What is a birth doula?

A doula is a person, typically without formal obstetric training, who is employed by the birthing person to provide guidance and support during pregnancy, labor, and birth. A doula is a person trained to provide informational, emotional, and physical support to a birthing person before, during, and just after childbirth. Doula’s help to support birthing families through the life changing experience of having a baby.

What are the benefits of a birth doula?

Countless scientific trials examining doula care demonstrate remarkably improved physical and psychological outcomes for both mother and baby. Doulas have a positive impact on the well-being of the entire family (DONA). Benefits include: greater chance of vaginal birth, shorter duration of labor, decreased rate of cesarean birth, decreased instrumental delivery, decreased need for pain medications, improve baby’s APGAR scores, and increase positive feelings surrounding birth experience.

When is the best time to hire a doula?

It is never too early or too late to hire a doula. Some people like to hire their doula as soon as they find out they are pregnant to ensure they have a spot secured on their doula’s calendar. And some people wait until they are in labor to hire a doula. The best time to hire a doula is usually around the beginning of the 2nd trimester. The more time you have during pregnancy to absorb and implement the information and guidance provided by your doula, to build a strong connection with your doula, and to have conversations with your care provider, the more likely you will be to feel prepared and confident along your unique journey to giving birth.

What services are provided before the birth?

• Initial consultation

• A team of two certified labor doulas

• (2) prenatal visits

• Birth planning workbook and template

• Access to online Intro to Infant Feeding course

• From time of hire through 12 weeks postpartum, unlimited email, phone, text support

• Available 24/7 between 38-42 weeks with unlimited email, phone, text support

• Continuous in-person support during your labor and birth

• Initial breastfeeding support immediately following the birth

• (1) postpartum visit within the first two weeks after birth

• Informational resources on pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum, and breastfeeding.

Learn more about our doula services HERE.

If I am under midwifery care, do I still need a doula?

Yes! A doula and a midwife serve two very different AND important roles. Your midwife is focused on the health and wellbeing of you and your baby. A midwife is clinically trained to assist you in giving birth and will focus on the clinical needs of you and your baby. A doula primarily focuses on you, the birthing person, and they provide informational, emotional, and physical comfort to you during all of your pregnancy through the birth. Doulas are typically not clinically trained like midwives. Doulas and midwives work together to make a balanced, supportive, and effective birth support team.

If I am planning on getting an epidural, do I still need a doula?

Yes! If you want an epidural, a doula is very beneficial to have by your side. During pregnancy, a doula can help you prepare effectively and meaningfully for your birth by providing evidence-based information and resources for you to learn about your options as well as by providing emotional support as you navigate your unique path to giving birth. There is no “right way” to give birth. There is only the way that you choose to give birth. Our goal is to provide support that meets you where you are and helps you to feel prepared, confident, and empowered to address any challenges that may arise. There are many tips that you can use to labor more effectively with an epidural and we can help you learn what those are and use them during your labor. We also teach you ways to labor more comfortably at home before heading to the hospital and how to set yourself up once you are at the hospital to facilitate labor progress, privacy, and comfort.

If I have a cesarean (planned or unplanned), do I still need a doula?

Yes! Having a doula with you as you prepare for a cesarean birth is very beneficial. A doula can help you know what questions to ask before agreeing to a cesarean. A doula can help you know what options are available to you for having a gentle and family-centered cesarean birth. A doula can help calm your fears and help you feel more at ease during a time when you may feel overwhelmed and fearful of the unknown. A doula supports your partner too! A doula can help provide emotional and informational support leading up to, during, and after a cesarean birth for your partner or loved ones who are part of your birth support team. Most hospitals do not allow a 2nd support person in the operating room so the doula will be there in the time leading up to the birth as well as in recovery after the birth. The doula will help you initiate breast/chest feeding as well as offer tips for comfort during this time. Sometimes, a hospital will permit a doula to be in the operating room and in those instances, the doula will remain with you the entire time.

Does the doula take place of my partner?

