The Best Doula Support in Iowa!

Yes, we’re totally biased, but we think you’re going to love having an Iowa Baby Lady on your birth team! Our Labor Doulas are ready to provide you with the best doula care possible! Here are just a few ways your doula will support you and your family as you prepare for baby’s birth. You can expect your doula to…

• Work closely with you and your family to find your values and goals for this baby’s birth (or babies!)
• Assist in preparation on birth preferences and help you communicate with your birth team
• Teach and encourage you to use Informed Decision Making
• Provide Information on Birth Options and Resources in Des Moines and surrounding areas
• Provide you with labor comfort techniques such as positions and movement, comforting touch, visualization, breathing techniques, and positive affirmations
• Help your support partner with ideas for labor support and/or providing breaks as needed
• Support and assist with initial breastfeeding or bottle feeding, whichever you decide
• Assist in processing your birth experience

The Research Behind Labor Doula Support

• Improved Breastfeeding Outcomes
• Increased time spent with baby
• Decreased Postpartum Depression
• More likely to have spontaneous vaginal birth
• Less likely for baby to have low (<5) APGAR Scores
• More likely to be satisfied with birth experience
• Cesarean Reduction by 26-50%
• Length of Labor Reduced by 25%
• Pitocin use reduced by 40%
• Use of narcotics reduced by 30%
• Forceps reduced by 30%
• Epidurals reduced by 60%
• From Evidence Based Birth: Evidence for Doulas 

What’s Included in Your Support

“Prenatals” with Your Doula

Our families will have at least two prenatal visits with the doula. Your doula will come to your home so you can discuss what your ideal birth experience might be. You can review your birth plan, or your doula can assist you in writing one, too. She will show you labor comfort methods, such as massage and labor positions, that will assist with pain management in labor. You can also discuss breastfeeding and other resources if you have any questions. Our Iowa Baby Ladies Team has an extensive digital resource library available to you and can help you find information on a large assortment of pregnancy/birth/breastfeeding topics.

Continuity of Care Throughout the Birth Process

Your doula can join you at your home while you are in labor and help with comfort measures throughout this time. She will show your partner how to assist you if needed, and together we help you. Your doula will continue with you at home if you are desiring a home birth, or will meet you at the hospital when your care giver requests that you travel there.

• All doulas with The Iowa Baby Ladies Team have training in Active Labor comfort measures like counter-pressure, massage, relaxation, labor positioning, and many other techniques. Our Doula bags are full of ways to help you!
• After the birth of the baby, your doula remain with you for 1-2 hours to assist with breastfeeding, life with your new baby, or anything else you need.
• At any point in labor or birth that you feel you are handling everything the way you imagined, your doula will gladly step back until needed again.

Post Birth Visit

Sometime during your first weeks at home, your doula will come to your home to go over your birth story and see how you’re adjusting to parenthood. Many times, women don’t remember their birth completely or understand everything that happened. Our goal is to help you preserve your birth memory as accurately as possible. Your doula can also help with breastfeeding, baby wearing, diapering, baby blues concerns, or baby care questions.

Childbirth Classes, New Parent Class (B.O.O.B. Camp), and Savvy Birth 101

We’ve been reading a lot of research over the past year that says two additional evidence-based ways to prepare for a healthier birth and a more positive experience for both parents are:

1. Attending an Out of Hospital Childbirth Class. Because we have been able to grow our support over the past few years, we are now able to offer our three major classes to our clients at no additional cost to them. No hidden fees or tricks–just access to great educational opportunities! Express Birth Class, BOOB Camp, and Savvy Birth 101 are included with your labor doula fee.
2. Being a part of local birth community. We have seen great things happen when expecting parents join together to chat about pregnancy, birth options, and share the ins-and- outs of preparing for birth. We have created “Birth 2 Be Community” for anyone in our community. This is another no-fee option for our clients as well. (Clients not with The Iowa Baby Ladies are welcome to attend for a small fee.)

Other Services Included with Birth Doula Support

• Take photos & video (if requested) during the birth
• Provide a backup doula in case an emergency arises
• Access to our Resource Library, including informational handouts, books, DVDs, community resources, and our exclusive Digital Library too
• Email availability for questions and support 24/7 throughout pregnancy
• Phone and/or in person support during early stage labor, tailored to fit your needs

Fee

We are happy to promptly provide our doula fee information via email in a comprehensive Welcome Packet. Additionally, we offer assistance with payment plans, HSA/FSA payments, and can guide you through potential insurance reimbursement options. After filling out our contact form, watch your email for your Welcome Packet with details about fees, services, process, client perks, and more!