Virtual Doula Services Demystified

Virtual Doula services were already a part of my offerings before this modality became the sole way that doulas are allowed to practice right now in the majority of the US due to limiting the number of folks allowed to accompany birthing folks in hospitals right now because of Covid-19.

In fact, even if you’ve ever hired me as a “regular” doula, about 80-90% of the work I’d be doing for you would be virtual anyway - the value of doula support has never simply, only been about doulas showing up physically at your birth or showing up at your house postpartum.

But I do think there’s a gap in understanding about what virtual doula support actually is, so I wanted to share what virtual doula support looks like for me in my practice specifically, both to demystify virtual doula support and why anyone would ever wanna pay for it, and also to empower pregnant folks to still feel like they have support and advocacy options, even with the new mandate (because you do!)

Doulas are not midwives or OB’s - we are emotional, educational, and (when possible) physical support people proven to improve outcomes for birthing folks. Since I’m not a medical professional, I was never going to be taking your blood pressure, feeling for your baby’s position, or doing any other kind of physical check any way - the educational and emotional work (often virtual) IS the work.

If you’ve ever texted/DMed/e-mailed your doula friend a question specific to your pregnancy, or leaned on them for emotional support for something specifically related to your unique pregnancy, guess what - they were virtually doula-ing you! When you hire a virtual doula, you are paying to have access to the education and wisdom that comes from viewing that education through their own unique lens of the world, education that they spent a lot of time and money to receive. So of course whether or not I’m able to be there to do hip squeezes during the birth doesn’t diminish the value in that education and hard earned wisdom. For me this includes (but is not limited to) :

• education on and support in the specific pregnancy symptoms you’re experiencing, knowledge of when a symptom could be problematic and addressed by your midwife or OB

• education on what you can safely do to alleviate any symptoms that are unpleasant, but normal

• right now, many pregnant folks are no longer able to see their chiropractor due to social distancing, and I can provide alternative stretches to still try to achieve the same physiologic preparation for birth

• education on what physiologic birth is, what it requires, and how you can best facilitate the necessary hormones to work in your favor during labor

• balanced education on what the pros and cons of certain labor interventions are so you can make your own educated choices

• balanced, evidence-based, and realistic advising on pregnancy nutrition

• emotional and spiritual guidance to hone in on your intuition, and make the choices that are right for you specifically

• assistance in writing your birth plan

• assistance in writing your postpartum plan, education on what to prepare for

• assistance in crafting a practical, realistic baby registry

• if you are being pushed into a medical induction that you do not desire, I’m trained to provide safe guidance on natural induction methods

• my clients receive a printable birth affirmation deck

• guidance on essential oils, accupressure points, laboring positions, and partner-provided physical support that can be utilized to make labor more tolerable and flow smoothly

• provide advocacy from afar - (this is more difficult than when I’m present in person, but still do-able)

• empower the birthing person’s innate abilities for self-advocacy, bolstered by evidence based education

• support in addressing fears and anxieties around pregnancy and birth

• and for me specifically, Tarot readings to explore your deeper consciousness and hone your ability to tap into your intuition’s wisdom

• advising on nutritional postpartum recipes to meal prep

• emotional support during postpartum

• answer all your newborn questions, knowledge of when something is truly concerning or not

• debrief and process your birth story

• breastfeeding education and support

In fact, the list of what I, and most doulas are NOT able to do right now is much, much shorter than the list of what we can. Here is what most of us cannot do right now :

• provide physical, hands-on support during labor (and even this, I’m capable of advising the partner who is in the room to do what I would do if I was there)

• show up in your home for postpartum visits to bring you food, give you hugs, and help get your physical space off to a good start for postpartum

And that’s kind of it! As much as I obviously prefer in-person prenatal and postpartum visits so I can give you big, long hugs (physical touch is my love language, so I am not okay over here, people!) this crisis has forced me to reckon with the true necessity of showing up in person to get my job done. In-person is of course preferred, but doula work still holds its own from afar.

And if you have any questions about how any specific doula feels comfortable showing up virtually (or not) - just ask the doula you vibe with most! We aren’t all the same, and we don’t all provide the same services or carry the same certifications/educations. So how one doula shows up for their clients virtually will not look the same as mine, or the next doula’s.

I currently have two virtual doula package options to try and fit people’s different budgets right now:

1. a package that is only pregnancy + postpartum education and support without me being virtually on-call for birth (I have availability to take on these clients from April until December)

2. a package that is pregnancy, birth, and postpartum support where I will be virtually “on-call” for your birth (I have availability to take on these clients from April until June)

And as always, I offer (now virtual) Reparation Doula Services to Black and Indigenous birthing families - it’s not free, it’s owed.

So if any of those options interest you, please reach out for more info and pricing!

And for more free content, free resources, and free pregnancy, birth, and postpartum support and education follow The Birth Witch on Instagram, and continue to stay up to date on these blog posts.

My actual face when an inquiry pops up in my e-mail inbox. :)

Credits:

the pregnant mama in these photos is my friend, and badass mama business owner, Chantal Pasag

these photos are taken by my hubby, edited by me (the usual, if you ever see a photo of me on this website!)

my amazing t-shirt is by doula and student midwife, Tiny and Brave

Disclaimer: Information presented on this website, blog are not intended as a substitute for the medical advice of a licensed health care professional. Doulas do not make specific health claims, diagnoses, or promise medical results. We provide education, emotional support, guidance, pregnancy, labor, postpartum, and breastfeeding support. Please note that opinions on this site are my views and conclusions based on the research I have done, my personal experience or experiences relayed to me from friends and associates. It should never replace medical advice from your doctor or midwife.