No! Our goal is to support your partner leading up to labor and during labor, so that they can show up and support you, the birthing person, in the best way. Your partner knows you intimately, and we know birth intimately, together we make a great team to support the birthing person. Partners go through a tremendous journey too, and they need support, we are doulas for the partner too. We love when partners are involved in the birthing process, and we want to make your partner look like a rockstar!

How can I ensure the doula I hire will be available on the day I go into labor?

We work in a partnership model of care. Not only does that allow you more personalized and thorough support throughout your pregnancy and labor, but it also ensures that you will have one of us for your labor and birth. We are mindful when choosing to work with clients to make sure our schedule can accommodate the clients we work with. We go on call at 38 weeks and remain on call throughout your 42nd week but one of us is always on call regardless of when you got in to labor.

What areas do you provide doula services?

Our goal is to serve North+Northwest Metro Atlanta families who choose to deliver at Wellstar Kennestone, Wellstar North Fulton, Northside Cherokee, Northside Atlanta, The Atlanta Birth Center, and Midwife suported home birth. We believe if we serve in a smaller radius we can serve our clients in a deeper way.

What types of births do you support?

We support all types of births and birthing people. Our birth doulas support all types of birth including but not limited to: hospital birth, home birth, water birth, VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean), medicated birth, unmedicated birth, and cesarean birth (planned or unplanned).

Who do you provide doula and educational services for?

We support all types of births and birthing people. North Atlanta Birth Services will not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, or marital status.

If I have questions about the birth or postpartum doula services, who do I contact?

For the fastest reply, send an email to Hannah and Rachael at info@northatlantabirth.com

How do you collect payment for birth doula services?

We collect payment online with a credit or debit card. Our doula services fee is collected in two parts: 50% of the selected package total is due upon signing our Service Agreement and the final balance is due by 36 weeks of pregnancy.

Do you offer payment plans and/or discounts for birth and/or postpartum doula services?

Our birth doula fee is split into two payments for convenience and ease. The fees for our childbirth education clourse and postpartum doula support is set and non-negotiable. We do everything we can to work with our clients to ensure we meet them where they are. If you need assistance, we are always happy to discuss options with you and/or provide trusted referrals to doulas-in-training who typically charge a lower fee.

Do you offer virtual doula packages?

Yes! We are happy to support you virtually throughout this journey. We have gained a lot of virtual experience since the beginning of COVID-19. We are continuously working with the local hospital systems to ensure doulas continue to be permitted to provide in-person support in every hospital.

If I want to work with a student doula or a doula-in-training, is that an option?

Our doulas work closely with doulas in training through our doula mentorship program. If you are looking to work with a doula-in-training, we are happy to connect you with one of them.

If I hire a doula, do I still need to take a childbirth education class?

Yes! We cover a lot of helpful information during our two prenatal appointments together, but we don't cover everything. As much as we would love to, we just can't cover everything you need to know about labor during our short time together. We strongly urge you to take a childbirth education class. The benefits of getting in-depth education about your body and baby are endless. Not only will you be more confident in your ability to birth your baby, but you will also be armed with the education to make confident decisions that align with you during your pregnancy, labor, and beyond. We offer a comprehensive online and self-paced childbirth education course taught by Rachael Hutchins. Learn more and purchase HERE.

What are the benefits of taking an out-of-hospital childbirth education class?

When you take an out of hospital childbirth education class you are getting individualized education, so you can gain the knowledge to make the best decisions for your family. You will learn about the birth process in a deeper way. Often times hospital childbirth education classes will teach you how their facility likes to manage labor. With an out of hospital class you will receive individualized, evidence based, and non biased education.

Do you offer childbirth education classes?

Yes! Rachael is a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, and teaches an online, self-paced childbirth education course. Learn more and purchase HERE. We also offer several other childbirth classes. Learn more and sign-up HERE.

Is the online childbirth education class live or recorded?

