FAQs About Doulas:
What's the difference between a doula and a midwife?
Quite a bit, actually! A doula is someone who has a non-medical role in supporting women at their births or postpartum. Their support is emotional and physical as far as being an encouraging voice, making suggestions to help someone cope with labor, and to help women by supporting whatever decisions they choose for themselves in labor or postpartum. The training is minimal with no actual regulations or requirements. Some doulas have certifying organizations, some do not. Some take a weekend class or more, and some do not.
A midwife is someone who is a medically trained professional who is a maternity care provider. In Washington, midwives are regulated. Specifically, the State of Washington grants authority to those who undergo rigorous academic training, extensive clinical experiences, and pass multiple exams to be granted a license to practice as a healthcare provider. While midwives do provide emotional and physical support, as well as support laboring persons making their own choices, midwives are also able to assess, diagnose, and offer medical counsel about someone's care. Because of the nature of their job, they are often unable to provide continuous support in the way a doula does.
A midwife is someone who is a medically trained professional who is a maternity care provider. In Washington, midwives are regulated. Specifically, the State of Washington grants authority to those who undergo rigorous academic training, extensive clinical experiences, and pass multiple exams to be granted a license to practice as a healthcare provider. While midwives do provide emotional and physical support, as well as support laboring persons making their own choices, midwives are also able to assess, diagnose, and offer medical counsel about someone's care. Because of the nature of their job, they are often unable to provide continuous support in the way a doula does.
Is a doula necessary to have at my birth?
It is not my belief that a doula is absolutely necessary for every person's birth, but it is my conviction that everyone who desires that support should have it. Whether you have a doula at your birth or not, your baby will still come out. However, if you like the idea of having someone continuously available for labor support, it's your first baby and therefore don't know how labor will go, or you are without a partner or your partner works a job where they may be unavailable at a moment's notice, I do think it's worthwhile to interview some doulas.
Is the doula there to replace my partner?
Most of the time, absolutely not! If you have a supportive partner, a doula's job is to help facilitate support and make your partner look like a rock-star expert about birth and how to support you. The experience of having a baby should belong to both the person giving birth and the partner involved. Sometimes this isn't possible if your support person can never take a break to eat, use the bathroom, or sleep for a time. We can predict how long someone's labor will be. This makes it difficult for partners to enjoy if they are exhausted! Plus, a doula may be an expert in labor support, but your partner knows you better than anyone.
The only exception is when there is no partner involvement or if they are deployed, or work somewhere unpredictable with the inability to be available at a moment's notice.
The only exception is when there is no partner involvement or if they are deployed, or work somewhere unpredictable with the inability to be available at a moment's notice.
Why does a doula cost so much money?
Honestly, there are a variety of factors that go into my doula fee. I've given it a lot of thought, and this is the price I feel is reasonable for my level of experience, having attended several births. This is also the cost I feel is appropriate considering the work and expenses that go into this profession. I have an on-call babysitter for my two young children who is reliable and trustworthy, I put gas in my car to come to prenatal visits, the labor and birth, as well as postpartum visits. The fee also includes having a backup doula in case I am not available because of a family emergency, am sick, or am attending another birth. I love being able to support women in such a vulnerable space and time, but this lifestyle can be very taxing on myself and my family. I spend time answering questions and being available at any time to come support women in labor. This includes if it's my husband's company work party, my child is sick or misses me, or any holidays and birthdays. I value my clients and their birth experience, but I also need to care for myself and my family in order to continue providing support to women.
FAQs about Placenta Ecapsulation:
Why would someone want to consume their placenta?
Humans are the only mammals who do NOT consume their placenta. While there is very little evidence from studies that confirm or deny the benefits or risks of this practice, but anecdotally, many women report an increase in hormonal and mood stability, feeling more energy, benefits of nutritional support, an increase in milk supply, and faster healing overall.
Are there different ways to consume my placenta?
Yes! There are several in fact.
- The most effective way to consume your placenta will be raw. This is difficult for many people to do. Those who do, usually freeze small pieces and blend them into smoothies over time.
- The most common method is dehydrating it, grinding it into a fine powder, and placing it into capsules.
- A tincture can be made from your placenta: a small piece is placed into alcohol and left to sit for 6 weeks so the hormones and beneficial properties of the placenta is drawn out into the alcohol. The placenta is then strained out and what's left is the tincture. This can be kept and stored for a long period of time, 10+ years.
- A salve can be made after dehydrating and grinding your placenta into a fine powder. This can be applied topically and is absorbed through the skin.
Do you add anything to the capsules besides my placenta?
No, unless specifically requested I do not add anything extra such as herbal supplements or otherwise. I believe herbs can be powerful and extremely helpful to healing during the postpartum period, but once they are added they cannot be taken out. We cannot know for sure how someone will be effected by any one herb.
How does pickup work?
It's helpful to have some notice once you are in labor. Be sure to notify hospital staff or your provider that you want to keep your placenta, so that it does not get accidentally sent to pathology or thrown away. Once your baby has been born, if you are in the hospital, request that they put the placenta on ice. If you are at home or had a birth center birth, put the placenta in your freezer. Either way, pick up will occur within 24 hours of notice, usually sooner depending on circumstances.
What is the turn around time?
Within 24 hours of delivery, your placenta will be processed and returned to you within 48 hours of delivery. If you're choose encapsulation, it takes an average of 18 hours for me to dehydrate your placenta and an additional 1-2 hours to grind it and encapsulate. Other products such as tinctures or salves may take longer to make.