Doula Services
Education
Childbirth Education
There’s a lot to consider when planning your birth, which can mean a lot to learn in your already busy life! Whether you are planning to birth at home, in a birth center, or hospital, I will work with you to feel prepared and confident that you can navigate your birth choices with your medical team and have plenty of “tools for your toolbox” when your birthing day arrives.
Topics:
Holistic Nutritional Support for Pregnancy
What to Expect Each Trimester
Parenting With Intention During Pregnancy
Intimacy, Sex and Making Time For Your Partner
Choosing Your Birth Team, Location and Making a Birth Plan
Understanding the Stages of Labor, Pushing and Birth and Comfort Measures
The Mental and Emotional Process of Giving Birth: Removing Fear
VBACs: Setting Up for Success
Parenthood Prep Classes
Maybe you’ve chosen a different education course, such as Bradley, Hynobabies, Hypnobirthing, Sacred Pregnancy or another instructor for your birth education, but still have questions about what happens after you welcome your baby home? As a highly experienced postpartum doula and newborn care specialist, I can help you prepare for life after baby is born.
Topics:
The First Week: How to Help Your Baby Adjust After Birth
The First Month: What Is “Normal” for a Newborn?
How Partners, Family and Friends Can Setup for Postpartum Success
Baby Care Skills - Diapering, Feeding, Bathing & Soothing
Babywearing - Benefits and How To Get Started
Safe Sleep Options for Cobedding and Cosleeping Families
Finding Your New Normal: Avoiding Postpartum Anxiety & Depression
The Balancing Act: Returning to Work
Select from any of the topics listed above to create the customized, one on one class that’s right for you!
3 Topics: $275
1 session lasting 2.5-3 hours
5 Topics: $450
2 sessions lasting 2.5-3 hours each
8 Topics: $675
3 sessions lasting 2.5-3 hours each
Grandparent Prep (1 hour) - $75
Becoming a grandparent can be an exciting time! Not only do you get to watch your child become a parent, but you get to develop your own unique bond with your grandbabies. A lot has changed in the care recommendations and available gadgets for today’s kids, sometimes leaving grandparents frustrated while redefining your role within your expanding family. Whether you live nearby and will see your grandchildren frequently or are building that bond over distance, we’ll go over current recommendations, how to be involved without causing friction, and more!
“ We had the pleasure of meeting Sara a few months before our twins arrived, and she worked with us for the first ten months as we transitioned into parenthood and adjusted to life at home with two newborns. Even before our son and daughter were born, Sara was extremely supportive and thoughtful, which was especially helpful because they arrived one month early and our son spent nearly two weeks in the NICU. It was wonderful having someone with experience at home to help during those first few months, especially as we traveled back and forth to the hospital 3-4x a day. I always felt better when Sara arrived, knowing there was someone with her background and experience there to care for our children on a nightly basis. “
- Rebecca & Peter
Birth Doula Services
starting at $1750
At this time, I am available to attend home and birth center births in Orange County. I attend births at the following hospitals: Providence Mission Hospital (Mission Viejo), Saddleback Memorial, Kaiser Irvine, Hoag Irvine and St. Joseph (Orange).
As a birth doula, my role is to help you prepare to welcome your little love (or loves!). My role includes providing physical, mental and emotional support before, during and soon after your birth.
I am available to answer your questions via call, text or email and we will stay in communication until your birth begins and make plans for when I will join you. Once I have joined you, I will stay and support you until you are holding your little one and are ready for some much deserved rest and bonding time!
Birth Doula services include:
A complimentary 30 min phone/video interview
Phone and email support from hire until 2 weeks after birth
2 in-home prenatal visits (2 hours each) that include:
Getting to know each other, discussing your pregnancy plan and care team
Recognizing the stages of labor
Demonstration and understanding of techniques from Spinning Babies
Position options for labor and pushing
Helping you coordinate with your home birth or birth center medical care team during your birth
Early breastfeeding and postpartum recovery assistance
Techniques for conscious relaxation during birth, tips for feeding and sleep for your family and a dress rehearsal of your birthing time
Labor support
Postpartum phone/video check-in within the first week after your birth
Doula Over Distance
Pregnancy & Early Postpartum $750
I offer this option for families who want the knowledge and recommendations of a doula, but may not need or want in person labor support.
Services include:
Monthly video chat support sessions from hire until 36 weeks
Weekly video chat support sessions from 36 weeks until your birth
Tips & Tricks birth information sheets
Co-creating your birth plan & how to discuss with your medical team
Unlimited text & email support
2 video or phone support calls within the first month postpartum
“When we first met Sara we were struck immediately not only by how personable she was, but also how knowledgeable. In the months before my delivery Sara was an invaluable source of comfort. She was always available to text with information if I had any questions and she regularly would check-in to see how I was doing. During my son's birth Sara's constant support had a calming effect not only on myself but on my husband as well. Her experience and her preparation helped make this intense and life-changing moment as vibrant and beautiful as possible.”
- Amber
“It was the best birth investment we made. Period. We really wanted a natural birth, and this was our first birth, so we were nervous! The meetings before-hand had lots of great information for us, and tools to prepare for the birth. But what really was amazing was the support during and after the birth. I really think I wouldn't have been able to make it without the unbelievable support of my husband and Sara. Sara was so knowledgeable and was able to guide us the whole time. She blew me away with how hard she worked the entire time to make sure I was comfortable. Every contraction, she was right there, by my side doing all these wonderful techniques to help relieve the pain! And, we were able to have our natural childbirth! It was truly a dream come true.”
