Portland Doula & Birth Services
"Of all the things we did to prepare for the birth of our daughter, none was as valuable as hiring Brooke. During pregnancy, she answered all of our questions with ease and helped me accept and move through the intense thoughts and feelings that came up in me in those last weeks. Brooke’s words calmed and centered me during labor, and she intuitively knew what I needed each step of the way. She encouraged me and my husband to work together through contractions, and when we had to make a difficult decision, her knowledge and caring made all the difference. She was an incredible source of strength and support for us, and we’re so happy she was there to help bring our daughter into the world."
– Morgan & Josh, NE Portland
Services
I offer a variety of services to assist families throughout the childbearing year.
BIRTH DOULA PACKAGE
The Birth Doula Package is a comprehensive service designed to offer parents ongoing assistance throughout pregnancy, labor, birth, and the immediate postpartum. The package includes the following:
- Free Consultation to meet, ask questions about my services, discuss your reasons for hiring a doula, and determine if I am the right doula for you.
- 2 Prenatal Visits focused on getting to know each other, providing educational information, discussing your birth preferences and concerns, creating a birth plan, reviewing labor positions and comfort measures, and discussing previous birth experiences.
- Information Sheets and Resource Lists to help you stay informed and let you know about great services in the Portland Oregon area.
- On Call Services that begin two weeks before your due date.
- At Home Labor Support for those who want to labor in the comfort of their own home for as long as possible before transitioning to the hospital.
- Continuous Labor and Birth Support At The Hospital including physical comfort methods, labor enhancement techniques, emotional support, effective positioning, informational support, and advocacy for your labor and birth preferences.
- Immediate Postpartum Support to assist with breastfeeding, encourage family bonding, remind pediatric staff of your newborn decisions, and settle you into your postpartum room.
- Photographs of Your Birth Experience if desired. When I am not needed in other ways, I’m happy to take photos or home videos before, during, and/or after the birth.
- 2 Postpartum Visits (one in the hospital and one at home) focused on integrating the birth experience, answering lingering questions, admiring your new baby, assisting with breastfeeding and newborn care, and discussing your transition into parenthood.
*Birth Doula Package Fee: $900-$1200 (sliding scale available)
Payments can be divided into installments, and documentation for insurance claims can be provided.
COUNSELING AND CONSULTATION FOR THE CHILDBEARING YEAR
As you journey through the childbearing year, you may want to explore some of the physical, emotional, and spiritual experiences that surface during this transitional time. Counseling and consultation focused on this unique lifecycle phase can help you process emotions with greater awareness, integrate your childbearing experiences, and encourage personal growth and development. Sessions might focus on:
- Self-image and your changing body
- Working through fears about labor, delivery, and motherhood
- Discovering your hopes for labor, delivery, and motherhood
- Identifying your inner strengths and resources
- Discussing your labor and birth preparation and choices
- Processing previous pregnancies and births
- Examining your beliefs and assumptions about labor and birth
- Exploring inner obstacles and challenges
- Defining your identity as a mother and parent
- Examining societal expectations and pressures
- Processing family history
- Composing the narrative of your birth story and integrating the experience
- Transitioning into the new role of parenthood
- Exploring relationship changes after the baby is born
*Counseling and Consulting Fee: $60-$80/hour (sliding scale)
For more information about my counseling and therapy services, please visit my counseling website: www.portlandcounselor.net
CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION CLASSES
Childbirth education classes are a great way to prepare for your upcoming labor and birth. Group classes usually consist of 4 two-hour classes spread out over several weeks, but I sometimes offer a condensed weekend workshop format as well. If your schedule doesn’t allow you to attend a group class, or if you prefer to learn in the comfort of your own home, private classes are also available and can be geared towards your specific needs. Classes often cover the following topics:
- Anatomy and physiology of birth
- What to expect during labor, birth, and the immediate postpartum
- Working through fears and anxieties
- Coping with pain
- Using optimal fetal positioning to encourage a better labor experience
- Determining when to go to the hospital
- Birth partner involvement during labor
- Hands-on comfort measures for each stage of labor
- Verbal and emotional support during labor
- Effective positions for labor and pushing
- Breathing, vocalization, and visualization techniques
- Hospital terminology and culture
- Risks and benefits of hospital interventions
- Strategies to avoid unwanted and unnecessary interventions
- . . . and much more
*Group Childbirth Education Class Fee: $175 Per Couple
*Private Childbirth Education Class Fee Depends On Individual Needs
*For a schedule of upcoming classes, please contact me
GIFT CERTIFICATES
If your family or friends want to give a gift that will really make a difference, they can purchase gift certificates for any of my services!
Just contact me and let me know what services you would like to give, and I’ll create a stylish gift certificate that can be redeemed at any time.