Birth: Doula Services

​~ Informational, Emotional, & Physical Support During the Birthing Journey ~
​
​On this Page:  ​
Introduction & Birth Philosophy;
Birth While Sheltering in Place;
Birth Doula Packages: Birth, Birth+Birth Recovery, Birth+Well-Being, and Birth+Postpartum; 
Testimonials to Soizig's Birth Doula Services; and 
​Benefits of a Doula 
​
Introduction & Birth Philosophy

​I am passionate about supporting others along their birthing journeys, with a focus on providing a grounding, non-judgmental, birth-positive presence to help my clients feel safe, informed, and empowered.  My approach to birthwork is influenced by:
  • ​belief and trust in the physiology of birth and in my clients' intuition and discernment about what is right for them;
  • great respect for and appreciation of both the rich wisdom of cross-cultural traditional practices as well as modern evidence-based research;  
  • passion for illuminating and facilitating physiologic (innate, intuitive, body/baby-directed) birth and birth recovery -- whether for, during, or following a homebirth, birth center birth, or hospital birth;
  • a complementary background in self-care and other well-being support training and services; and
  • a desire to help my clients feel more prepared, confident, and connected to themselves, their baby, and their birth partner/team in their birth journey and beyond.
​
I offer several Birth Packages (details provided further below), to suit those seeking varying levels of support:
A free Meet & Greet is available to those who are interested in my Birth Doula services to explore how well their needs and my offerings align, as well as how great a fit we are energetically. 
 
Birth While Sheltering in Place

Birth Doula services are invaluable at all times, and equally (if not more so) when sheltering in place is advised for public safety.  Much of the support that Doulas provide can be offered remotely when circumstances prohibit in-person care.  Many agree that remote Doula support is better than no Doula support, especially when available care providers (nurses, doctors, etc.) are overwhelmed, under-resourced, and vulnerable.  For the safety of all, especially those most vulnerable to COVID-19, all Birth Doula services will be offered remotely until authorities have lifted the Shelter in Place Order and it is safe for all for support to be provided in person.  There is also the option to postpone prenatal and/or postpartum appointments until the Shelter in Place Order has been lifted, if that is expected to occur in the upcoming days or weeks.  Please see below to learn about my Birth Doula services and/or contact me to learn more, including what services may be like during Shelter in Place circumstances.
“Asking your husband [wife, etc.] to be your sole guide through labor is like asking him to lead the way on a climb of Mt. Everest.  He may be smart and trustworthy, you may love him, but in the Himalayas you’d both be a lot better off with a Sherpa!”  ​~Pam England, CNM
BIRTH DOULA PACKAGE   $2,000*
My Birth Doula package includes the following offerings:
  • 3 Prenatal Appointments focused on:
    1. prenatal balance for comfort, ease, & facilitating fetal position during pregnancy and for birthing, including, but not limited to Spinning Babies® practices;
    2. labor/birth, including knowledge of and expectations for birthing; your desires, priorities, and concerns; formulating & communicating your birthing preferences; laboring at home &/or elsewhere​; sensation management, comfort techniques; and
    3. early postpartum period, including postpartum planning and  considerations for recovery, bonding, and the well-being of your family
  • On-Call 24/7 for labor, starting 3 weeks before your estimated due date;
  • Birthing & Immediate Postpartum Support:  Grounded, trusting, safe presence and continuous support until 1 to 2 hours after birth; 
    • Backup Doula support, if needed;
  • 2 Postpartum Appointments:
    • Appt. 1: supporting your return to &/or settling in at home with your newborn; if desired, processing/integrating your birthing experience and/or, if applicable, your postpartum stay at the hospital; &/or otherwise checking in on how you are all doing and offering support accordingly
    • Appt. 2: Physiologic Birth Recovery Care ("mother roasting" / "postpartum sealing" services for the Birth Giver, such as steaming, abdominal work, belly binding, etc.) to support the nervous system to be in a deep state of rest and facilitate healing/recovery from birth (may also include any of my other well-being support services (such as Breema® Bodywork, Yoga, TRE®, Self-Breema® Exercises))
  • Resources & Referrals; 
  • Phone & Email Support; and
  • Discounts on additional appointments which are booked by the Birth Giver or Birth Partner on an hourly basis for my other services related to birthing (Prenatal Balance Support and Physiologic Birth Recovery Care) and/or well-being (Breema® Bodywork, Yoga, TRE®, Self-Breema® Exercises and other self-care support services):
    • during pregnancy & the 4th Trimester (1st 3 months after the birth)​​
      • $50 OFF of the first appointment and 25% OFF any any subsequent appointments for the same service 
      • additional $50 OFF of the Birth Partner's 1st 1.5 hour TRE® appointment when that appointment occurs immediately before or immediately after one of our prenatal appointments (Normally this TRE® appointment is $175, so it would be $75 after the discount.)
    • anytime during the 1st year postpartum
      • 25% OFF of all appointments
​
*Please see here for more details (service area, deposit deadline, etc.)
BIRTH + BIRTH RECOVERY PACKAGE 
Birth Doula Package + 10 Hours of Birth Recovery Services   $2,625
Note: The fee for this package reflects a 50% discount off of my regular non-Doula rate per hour.
For those who are interested in extra birth recovery support during their Fourth Trimester (the first 3 months after the birth), I offer a Birth Doula + Recovery Care Support combo package. This package includes my basic Birth Doula services plus 10 hours (reflecting a substantial discount) of postpartum well-being support services to support the Birth Giver's recovery.  These are offered in 2 hour to 3 hour appointments, and may include any combination of the following during the Fourth Trimester:
Recommendations on how these 10 extra hours might be scheduled:
  1. 3x 2 hour appointments in 1st week postpartum, 2x 2 hour appts. in 2nd week postpartum;
  2. 3x 2 hour appointments in 1st week postpartum, 1x 2 hour appt. in 2nd week postpartum, 1x 2 hour appt. in 3rd week postpartum; or
  3. within the first 40 days postpartum, at least 6 hours of which are within the first 2 weeks postpartum

