period. Throughout our prenatal meetings, we gradually create your birth plan as we discuss topics such as medical interventions, immediate newborn care, communication and support styles, and the environment of the delivery room. While we can never map out exactly how your baby’s birth will happen, a birth plan is a great way to ensure the entire labor and delivery team knows your desires and caters their care accordingly.

Currently, I am only offering private prenatal yoga through Harmonious Birth Co. with the purchase of a birth package.

I primarily attend births at Mission Hospital.

l work alongside doctors and nurses to ensure your needs are met. I am an addition to your labor and delivery team- doctors and nurses are in and out of the laboring room as they provide amazing and necessary care to other hospital patients, while I remain by your side throughout the entirety of your labor. I will never interfere with the medical advice provided by doctors or nurses, but rather will help to remind the medical team of your desires and ensure you are able to make informed decisions throughout your labor.

Currently, discounts are not being offered for birth and postpartum services. Payment plans are always available and can be catered to you and your family’s financial needs- just ask!

Harmonious Birth Co. does not accept insurance at this time.