Birth Doula Services
VERY IMPORTANT!! - Doula Services are available to you following an Initial Interview, which is completely free, and not limited by time. The Initial Interview is a pressure-free get-together intended to allow us to become better acquainted. The preferred format for the Initial Interview is in-person. However, if you feel comfortable with conducting the Initial Interview by phone, or email, I am willing to accommodate you.
Standard Services Offered Upon Hire:
- Two (2) Prenatal Visits
- Birth Plan Preparation
- Belly Mapping
- Phone and Email Support
- Emergency-Call Support, 24 hours a day
- On-Call Status, 24 hours a day (begins 2 weeks prior to due date)
- Four-Week Wraparound of Due Date
- Continuous Labor Support During Birth
- Immediate Postpartum Support (Up to 2 hours)
- One (1) Postpartum Visit
- Backup Doula
- Three (3) Months Breastfeeding Support via Telephone
- Enrollment in an Infant Massage Course
- Childbirth Class Surrogate Service
- Candid Pictures of Birth, if requested
If you would like look over the details of each of the
above services, please click here.
Infant Massage Instruction
The Infant Massage Course
Class Size: 7 to 15 babies
Four classes, each class being one hour in length, and held once a week.
Different massage techniques will be taught in each class session, then allowing you to practice the techniques for a week, reporting your results at the next class. This is also an opportunity to meet other parents in the community who have similarly aged children.
Classes are typically held at a church location in South Elgin, IL, though other locations are also available. I am most definitely available for travel as well, provided the location is capable of accommodating the entire class. I have traveled to locations in Wisconsin, Iowa and downstate Illinois.
Please contact me if you are interested in hosting a massage course at a suitable location in your area, provided it can accommodate the entire class. Based on the specifics of the situation, discounts are certainly possible.
Depending on your specific circumstances, the infant massage course can be modified to better suit you.
Modified Infant Massage Courses
- Three weekly classes, each being about one and a half hours in length
- Two weekly classes, each being one and a half hours in length (75% of curriculum)
- Private classes at a location of my choosing
- Private classes at a location of your choosing
- Private classes for babies with illness, or special needs
The services offered for infant massage are quite flexible. Please, I encourage you to contact me regarding the specifics of your situation, should the course availability be too difficult for you to accommodate.
Breastfeeding: Classes, Consultations and Support
Private Breastfeeding Classes
Essentially, I will come to your home, or any such place that provides you the comfort you seek. In this class, you will learn everything you need to know to get started. Pricing for this class is entirely subjective, as the needs and wants of each person are different. Please contact me to discuss your specific needs, and we can arrive at an agreeable fee for this class.
Group Breastfeeding Classes
As seen under Private Breastfeeding Classes, the Group Breastfeeding Classes are literally the same, with the only exception being that you have put together a group. Again, I will come to the location your group has collectively chosen to hold the class, and pricing is entirely
subjective, as the needs and wants of your group may be different than another group. Please
contact me to discuss your group's specific needs, and we can arrive at an
agreeable fee for the group class.
Breastfeeding Consultations/Counseling
If you are currently experiencing any difficulty with breastfeeding whatsoever, please contact me. Single-event issues may be resolved by phone. Phone consultations for single-event problems are free, and from each situation, we can decide if a house-call is necessary. If a house-call is deemed necessary, I will come to your home and provide all the assistance needed to make your breastfeeding experience more productive. As with other relatively unique services, pricing is entirely subjective. Please contact me to discuss your specific situation, and we can arrive at an agreeable fee for this services.
Telephone Support
As mentioned in the Breastfeeding Consultations/Counseling section, phone consultations are free for single-event issues. However, if a house-call was deemed necessary, I offer 3 month and 6 month Anytime Phone Support to my clients for a nominal fee. Please contact me for details of the Anytime Phone Support.
Going Back To Work
If you are going back to work, and need assistance putting together a schedule for pumping, or perhaps you wish to ween baby prior to going back to work, I offer assistance for such goals. Please contact me to discuss your specific needs, and we can arrive at an agreeable fee for this service.
Chicagoland Chapter of Dar a Luz Network, Inc.
You may be unfamiliar with the Dar a Luz Network, Inc., a not-for-profit organization, but I hope to change that, at least here in the Chicagoland Area. As stated on the Dar a Luz network, Inc. website: "Dar a Luz Network is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing
knowledge and support for women during their pregnancies, births, and
early motherhood". Essentially, the goal of the Dar a Luz Network, Inc. is to educate women (and their families) on issues relating to childbirth, and to offer support in that regard.
I am the Leader of the Chicagoland Dar a Luz Chapter, and since this portion of my services is free, I encourage you to make use of this service. For those of you who are local (meaning anywhere in the entire Chicagoland area), please regularly check my Chicagoland Dar a Luz blog for everything related to the Chicagoland Chapter of Dar a Luz Network, Inc.. 