Additional well-being support hours may be booked separately from my Birth Doula package as follows:
  • Package of 20 hours (1.5 hour minimum per appt.): $1,667
  • ​Single appointment: $125/hour (to which you can apply a discount described in the Birth Doula package section, above, if appointment occurs during the first year postpartum)

​*Please see here for more details (service area, deposit deadline, etc.)
BIRTH + PERINATAL WELL-BEING PACKAGE 
Birth Doula Package + 20 Hours of Well-Being Support   $3,250*
Note: The fee for this package reflects a 50% discount off of my regular non-Doula rate per hour.
For those who are interested in extra well-being support along their birthing journey, I offer a Birth Doula + Perinatal Well Being Support combo package. This package includes my basic Birth Doula services plus 20 hours (reflecting a substantial discount) of well-being support services offered in 1.5 hour to 3 hour appointments, and may include any combination of the following:
*Prenatal balance is usually the focus of the first prenatal appointment in my Birth Packages.   

Additional well-being support hours may be booked separately from my Birth Doula package as follows:
  • Package of 20 hours (1.5 hour minimum per appt.): $1,667
  • ​Single appointment: $125/hour (minus the discount described above if scheduled within the first year postpartum)

​*Please see here for more details (service area, deposit deadline, etc.)
BIRTH + POSTPARTUM DOULA PACKAGE 
Birth Doula Package + 20 Hours of Postpartum Doula Services   $2,800*
Note: The fee for this package reflects a 20% discount off of my regular hourly Postpartum Doula rate.  
Recovery from birth and adjusting to the responsibilities of a newborn's needs can often be incredibly demanding, challenging, and overwhelming -- especially when one's community of friends and family are unable to provide the kind, quality, and/or amount of care needed.  Many people benefit greatly from hiring postpartum doulas to support them while navigating this transition.  For those who would like to secure some extra Doula support for their Fourth Trimester (first 3 months after the birth) while booking my Birth Doula services, I offer a discounted Birth + Postpartum Doula combo package.  This package is for my Birth Doula clients who wish to have a little extra daytime help for their household that can be easily rescheduled around my other clients' births.  My Postpartum Doula services are provided during the daytime** in five 4-hour appointments (totaling 20 hours), and may include:
  • Emotional support -- being a kind, familiar face offering a non-judgmental ear to listen when you need to talk, etc.;
  • Nurturing support -- setting up a bath; preparing &/or serving you a healthy meal, snack, &/or warm beverages; etc.;  
  • Household support -- stocking up breastfeeding stations, light pick-up around your home (sweeping, vacuuming, dishes, laundry, etc.) and/or doing grocery shopping & similar errands;
  • Self-Care & Family Connection support --  attending to your newborn while you take a moment for yourself to bathe, etc., spend some quality time with your other child(ren), &/or connect with your partner / core member of your personal support system, etc.; &/or 
  • Educational/informational support & resources​
These appointments do not include my Recovery Care or Well-Being services.

Available to my Birth Doula clients only, Postpartum Doula support may be booked separately from my Birth Doula package as follows​*:
  • Package of 5 appointments (4 hours per appt.):      $45/hour
  • ​Single appointments (3 hours minimum per appt.): $50/hour​

​*Please see here for more details (service area, deposit deadline, etc.)

**Day vs. Night Postpartum Doula Support
I offer daytime Postpartum Doula support.  If you are looking for a Postpartum Doula to be with you throughout the night to maximize your nighttime sleep, I can refer you to Night Postpartum Doulas ("NPpD").  NPpDs typically:
  • bring baby to parent(s) for feedings​*; attend to baby's waking needs (burping, changing, etc.); and sleep when baby sleeps;
  • have an 8 to 10 hour minimum time commitment per night; and
  • charge more for night work than day work.
​*If the parent(s) isn't building or maintaining milk supply, the NPpDs can tend to bottle-feeding while the parents sleep through the night.
 
