Frequently Asked Questions
Birth Doula Services
-
A birth doula is a trained professional who provides continuous emotional, physical, and informational support to a person before, during, and shortly after birth. They are not clinicians who provide medical care. A midwife is a licensed provider who provides medical care to women and can deliver babies.
To learn more about the proven benefits of hiring a doula, visit DONA International.
-
Absolutely not! My role is to help prepare you for whatever birth you are envisioning. I will amplify your voice, support you through your pregnancy and birth experience - whether you choose an unmedicated home birth, a hospital birth with epidural pain relief, a planned cesarean birth, or anything in between. I’ve got you.
-
Not at all. Your partner provides a unique depth of love, intimacy, and personal connection that no one else can replicate. Our goal is to protect and elevate that bond, not replace it. As your doula, we support you as a team. We bring specialized knowledge of labor physiology and comfort techniques, using that experience to guide your partner so they know exactly how to help you at every stage. We take the pressure off your partner, answering their questions, suggesting comfort measures, and stepping in so they can rest or eat without leaving you alone.
-
Most families make the decision to invest in doula services sometime in their 2nd trimester (between 14-28 weeks) in order to ensure availability and to build relationship before baby’s birthday.
-
I’ll come to you whenever you’re ready, whether that’s at your home or our birthing facility. I go on-call 24/7 for you at 37wks, and you have access to phone/text support from when you hire me through 6 weeks postpartum. In the rare event of an emergency, illness, or that I am attending another birth, I will provide a backup doula to support you.
Lactation Services
-
We offer both virtual and in-home lactation consultation for your comfort and convenience. Office visits coming soon in Spring of 2027!
-
As an IBCLC , I can support you with feeding your baby if you’re pumping, formula feeding, or combo feeding, not just direct breastfeeding.
-
Yes! Your partner or support person is encouraged to be there as well so they can learn how to help.
-
Secure messaging support is included after your initial consultation for 2 weeks before a follow-up appointment is required.
-
As a part of your care team, I am able to share customized care plans with your baby’s pediatrician or with your OB provider (with your permission, of course) to optimize communication and improve continuity of care.
Business & Admin FAQ’s
-
We operate on a self-pay basis and do not directly bill insurance plans. However, we will gladly issue a detailed superbill for you to submit to your insurance company for out-of-network reimbursement for doula and/or lactation services.
Review the National Women’s Law Center Tool Kit for Breastfeeding Momshere. This helpful guide simplifies communicating with your insurance provider and provides form letters you can use to support your claim.
In the United States, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) states that new or “ungrandfathered” health insurance plans must cover breastfeeding support and supplies as a preventive benefit without imposing cost-sharing, such as deductibles, co-payments, or coinsurance. We cannot guarantee that your insurance will reimburse you under the Affordable Care Act.
You can find answers to your questions regarding the ACA breastfeeding benefit here.
-
Lactation Consultation: Payment is required up front.
Doula Services and Packages:
Your initial deposit of 50% is submitted to confirm our availability, then the remaining 50% is due at your 36 week mark. However, this 50% can be split into smaller payments however is most convenient for you leading up to the 36-week due date.
-
Yes! In most cases, birth doula care and lactation consultations are eligible expenses for Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA). To make the process as seamless as possible for you, we recommend taking these three simple steps for Doula Services:
Get a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN): Ask your midwife, OB-GYN, or doctor to write a quick note stating that doula support is medically necessary for your physical and emotional well-being.
Check with Your Provider: Submit this letter to your HSA/FSA administrator to confirm their specific approval guidelines.
Keep Your Receipts: You can pay us using your standard credit card or your HSA/FSA debit card. We will provide you with a fully itemized invoice (including our business details and NPI number) to submit to your provider for your records or reimbursement.
-
We serve the families of JBLM, Sumner, Bonney Lake, Puyallup, Lake Tapps, Buckely, Orting, Tacoma, Edgewood, Federal Way, Enumclaw, and the greater Pierce County area of Washington State.
Still have questions? Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime. If you’re feeling ready, go ahead and grab a spot on my calendar.