Lauren A Doula
Serving Mommies through Pregnancy, Labor, Delivery & Postpartum
Congratulations on the new addition to your family and thank you for considering me as your Doula! I am humbled to help you during this special time of bringing your precious baby into the world. This is an exciting yet serious season of life and I am here to help you have the experience you desire. I attend any hospital, birth center or home birth within 2 hours of my home.
After having one hospital birth and three home births of my own I understand the importance of continual physical, emotional and spiritual support. My goal is to help you have a sweet memory of your birth, be prepared, encouraged, empowered, educated and fully supported.
DONA International is the largest, oldest and most respected Doula association. It is my delight to serve you as a DONA International trained Doula.
About Me
Hi! I'm Lauren Bettis, a happy homemaker and Doula. I delivered my first child in the hospital and the next three at home. After my second birth, I developed a burden to become a midwife with holistic care. I wanted to help mothers have a great and safe birth the way they want it. I also am heartbroken over all the abortions that take place each day. It is my desire and passion to help mommies who want to give birth. However, because of my season in life, I have decided that becoming a midwife will need to be after my children are older. This decision lead me to learning more about doulas. That was it! Being a doula was perfect. Since April of 2016 I have been humbled to help mommies through their pregnancy, labor, delivery and postpartum, yet in a different way than a midwife. What a great way to fulfill my calling and be able to progress toward midwifery! I stay active in continuing my education and training as a doula and am currently pursuing Childbirth Educator Certification.
What's A Doula?
The word Doula means "a woman who serves." As a Doula, it is my desire and responsibility to help a mother stay strong and calm, give physical comfort measures, emotional support and help the mother get information she needs to make informed decisions during her labor and delivery. The birth experience is a memory a mother will carry for the rest of her life. I am here to help make this a sweet and memorable moment to all mothers who choose me as their Doula.
A Doula Does Not:
Offer medical advice
Make decisions for a mother
Perform medical tasks
Replace nursing staff
Provide treatment
Judge a mother's decisions
Pressure decision making
Abandon a laboring mother
Take the place of the spouse
Services
24/7 Phone & Email Support
Phone calls, texts, or emails are welcomed throughout pregnancy.
2-3 Prenatal Visits
During each 2 hour visit we will go over your Birth Plan and beliefs, review childbirth facts, discuss preferred comfort measures, look at different labor and delivery positions, and talk about breastfeeding or your preferred feeding method and after birth bonding.
Labor & Delivery Support
At a hospital, birthing center, or home birth I will do my best to arrive before the active stage of labor. If you are not planning a home birth, I can come to your home during labor when you are ready for me to help. I will remain with you until an hour or two after birth. During labor I will provide comfort measures, emotional support, aid in labor & delivery positions, guide your breathing to help you and baby, record detailed notes, take pictures with the camera you provide, and facilitate communication between you, your spouse, and your medical provider, and help you get the imformation needed for you to make informed decisions.
Postpartum & Breastfeeding Support
When you and baby are ready for breastfeeding, I will gladly help you along the way. We'll watch for early feeding cues, learn different breastfeeding holds, get good positioning, point out a good latch, and show spouse how to support. After 1 to 2 hours once the family is settled and baby has been fed, I will leave the family so they can rest and continue bonding. 1-2 days after birth I will visit you for postpartum support. For 1 to 2 weeks after birth, I will be avaliable to you by phone calls, texts, or emails.
Payment Options
Deposit: $45 Paid at 1st Prenatal Visit
Total Payment: $475 Paid by 36 weeks
Reduced: $450 If paid before 36 weeks
Separate Services
Essential Oil Class
The Essential Oil Class is an optional benefit that is separate from my doula services. We will cover what and how to apply oils during different pregnancy stages, labor, delivery and after-birth. If you want to have your own essential oils, click here.
On-Call Doula Services
If you only want me to support you in labor, birth and immediate postpartum without prenatal visits, this service is for you! We can schedule one phone call to discuss birth details such as your due date, planned location of birth, etc. I will consider myself on-call for you starting at 34 weeks. After birth I will remain with you for an hour or two, serving your family with what is needed such as breastfeeding support. This package fee is $300 total. Additional postpartum visits are $25/hr.
Day-By-Day Doula Services
This service is offered to those who want to communicate with a doula through pregnancy, labor, and postpartum, but do not need in-person support during birth. This package fee is $30/mo or $160 conception to 6 weeks postpartum and includes:
2, in-person consult for 1 hour each
doula techniques
birth experience & knowledge
access to Lauren A Doula's resource list
assistance with research
unlimited phone contact up to 6 weeks postpartum
unlimited e-mail support
skype time
birth plan development
labor and birth day prep
breastfeeding tips
infant care tips
FAQ
Q. What should I ask when choosing a Doula?
A. How did you become a Doula? Are you trained and certified? How and by whom were you trained and certified? Do you have refrences for me to contact? Will you still help me if I choose an epidural? How many back-up Doulas do you work with? How often do you need to use a back-up because you can't get to the birth? What are your refund policies?
Q. How does having a Doula effect my outcome?
A. Outcomes tend to result in shorter labors, fewer complications, reduced need for inducing, forceps, vacuum extraction, less likely to need pain medications, epidurals, cesareans, have shorter hospital stays, easier breastfeeding experience, less postpartum depression.
Q. If I have a cesarean, what will a Doula do?
A. A Doula will help the family prepare just prior to going in the room. If she is not permitted to go in with you, she will join you right after. If dad goes with baby, she'll be there to ensure you are not alone. As breastfeeding can be more complicated, she will provide support as you overcome the challenges.
Q. Why are Doulas so expensive?
A. Doula training and certification expenses, continuous education and certification fees, prenatal visits, postpartum visits, 24 hours a day & 7 days a week contact avaliability, she stays with you no matter how long your labor lasts (doctors don't even do that!), she faces the unknown with you, she is always on-call, provides extra classes, breastfeeding support, baby-sitting fees, website fees, taxes, travel, Doula bag items and more.
Testimonials
*All testimonies are shared with permission
"I really appreciate how quickly Lauren was able to be there for me when my labor began and that she didn't leave until hours after my baby was born. Words cannot express what a blessing and help she was to me and my family." - Jamie
"I can't thank Lauren enough for her support provided during my pregnancy and delivery. I would not have been able to have the natural birth I dreamed of without her. She has such a calm, kind, gentle nature about her that it was exactly what I needed to get through each contraction. She helped facilitate communication so that the hospital would allow me to use warm water as a pain technique and that was what really made things more bearable. I would recommend Lauren as a Doula to any of my friends who are looking for that support in future pregnancies. Thanks for everything Lauren!" - Anita
"Lauren was very helpful offering different labor positions and assisting where needed. She was sensitive to where I was at (emotionally and physically speaking) and was very pro active in offering helpful suggestions while really respecting my limitations. She was good at assisting my husband also, showing him ways he could support me. We both really appreciated Lauren's assistance. She did a GREAT job!" - Margriet
"Our doula, Lauren, provided the most help with labor positioning and nourishment with food and drink throughout my labor/birth. It was helpful to have someone outside of family to bring ideas and encouragement while valuing the importance of the birth plan." - Lauren J.
"Lauren was the biggest blessing! From the first time we met, we instantly connected and I felt like she really listened to my needs and wants while also giving me her own advice which was much appreciated. She radiates this amazing energy and know how which kept me in control and present with each intense contraction. I was fairly confident I would be able to stick to my plan of a natural vaginal delivery with her support. She also did an amazing job of working with my husband, mother-in-law and all the hospital staff; they all loved her. She was the best decision I made going into this pregnancy! Thank You!" - Sophie