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What is a Doula?
Greek : “a women who serves”
Doula: a professional birth support person, a supportive companion trained and experienced in childbirth to provide continuous support
Types of Support Doulas Provide
• Emotional Support
• Evidence Based Informational Support
• Physical Support
• Advocacy
• Partner Support
Research shows that people who use a birth doula are:
less likely to need Pitocin
less likely to have a cesarean birth
less likely to use any pain medication
more likely to rate their childbirth experience positively
What I do
As your doula, I will join you on this journey, bringing an understanding of how God, full of wisdom, has created women to give birth. I will bring to your experience an understanding of the natural birthing process and the decisions you will make before, during and after birth in a variety of circumstances. I work from personal experience, having had both a hospital and a home birth. Prior to birth, and with a vision towards the whole of this dynamic process, I will gain an understanding of how you'd like your birth to go. During the birth, I will be with you to offer emotional and physical support. And, communicating to your spiritual needs, I will be there to remind you of how Allah, Mighty and Majestic, has created women to experience this event. I will advocate for your rights as a Muslim woman with specific religious needs. First and foremost, I care deeply about the physical and spiritual health of my clients, and will work closely to support you in the brith expeirence that has been written for you.
Cost
Insurance & Fees
Some private insurance plans reimburse for doula services. Currently, Carrot (where I am listed in their directory and pre-approved) and Progyny provide coverage. Other insurance companies may also consider reimbursement if you provide a doctor’s note recommending doula support.
In the Chicago area, private experienced birth doulas typically charge between $1,500–$2,500+ per birth. My own fee is offered on a sliding scale for families paying without insurance reimbursement. This allows me to reserve space each year to serve up to 8 families at a reduced fee who would otherwise not be able to afford doula support.
A deposit of one-third of the total fee is due at the time we agree to work together.
The remaining balance is due 4 weeks before your estimated due date.
Receipts are provided for all services.
I am currently in the process of onboarding with Medicaid MCOs and, inshAllah, will soon be able to serve more families with Medicaid coverage.
If you feel you qualify for the lowest tier of the sliding scale, please reach out to me. If your insurance provides reimbursement, I kindly request that you allocate the highest reimbursable amount, which allows me to continue supporting families at the lowest tier.
Doula Service Timeline
Initial Conversation
In person/virtual meeting. Let's get to know each other. You're intuition is strongest now and you will know if I'm someone you'd like to have at your birth. You may tell me about the birth you are hoping for or past experiences and how you'd like things to be different this time inshAllah. You may ask any questions you have.
Time to Consider
Pray and discuss. Let me know if you'd like to move forward or not.
Meeting and Working together
Review my doula service agreement. A holding fee of 1/3 of the total payment will be due to hold your place on my calendar.
We'll meet twice before the labor. The first meeting we will explore and discuss your birth plan, priorities, fears, and concerns, and plan how we might work best together. The second meeting is where we will practice comfort measures, positions, review the overall pattern of labor, what is helpful for your partner to do and logistics of getting to your birth place. You have the option of meeting my back up doula at one of these meetings.
On Call for the Birth
We will remain in touch by phone, text, and email. I will have my phone on 24/7, 3 weeks before your due date and 2 weeks after. I have a backup doula in the rare case I cannot come at the time you need me.
I prefer communication from you when you think you are in labor, even if you do not yet need me. I can answer questions and make suggestions over the phone. We will decide if I should come then or wait for further change. We will decide where to meet-- at your home, the hospital or birth center.
Remain during labor, birth, and shortly after.
I will stay with you throughout labor and birth except for extraordinary circumstances.
After Birth
I usually remain with you for one or two hours after birth, until you are comfortable and your family is ready for quiet time together. I can also help with initial breastfeeding, if necessary.
Postpartum Visit
We will schedule a visit within the first week or so after the birth to see how you and your baby are doing, to review the birth, and to get feedback from you about my role.
Add on Postpartum Care, see Postpartum Body Work
Top tier: $ 1800 - 2200
Middle tier: $ 1300 - 1700
Lower tier: Contact me to discuss further
Those who are able to pay at the top tier are making it possible for me to serve up to eight mothers a year who otherwise couldn’t afford this service. May God reward you.
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