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Frequently Asked Questions

Amanda Ely Labor & Birth by Shire Doula Care.png

What is a doula?

A doula is a trained birth professional who provides continuous emotional, physical, educational and informational support throughout pregnancy, labor, birth, and the early postpartum period. While doulas do not perform medical procedures or replace your healthcare provider, they work alongside your birth team to help you feel informed, confident and supported every step of the way! As your doula, my role is to help you prepare for birth, provide evidence-based education, encourage your preferences, offer comfort measures during labor, support your partner and create a calm, nurturing environment where you feel seen, heard and cared for.

My heart is to walk alongside your family with compassionate, Christ-centered care, helping you prepare your mind, body and spirit while trusting in God’s beautiful design for birth.

What locations will you attend a birth?

I attend home birth, birth center & hospital births

How much do your services cost and do you offer payment plans?

Cost depends on the package and how much support you wish to have. You can click the link below to view my premade packages. I also make personalized packages and do a la cart services. I offer custom payment plans and work with what works best for you and your family. I never want cost to hold you back from getting the support you need so if you're interested in my services but cannot afford the pricing shown on the services page please still reach out and we will come up with a plan together on how I can best support you

What if I'm not sure if I need/want a doula?

That’s exactly why I offer a free consultation! It’s a relaxed opportunity for us to get to know one another, discuss your hopes for your birth, answer your questions and determine whether we’re a good fit. Whether this is your first baby or your fourth, my desire is for you to feel informed, supported and confident throughout your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journey.

What can I expect to discuss at our initial consultation?

We will discuss how much support you are looking for, your birth preferences, answer any questions you have and get to know each other! I then ask that we both take a couple days to pray and think to make sure we are a good fit for each other!

How long do you stay during labor and directly after birth?

This is personalized to you and how much support you're needing. We will discuss this during our prenatal visits. I can come as soon as you feel you are in labor, once in active labor or whenever you feel you need me! Typically I stay for up to three hours after birth but this could be more or less depending on how much support you need

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