~ Testimonial Excerpts ~
Excerpts of what clients are saying about Soizig's Birth Doula services.  See here to read these testimonials in their entirety and/or to see testimonials from others.
"​​​I cannot sing enough praises! When I first met her, I instantly felt a connection, felt at ease, and knew she was the one I wanted assisting the birth. Soizig's energy is positive with a smile that lights up any room. She is extremely caring, empathic, generous with her time, has a calming, very nurturing, grounding presence, and helped keep me "in the zone" during labor... she seemed to know all the right things to say when I needed to hear them... her support led me to feeling respected, taken care of, in charge, and safe.  Soizig went above and beyond.
Thank you for guiding us through this journey, we are really grateful to have experienced your love and support."​​​ ~Evelyn, San Francisco
***​
"I am wholeheartedly recommending her services! Her knowledge, passion and professionalism throughout the entire journey were invaluable.., her encouragements, energy and patience were incredible...Thank you Soizig for accompanying us, I learned so much throughout this journey and I'm so grateful to have gone through it with you!"​​​ ~Coline G., San Francisco
***​
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"​​Soizig is such a special person who brings a sense of presence that is contagious. I feel so incredibly lucky to have had her support before and during the birth of my baby... I would recommend her services wholeheartedly to anyone looking for a steady and wise guide for the mind, spirit, and body."​​
​~Shannon W., ​Sunnyvale
***​
"Soizig  has been a wonderful resource for us... She did a great job of making sure we were aware of all of our options, as well as her experience with those options while  remaining very respectful and sensitive to allowing us to create our own journey. She is solution oriented, thoughtful, empathetic, organized, generous with her time and ideas, and perceptive. She opened our eyes to new ideas, Techniques, and methods. We look forward to partnering with her for our third child!​" ~James Kilpatrick
***​
"From the start, Soizig was a grounding force... Choose Soizig if you need to learn, stay grounded, and be physically supported before, during, and after delivery. Our baby is happy and healthy, come into the world in the usual way thanks to her caring presence."
~Dom, San Francisco
***​
"I can't say enough about how wonderful it was to have Soizig's Doula support during my labor... Thank you, Soizig!... I recommend Soizig wholeheartedly for her doula service as well as her other bodywork services." ​
~Eve G.
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"Having Soizig present leading up to and during the birth of my daughter Savannah was wonderful.....Thanks again for all of your help and support!"
~Alex Diehl, San Francisco
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"it was fantastic to have Soizig... I really felt like she was dedicated to making the birth experience as amazing as possible for us. I absolutely recommend her as a doula!" 
~A.L.
***​
"I would highly recommend Soizig as a Doula! She was a great support not only to me but also to my husband. It was really a team work!"  
​~C.K.
For more testimonials, see here.
~ DISCOUNT CODES ~
Save money on these Rachel Yellin Yes to Birth! products:
  • Save 20% off of "Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond" Audio Relaxation Program using code "​​​delighted​" at check-out.
  • ​Save $25 off of Childbirth classes using code "​​​25BUCKSOFF​" at check-out.
“If a Doula were a drug, it would be unethical NOT to use it.”
​~John H. Kennell, MD

​~ BENEFITS of a DOULA ~
​(research-based)
“Continuous support from an experienced labor companion can be extremely beneficial... In studies of over 16,000 women comparing outcomes with & without such support, we have seen a major reduction in the length of labor, a greater than 50 percent drop in cesarean sections, a remarkable drop in the mothers' need for pain medication, & several other important & measurable benefits." 
​~Marshall H. Klaus, MD, John H. Kennell, MD, & Phyllis H Klaus, MFT, LMSW, The Doula Book
“Women who received continuous labour support were more likely to give birth 'spontaneously’, i.e. give birth with neither caesarean nor vacuum nor forceps. In addition, women were less likely to use pain medications, were more likely to be satisfied, and had slightly shorter labours. Their babies were less likely to have low five-minute Apgar scores. No adverse effects were identified. We conclude that all women should have continuous support during labour. Continuous support from a person who is present solely to provide support, is not a member of the woman’s social network, is experienced in providing labour support, and has at least a modest amount of training, appears to be most beneficial.” 
​~Hodnett ED, Gates S, Hofmeyr GJ, Sakala C (Continuous Support for Women During Childbirth (Review), on results of 22 trials involving 15,288 women)
For a conceptual model designed by Rebecca L. Decker, PhD, RN based on research results on the benefits of labor support, see here.
~ CA Hospital Ratings ~
See CalHospitalCompare.org and filter by "Mother & Baby" to find hospital ratings for Cesarean births, VBAC, breastfeeding, episiotomy, & Midwife rates.  
“A wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins.  Nor is he early.  He arrives precisely when he means to.” ​
​~Gandalf (character in JRR Tolkein’s Lord of the Rings)
​~ Soizig's Other Services ~
​These services can be provided on their own and/or in combination with the Doula services, described above.​

Prenatal Balance
Prenatal Balance
Perinatal Consulting
Perinatal Consult
Birth Recovery
Birth Recovery
Bodywork
Bodywork
TRE®
TRE®
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Yoga
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Self-Breema®
Copyright ​© 2016 Soizig Le Boulch