The Your Birth Your Way Online Childbirth Education Course is an on-demand and self-paced course. Once you purchase the course, you will have immediate access to begin learning. Watch and learn at your own pace and in your own space! There are 6 learning modules that cover the Lamaze 6 Healthy Birth Practices plus a Course Companion Workbook, Bonus Digital Resources, and more! Learn more and purchase HERE.

How long do I have access to the online childbirth education class?

You will have access to the Your Birth Your Way Online Childbirth Education Course for a FULL YEAR (12 months). There are 6 learning modules in total, two of which cover the postpartum. We want to ensure you have access to this information as long as it is needed.

What is the refund policy for the online childbirth education class?

If you are unsatisfied for any reason, you can request a full refund, no questions asked. We want to ensure you are fully satisfied and that you find this information helpful and beneficial. Your satisfaction is our #1 priority! To request a refund, please email info@northatlantabirth.com with your order number and reason for requesting a refund. Read our full refund policy.

If I have questions about the online childbirth education class, who should I contact?

Contact Rachael at rach@northatlantabirth.com with any questions.

Is there in-person childbirth education classes available?

Yes! We offer several in-person childbirth classes.

We have a single-day, 5-hour, in-person Home Birth Prep Class in the Cherokee, Cobb, North Fulton areas. This class is specifically designed to help prepare you for giving birth at home with the support of a midwife. You can learn more and sign-up HERE.

We also have in-person Hypnobabies Childbirth Education as well as the Evidence Based Birth Childbirth Education which is a hybrid format of Zoom and in-person classes.

What is a postpartum doula?

It’s hard to sum up what a postpartum doula does in a few sentences. Postpartum doulas can wear many hats, and each shift can vary. Our main goal is to facilitate rest and give support to the birthing person. We offer a listening ear, help with older kids, baby care, light tidying, so you may rest, shower, eat or even just go to the bathroom knowing that everything is taken care of. We offer evidence based information, and can help find you trusted professionals in your area. Learn more about our Postpartum Doula Services and Packages HERE.

What are the benefits of a postpartum doula?

Rest can be hard to come by with a newborn. You may wonder , am I making the right choices? Am I finding evidenced based or outdated information? Your baby may need extra attention. Maybe you have older children. Family is a great resource, but sometimes they overstay their welcome of give unwanted advice. By hiring a postpartum doula you will be able to rest more, talk through your options, have a tidier house, and feel confident in your parenting choices. Our purpose is to facilitate rest, give evidence based information, offer a nonjudgmental and non biased safe space, and care for the baby and the birthing parent. If you’d like to schedule a free consultation click HERE.

When is the best time to hire a postpartum doula?

If you have already had your baby, you can reach out today. If you are still pregnant, it is best to reach out around 25-28 weeks to ensure availability. If you’d like to schedule a free consultation click HERE.

How do you collect payment for postpartum doula services?

We conveniently take all major credit and debit cards through online payments.

Do you offer postpartum planning sessions?

Yes! We know how difficult the first few months can be after having a baby. We recommend that everyone takes the time to think about the challenges you may face. We would love to help make an individualized plan that meets your needs. We offer a Postpartum Planning Course that is online and self-paced and includes 4 videos and a workbook that will help you plan for your postpartum in a very meaningful and impactful way. To learn more and purchase the course, click HERE.

If I have questions about postpartum doula services, who do I contact?

To learn about our Postpartum Doula Services, visit our Doula Services page. We also offer a free 45-minute consultation where we can share more about the benefits of our postpartum doula services as well as answer any questions you have about our postpartum doula services. To schedule your free consultation, click HERE.

Do you offer newborn care classes?

Yes! Hannah offers in-person and virtual newborn care classes. The Newborn Education Class is a single-day, 4-hour class that will help you become more confident in taking care of your newborn. To learn more and sign-up, click HERE.

What are the benefits of taking a newborn care class?

