Congradulations on your Pregnancy!

For longer than we can imagine, women have birthed their babies surrounded by women who were mothers themselves or witnessed birth, and were experienced in pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding. They were elders, aunts, cousins, mothers, sisters and the like. In today’s birthing environment, the doula is a women who possesses a large amount of knowledge about labor and birth and supports the laboring woman and her partner as they transition through the final stages of pregnancy and the birth process into parenthood.  

 

My Goals

Clients who’ve chosen me as their doula have committed to being active

participants in their pregnancy and birth. Pregnancy and birth are wonderful

joyous occasions, but they are work! With my help, my clients have developed

their visions and plans for their births that reflect their lifestyle, philosophy,

and priorities. They’ve participated in a childbirth preparation class and have

actively participated in other supplemental classes (such as prenatal yoga

and breastfeeding instruction). They’ve been committed to building a trusting

relationship with me by maintaining contact throughout their pregnancies."

 

Sistah Vickie has been a Certified Prenatal and Postpartum Massage Therapist for over 12 years.  

And for more than fifteen years, she has served women in the Tidewater Virginia Beach Va.,

area as a Professional Labor and Birth Doula in hospital, birth centers, and home birth settings. 

She has also served outside of Virginia for home births as far as Washington State.   On a personal

note, Sistah Vickie, a mom of two had the pleasure of having a midwife help her to deliver her

youngest, and Sistah Vickie's mom was her nurturing Birth Doula and her sister was her

Postpartum Doula.  

 

Having studied with Author, Doula, Childbirth Educator, Birth Counselor and DONA International

co-Founder Penny Simkin, she recognizes the many variations that normal birth may include.  Her doula training and professional status as a Prenatal Massage Therapist has given her additional knowledge and a deeper understanding of the birth process as a successful Labor and Birth Doula Servant. She offers a one-hour complimentary consultation that allows you to get to know her, and she you. She listens to your vision for your birth and any cultural and lifestyle issues that may be part of your desired birth experience. Sistah Vickie is sensitive to the fact that as a birth doula she is being given permission to share in one of the most private, personal and sacred moments in your life.

 

 

Birth Services and Fees

Services include:

• one free initial consultation for a chance to meet in person, get answers to questions you might have, and to see if we are a good fit together

• one prenatal meeting to discuss your pregnancy, your plans for your birth, and any concerns you may have

• help creating a birth plan, if needed

• access to my lending library filled with pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and parenting books, videos and dvds

• community referrals and resources, if needed, to assist you in pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and newborn care

• ongoing telephone and e-mail support from date of hire to the postpartum visit (and beyond!)

• use of a birth ball before and during labor

• 24-hour on-call availability three weeks before your due date until delivery

• continuous labor support in your home, hospital, or birth center (or a combination)

• immediate postpartum support for 60-90 minutes following the birth, including assistance in breastfeeding

• photos during labor and delivery, if desired

• a postpartum visit to discuss the birth, welcome the baby, and help with any issues you may have

• a typed birth story on stationary that details the events of the labor and birth of your baby

•  provide a backup doula in the event I cannot make it to a birth. And I encourage my clients to contact or meet with her beforehand to insure they are comfortable with her.

 

By hiring a doula you can:

 

~Reduce your labor time 

~Reduce your chances of having a cesarean 

~Reduce the likelihood that you will need 

   interventions such as pitocin, forceps, or  vacuum extraction 

~Reduce the likelihood that you will  ask for pain medication or an epidural

~Decrease the likelihood that you will experience postpartum depression

~Improve your bonding experience with your baby

~Learn to breastfeed with greater ease

~Feel that you have had an overall fantastic labor and birth experience.

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A doula does not…

• perform clinical tasks, such as vaginal exams or fetal heart rate monitoring. However, I WILL provide physical and emotional support to you and your partner.

• make decisions for you. However, I WILL help you get the information you need to make an informed decision about your care. I will also remind you of your wishes as outlined in your birth plan.

• speak to the medical staff on your behalf. However, I WILL listen to your concerns and review options with you that you and your partner can discuss with the clinical staff.

• replace the father during labor. However, I WILL support and encourage the father and enhance his support style rather than replace it.

 

Initial Consultation

Interested clients are welcome to meet me for a complimentary consultation in order to meet me and discuss my services, as well answer any questions you may have.  There is no obligation whatsoever, and at that time I will leave you with a contract that you and your spouse/partner can read at your leisure and decide upon together. I am happy to do this over the phone, instead, if family / work schedules make it difficult for us to get together. It’s your preference!  Please call me to schedule consultation!

 

Prenatal Visits and Support

During your pregnancy, I am available for you by phone any time, and I will come to your home (or other preferred place, if you wish) at least one or two times before your baby’s  birth, as your schedule allows.  That way, we’ll have opportunity to get to know each other a little before the birth. During these prenatal visits, I can help you develop a birth plan and become familiar with your wishes for birth,  provide you with resources, and if you are willing,  participate in some preliminary practice of some of my techniques so that you will be familiar with them.

 

Continuous Labor and Birth Support

As your due date approaches, 2 -3 weeks before,  I will be on call continuously until you deliver.  On set of  labor I will come to your home and/or hospital and stay with you for the duration of your labor and birth.  I usually work fairly quietly, using comfort measures, relaxation massage techniques, and encouragement as needed.  My philosophy is to have the laboring mom know that I am present, but to not take the place of her partner or the medical professionals. I like to try and prepare you ahead of time on what to say and what questions to ask when procedures are suggested. If there is a departure from your birth plan that is not due to medical necessity, I will remind you as agreed upon during our postpartum meetings.

 

Help With Breastfeeding

Once your baby is born, I stay with you until you are resting and ready for some private time (usually about two hours).  If you are breastfeeding, I will help if needed.  

 

Postpartum

I come to your home for one postpartum visit about a week or two following the birth of your baby (or when it is convenient for you), to check on you, answer any questions, give you the opportunity to recount your birth, and to get feedback from you.

 

 Descriptions of what's included in Sistah Vickie's Labor and Birth Doula Package: (Upon Request I will have on hand or download Doula Agreement Form, The Doula Questionaire and My Lending Library List). 

 

My fees are $1000 broken down as follows:

• $500 deposit to retain my services and signed agreement due upon hire

• $500 due at 36 weeks 

• Disount for military families, homebirth clients, previous clients, teen or single moms facing unplanned pregnancy

• Now accepting credit cards for your convenience

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My fee is $1000, broken down into two separate payments: a $500 retainer and signed agreement due upon hire, and $500 due by 36 weeks or at the prenatal visit, securing my on-call status for you. (Please note there is a $50 travel fee added to the deposit for clients living outside the 20-mile radius of the Town Center area of Virginia Beach in areas like Suffolk, Hampton, Newport News, Williamsburg and the like.) 

 

However, plese do not let financies determine whether or not you have a doula present at your birth.  I beleive every women deserves a doula if she wants one.  together, we can work something out.  And if I am unavailable to serve you I will do my best to find a doula who can.  

 

Please contact me as soon as you decide you might be interested in a having the support of a doula.

 

 

Dads and Doula's Working Together

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