- Mary
EDUCATION | BIRTH | POSTPARTUM | DOULA MENTORSHIP
Postpartum Doula & Newborn Care Specialist
My role is to work one on one with you to help your family welcome the newest member. Whether you are planning on in-home support prior to your birth or decide to seek it after your baby arrives, my role is to help ease the transition through education and working with you to create a new routine. I customize my approach to what your family goals are - sleep, sustainable feeding patterns, birth recovery, and more!
In-Home Postpartum Consult
$200 per session | Package of 3: $575
If hourly care isn’t the right fit for you, but you would prefer to work with me in person rather than virtually, I offer in-person consults during the day for families with questions or who are in need of suggestions for a more sustainable postpartum experience without hourly care. Each visit lasts 2 hours, giving you plenty of opportunities to ask questions and for me to address your concerns and make suggestions. A follow-up email with a brief summary of our visit and any additional resources or handouts that can further support your questions will be provided within 48 hours of our consult.
Hourly Care
(daytime only)
Singleton - $65/hour
Twins - $75/hour
Triplets & Beyond - $80/hr
Each customized package includes a 1 hour video call prior to your birth or our first day together to discuss your primary concerns, goals and plans for how I can best support your family. Daytime care shifts can be scheduled for 4-6 hours per day and include anything from helping you establish a routine, give you a chance to rest or run an errand, or providing an extra set of hands for doctor’s visits and more!
Virtual Postpartum Support
$150 per session | Package of 3: $425
Not local to Orange County? Prefer to connect virtually over in person? No problem! Virtual consults give you access to the same personalized doula support - right from your phone or computer. One click and we’re connected, able to discuss your concerns and share resources - and with the option to record our entire conversation so you can go back and remember exactly what we discussed anytime you want! Each 60-90 minute session gives us time to discuss what's working and what isn’t, options for addressing it, and forming a plan for your family going forward. Resource links and additional support can be sent immediately and saved directly to your device for future use.
Phone & Text Postpartum Support
$150/week | $550/month
up to 3 30-minute phone calls per week
daytime text support for brief questions
In depth consultation for postpartum mood concerns (usually around 1 month after your birth)
Offering a more relaxed, conversational feel, phone and text support can help your busy family-on-the-go still feel supported at a pace that works with your life instead of going against it.
Common Postpartum Support Topics:
Answering “Is this normal?” questions
Healthy sleep habits based on developmental ability and your baby’s cues
Lactation and breast/body feeding support
Self care for the birthing person
Diapering options and elimination communication
Introducing bottles and paced feeding
How and when to adjust feeding for baby’s growth
Baby-wearing support
Making time for your partner
Introducing solid food
Music for bonding and play
How sign language can aid communication and more!
“My wife and I simply cannot say enough about Sara and what she has meant to us and our newborn son for the past three months. Sara started working with us five days after our son was born. This was our first child, and we were so grateful for Sara and her deep knowledge of newborn care, but also mommy care. My wife was recovering from an unplanned cesarean and Sara was there for us every step of the way. Sara has a wonderful understanding of the importance of routine, best practices, as well as lactation/ breastfeeding counseling expertise. My wife and I were ready to have a child, and Sara was there to support us with questions we had while we were first starting out and walking this amazing new path together. “
-Stephen & Christine
“Even though I had 2 other children, Sara still provided me with much needed knowledge, as each child is so different! Any question I had, Sara helped me through and would follow up with an email providing even more information. She would go above and beyond by following up each day with a report of the night before (documenting wake times, diaper changes, sleep patterns etc.). Breastfeeding was very important to me and Sara somehow managed to ensure I could feed through the night while still getting ample sleep. Even though Sara does not work with us anymore, she has remained close to my family and has continued to be someone I can rely on. All in all, having Sara during those first few weeks postpartum was monumental to my healthy recovery.”
- Beth
Doula Mentoring
30 min session: $20 | Package of 3: $50
I have been fortunate throughout my years as a doula to have had some wonderful mentors, taken trainings and workshops to improve my skills and learned a great deal about building my business in service of what I love. In a desire to give back, I am offering mentorship to other doulas. Whether you are looking to become a doula, have attended training and are looking to get started with clients or are looking to grow your business, we will work together to help you make a plan for getting to your next step! I will help you identify your goals and create a plan for reaching them broken down into manageable steps. I can also help you troubleshoot issues you are having when working with clients, such as navigating unclear client communication or working with a baby or family that challenges you. While being respectful of your client’s privacy, I am available to offer you ways to approach a particular situation you are experiencing in a new and hopefully more productive manner, adding to your existing skills as a doula and improving your time with your client.
Mentoring can be tailored and structured however you like, but here are some key topics that many new doulas find helpful:
Business Basics, Pricing & Packages
Branding & Marketing
Finding & Attracting Clients
Client Management & Communication
Building Confidence & Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
“From the moment we had our first meeting, I instantly liked her. She was incredibly sweet, calm, and was able to answer every question I had for her. My family felt the same way about her and she was so patient and playful with my toddler. Sara was an amazing support to me, my husband, and my family during labor and my recovery. She provided comfort measures throughout and made sure my husband and I had everything we needed. After delivery, Sara made sure my husband and I were fed and able to relax with our new addition.”