Pregnancy & Birth Doula Services

A doula is a trained professional who provides emotional, physical, and informational support to expecting families before, during, and after childbirth. Doulas do not provide medical care but offer continuous support to help families have a positive birthing experience.

Multiple studies show that having a doula can lead to shorter labors, reduced likelihood of interventions like cesarean sections, increased satisfaction with the birth experience, and improved neonatal outcomes.

It's ideal to hire a doula as early as possible in your pregnancy to benefit from their support throughout the entire journey and to ensure that the doula you want has availability. However, even if you're further along, it's never too late to hire a doula.

During labor, a doula provides continuous support to the pregnant person and their partner. This may include physical comfort measures like massage and positioning, emotional support through encouragement and affirmations, and informational support by explaining procedures so the family can make informed decisions.

Balanced Birth doulas stay with you for as long as the labor takes. They will join you at your request and there are no minimum dilation requirements before attendance or maximum numbers of hours of labor support.

No, doulas support all types of births, including vaginal childbirth or cesarean sections, medicated or induced births. Balanced Birth doulas are experienced with home births, birth centers, and hospital based births. Their role is to support the pregnant person’s choices and preferences, whatever they may be, and provide personalized guidance and non-stop support.

Doulas do not replace partners or medical professionals like midwives or obstetricians. Instead, they complement their roles by offering additional support and expertise focused on the pregnant person’s emotional and physical well-being.

Cost varies depending on the support package chosen and the costs are found on the services page. Balanced Birth does offer flexible payment plans.

While some insurance plans may cover doula services, coverage varies widely. Balanced Birth Doula Agency does not currently accept insurance, but is HSA and FSA reimbursable. If you would like to submit for insurance reimbursement after services are completed, Balanced Birth can provide a superbill.

Finding the right doula involves researching and interviewing potential candidates to ensure they align with your birthing preferences, personality, and needs. Balanced Birth Doula Agency offers free consultations with their founder, Alex Gonsor, during which you can ask questions and discuss your expectations before making a decision.

All Balanced Birth clients have backup doulas assigned in case they are unavailable due to unforeseen circumstances like illness or another birth.