I specialize in helping women and families have the birthing experience they desire. I’ve personally birthed three beautiful children, and I’ve assisted more than 600 women and their partners during pregnancy, labor, birth, and the postpartum period. I believe these experiences have shaped my birth support philosophies and my innate longing to help women and babies during childbirth. I believe the birth of a baby is a sacred and joyous event that should be respected and nurtured. I also feel that all support and care during pregnancy and birth should be family centered, because a family is born in the birthing room.
My approach to professional childbirth education is to show women and their partners how to approach birth in a calm and peaceful way. My approach to professional labor support is to offer and encourage a variety of non-pharmacological techniques during labor, as well as offer assistance in advocating for a family’s wishes in the hospital, birthing center, or home environment. I utilize a variety of techniques to enhance comfort during labor. A few of these techniques include guided imagery, breathing to encourage extremely deep relaxation and a calm birthing, suggestions for body positions, physical support, emotional support, and light touch massage. Once a woman is settled into the birthing environment I also help her obtain understandable information and advocate for herself and her baby.
I look forward to learning more about what kind of labor and birth you want for your baby, and I assure you I’ll do everything I can to ensure your voice is heard and your wishes are met. I am honored to support your family during this incredible time in your lives.
Services Include:
- Initial consultation describing services.
- 1-2 prenatal visits between Birth Doula and client. The first prenatal visit will include help with writing out Birth Preferences (if desired). The second visit is optional and is based on the needs and desires of the client.
- Back-up Doula services will be provided in the very unlikely event of a schedule conflict or an unforeseen emergency for both the Birth Doula arises. The fee will be paid to the Birth Doula and she will handle any payment to a back-up Doula. The Back-up Doula will be contracted by the Birth Doula in the event of a last minute conflict or emergency.
- 24/7 On-call phone availability of Robin to client to answer questions and offer support with non-medical issues pertaining to pregnancy, labor, and early postpartum concerns from the date the contract is signed until 6 weeks postpartum. Contact number to reach Robin is: 630-723-4031 (cell)
- Attendance at labor and birth from the time labor becomes active and/or the client perceives a need for support. Please give the Birth Doula at least 2-3 hours to arrive at the client’s home or at the hospital/birthing center from when first requesting her presence.
- Continual physical, emotional, and informational support during labor and birth. Short, infrequent breaks may be taken if the labor is longer than 3 hours.
- Breastfeeding assistance after birth for first feeding.
- Immediate postpartum support for 1- 2 hours immediately after the birth.
- If client has an elective or emergency C-Section, the Birth Doula will be available to support the client through the birth and for at least 2-3 hours after the baby is born.
- One optional follow up postpartum phone call or 45 min visit suggested by client within the first 6 weeks, by the On-Call Birth Doula who attended the birth.
- If the Birth Doula’s support is needed for more than 18 hours it may be necessary to call in a Back-Up Doula.
Visit the Doula Package Costs page for more information.