Taking care of a newborn is exciting, challenging, and often times uncertain territory for new parents. By taking the time to learn the basics, your confidence will grow! You’ll learn your child’s early cues to avoid unnecessary crying and valuable soothing techniques when crying is unavoidable. You will also take away self care and communication tools to help you and your partner navigate this new journey as a team. If you’d like to schedule a free consultation click HERE.

When is the best time to take a newborn care class?

We are happy to teach our Newborn Education Class during any time of your parenting journey, but the ideal time would be in your last trimester before 36 weeks. Learn more and sign-up HERE.

Will my health insurance pay for birth and/or postpartum doula services?

Unfortunately most insurance companies do not cover the cost of doulas, but we are happy to submit anything needed for reimbursement. We do offer payment plans to help with the financial commitment.

Do you accept HSA/FSA cards for payment?

Yes! We are happy to take HSA and FSA cards for payment.

I am searching for local birth professionals who provide additional pre and post-natal services. Can you help with this?

Absolutely! We love to connect with other local birth professionals. We make sure to nurture already existing and build new relationships with fellow professionals. From lactation specialists, pelvic floor physical therapists, chiropractors, mental health counselors, home birth midwives, and more we can help you find a good fit for your desires. Click HERE for a list of our local resources.

Do you offer support for doulas-in-training?

Yes! We love to help new doulas find their way. As a new doula or doula-in-training, having support and guidance early on can increase your rate of success and longevity in birth work. You can have many tools in your doula tool bag, but support and community are key to sustainable doula work. We would love to chat with you and add you to our community. If you’re a new doula hoping to connect you can email us at info@northatlantabirth.com

How did you get into birth work?

We love this question! We share all about our stories on our “Meet The Team” page.

What tools do you use during labor and birth support?

There are many different tools that can be used during labor and birth. As doulas, we find our most helpful and most often used tool is our hands and our voice. We use our hands to guide you through relaxation techniques as well as provide counter pressure and massage at various points in labor. We use our voice to calmly guide you through contractions, encourage you to change positions, explain what is happening around you and also remind you what is normal for each stage of labor. In addition to our hands and voice, we also feel that our presence and our ability to calmly hold space when our physical support isn’t needed is also very important and helpful. Often in labor, there is nothing to do or fix, so we simply hold space and offer a calm, confident, compassionate energy so that our clients feel safe, held, and comfortable.

How does a birth doula help my husband/partner?

Birth doulas are for dads and partners too! We help provide support not only for the laboring person but for their partner as well. We like to say that they know you intimately and we know birth intimately and together we can provide the support you need to navigate your labor and birth with more ease and confidence. We work WITH your partner so that they can have more mental and emotional space to support you in a very meaningful way. Labor and birth can come with some stress and uncertainty, especially if you’ve never done it before. Having a doula alongside you can really help to decrease fear and doubt and increase overall satisfaction with your birth experience.

How does the doula help navigate the unexpected?

One of the ways we help navigate the unexpected, is to help slow the process down. For most situations during labor, there is time to gather information and ask for time to process the information and then make the decision that is best for you and on your terms. You are in charge of your body and your baby and with the guidance and support from your midwife or doctor as well as your doula and partner, you ultimately make the decisions. We help with the unexpected by reminding your about the BRAIN acronym. This is a very helpful decision making tool that we teach about in our prenatal meetings. This tool helps you learn more about what they are recommending by asking: What are the Benefits? What are the Risks? What are the available Alternatives? What is your intuition saying? And Do we need to do this Now? or What if you do Nothing?

Are there additional charges or fees if my labor is long?

There are no additional charges or fees if your labor is long. We work in birth partnerships so that if the birth goes long, we simply trade out with our doula partner between 12-15 hours. This means you will get a fresh and energized doula (whom you already know) to help you finish out your birth and be there with you for the first couple of hours after the birth. We find this model works very well and is highly beneficial to our clients so they don’t have to worry about calling the doula in too soon or being charged if the birth goes long. Birth is unpredictable and we support all types and lengths of births. We want you to feel at ease and fully supported during this time.