Warm Welcome Birth Services - Serving Growing Families since 1996
I provide experienced professional childbirth support to women birthing in home or hospital.  All birth plans are supported; including natural, medicated, cesarean, VBAC, and waterbirths. This is non-medical care, given in cooperation with your doctor or midwife. I have attended over 225 births over the past 14 years, and have cultivated the skills and sensitivity to make your birthing-day a positive experience for all involved.

We begin with a free initial visit. If your partner will attend the birth, they are enthusiastically invited to this visit, too; I can explain how I support family members in being as involved as they want to be in the labor. This is an opportunity to ask me any questions you like. You will gain a clear understanding of just what a doula does, and specifically what services I provide.

There is no need to come to this visit with a clear birth plan- it's simply an informal, informative conversation.

Prenatal visits every 4-6 weeks give us time to become familiar with one another, clarify your birth plan, and develop your vision of what kind of support you desire during labor. Clients have access to hundreds of books and videos through my extensive birth & parenting lending library. Discover the courage, information, and support that you can draw on to manifest your hopes for your baby's birth-day. At your request, I can provide information about optimum nutrition to support your energy & baby's healthy growth; and about simple movement and positioning in the 3rd trimester to avoid or solve breech or posterior positioned babies.

During the birth, I focus on giving the birthing mother and family whatever support they need in order to make the experience as satisfying, safe, and comfortable as possible for mother and baby. This includes unconditional emotional support, advocacy for your wishes, and numerous comfort measures. I stay after the birth as everyone settles in together, supporting the mother in feeding the baby and getting her first welcome meal after the birth.

"Michelle gave me the courage to ensure that my son's birth was the gentle, peaceful, loving experience I wished it to be.  I can honestly say that Liam's birth was wonderful."         
    Louise P.,      first-time mother

Emotional Support- Starts during the pregnancy. Birth preparation, visualizations, realistic reassurance & encouragement (from someone who's been there... a lot!) Unlimited phone & email support.

Physical Support- Comfort measures, massage, aromatherapy, positioning and movement, acupressure, non-pharmaceutical pain relief, breastfeeding support.

Partner Support- Preparation and facilitating family members' involvement to whatever extent they feel comfortable with. Some partners/husbands want to do a lot of hands-on support (with a few quiet pointers from the doula), others just prefer to be emotionally present for the birthing mother.

Informational Support & Advocacy- Encouraging and facilitating clear communication between you and your health care providers as necessary, both before & during the birth.

Breastfeeding Support- The vast majority of women can comfortably and effectively breastfeed their babies, given a little preparation and support. I provide gentle guidance on first feedings after birth, as well as on questions that arise in the later days & weeks.

Postnatal Care- One or two postpartum visits in your home. This is a time to remember the birth story together, offer help and information about breastfeeding, sleep, and the overall family adjustment to life with a newborn. Traditional Home Postnatal Care (additional, longer visits, including overnights) available as well.

"If a doula were a drug,
it would be unethical not to use it." Dr. John H. Kennell

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After your birth, I'm available by phone and also make one or two visits to your home. These visits are a time to review the birth and answer any questions about breastfeeding, baby care, and new family life.

Birth doula services are offered as a package, on a sliding scale. Ongoing Traditional Home Postnatal Care is provided on an hourly basis.

"an extraordinary collaboration..."
Elaine Reed, birth doula client
Numerous studies have shown that the presence of a trained doula at birth has remarkable results, including:

  • First-time mothers labor an average of two hours less
  • 50% fewer cesarean sections
  • 60% fewer requests for epidural anesthesia
  • 50% fewer instrumental deliveries (forceps, vacuum)
  • 40% reduction in use of Pitocin (a synthetic hormone)
  • Mothers and babies bond better
  • Mothers and fathers/partners bond better
  • More successful breastfeeding