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What is a Doula?

There are two types of Doulas, pre-partum and post-partum. Pre-partum Doulas are birth helpers. They are emotional, mental and physical support for the woman in labor. They help a woman compose her birth plan and the Doula acts to help the woman in labor assert her rights to have the birth plan followed.

Post-partum Doulas help after the birth of the baby. New mothers have visits from the post-partum Doula where help and advice are offered in the care and feeding of the baby. Pre and post-partum Doulas are sometimes contracted through hospitals, community health organizations, or insurance companies. Most likely the Doula is hired directly by the parents. Doulas working under contract with birth parents usually charge a flat rate. Many use a sliding scale to assist those who may want a Doula but cannot afford one. Fees often include two prenatal visits, 24hrs on call 2 weeks before due date, attendance at the birth and immediately post-partum, and a post-partum visit.

Many Doulas also teach childbirth education classes. Child birth educators teach classes to aid expecting parents through the birth process and the post-partum period. They usually work in community centers or hospitals but can run classes independently.

Meet the Instructor: Janet Grabe

Janet has been an RN since 1984, having been the top academic graduate of her Bachelor’s in Nursing with a 4.0 GPA. She also holds several certifications, including her most treasured ones as a Prepared Childbirth Instructor (through ICEA) and also as a Birth Doula and DONA-Approved Birth Doula Trainer. She has been happily married to Jim since 1984 (they started dating in 1980). She is originally from Hawaii. There, she followed in her mother’s footsteps as an RN in L&D at Kapiolani Medical Center, where they have the 9th most births in the US at 7,000 per year. She was a Level III RN and also became the Medical Center’s Bereavement Coordinator. As such, she led 3-day trainings of Bereavement Counselors and also trained all new L&D nurses. She coordinated a program of about 30 volunteer counselors helping families suffering miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth, and newborn death. In addition, she has continued to offer Prepared Childbirth classes for about 25 years and has attended many births as a Doula.