Doula Fees and Services

Welcome! My name is Erika Davis and I am full-spectrum doula, which means that I am both a birth doula and postpartum doula. I completed my training with Ancient Song Doula Services in Brooklyn, NY, an organization focused on training women of color as doulas and making doulas available to women who may not have considered them. I have currently attended 3 births and have two mothers due Winter 2014!

I currently work full time as an HR Administrator for a Jewish non-profit. I volunteer for a Jewish Diversity Organization called The Jewish Multiracial Network and am a freelance writer. I enjoy taking yoga classes and have gotten back into ballet as an adult. I also love running and ride my bike as a means of transportation-in good weather only!

I believe that my experience as a woman of color, a Jewish woman  give me a special insight into sometimes complex familial structures. My position in the world gives me great respect for other cultures, religions and traditions and I honor them all as a doula.

I would like to continue my doula training by learning about placenta encapsulation, becoming a lactation educator as well as a childcare educator. 



Essential Oils & Aromatherapy: Prices
After taking an Essential Oils workshop I became obsessed with the power of essential oils, especially for pregnant and laboring women. I've taken the information I learned at the workshop and have educated myself on the various properties of select essential oils to create unique scents for the birthing process; Kavanah (Intention) is a lavender-based, relaxing scent. Clary Sage, an ingredient in Kavanah is thought to bring on contractions so should only be used during the labor process; Pick Me Up is a citrus-based*, uplifting scent and Root Down is a frankincense-based, grounding earthy scent. Shalom and Salaam, both words that mean peace, are relaxing and soothing scents. Shalom combines ylang-ylang and lavender while Salaam combines soothing rosewood and lavender with bergamot**

These scents are available in either a room spray, belly butter or massage oil with a birth package as well as for sale.
*avoid continuous exposure to sun when using citrus oils
**avoid sun exposure of bottle as well as skin.

Essential Oils should be used with caution. Please consult your provider before using essential oils.
My essential oil products are for external, topical use only and should not be ingested.

Birth Package: $300-600*
Once I've attended 5 births, my prices will increase.
Consultation
I will do a complimentary consultation either in your home or other location where we can discuss your needs and what you are looking for in a doula. We will take this time to get to know one another and I will answer any questions that you may have. After the initial consultation, I encourage parents to think about what they are looking for in a doula and determine if I am the best fit. When we decided that we're a good match we'll move forward with my services.

Prenatal Visits
During your last trimester I will make two-three home visits to help you develop your Birth Vision, also called a Birth Plan, answer questions regarding your pregnancy and labor and begin to cultivate a trusting relationship with you, your partner and anyone else who will be a part of your labor and delivery process. In these meetings we will talk together as well as doing hands-on training of comfort measures during labor and techniques you and your partner can begin to practice and use in anticipation of labor.

Labor
Two weeks prior to your due date I will go "on call." During this time I am available to you by phone, email or text at any time.

Once labor begins I will be able to assist you either by telephone in early stages of labor, in your home, birthing center or hospital. Once I arrive I will remain with you through the duration of your labor and for up to three hours after your birth. Throughout this time I will provide you continuous support, I will do everything to insure that your emotional and physical needs are met and will help facilitate communication between you and the medical team.

Back Up Doula
It is my intention and goal to be with you during your entire birthing process, but there are sometimes extenuating circumstances that make this impossible. In this rare circumstance, my back up doula will accompany and support you through your birth.

If possible, my back up doula will join me at one prenatal appointment so that you will be acquainted with her.

Essential Oils
For mothers who find my scents helpful, a 2oz bottle of room spray in each scent and 2 oz bottle of Kavanah massage oil will be provided.

Postpartum Visit
I will make one or two final home visits during the first two weeks following your birth. The purpose of the final visit is to talk about your birth experience and to answer questions about breastfeeding and caring for your new baby. This time is also for me to glean any feedback regarding my role during your birth.

Circle of Love: $600-1200*
Two Doulas Working as One
Circle of Love provides you with all of my Birth Package services as well as the services of Emily Landry, Licensed Massage Therapist and Birth Doula or Shaneece Uhuru, Mother of two (including one home birth), Doula and Scientist.
Circle of Love provides a mother with two doulas throughout her labor and can be for parents expecting multiples, single or young mothers and anyone who would like the supportive embraced of two doulas during their birth.

*Special Circumstances
I believe that every woman should have the emotional, physical and psychological support of a doula at her birth no matter her financial situation and am happy to volunteer my time to women who are without means which can include bartering for products and services, payment plans or options.

*My birthing prices currently reflect my experience, 0-5 attended Births

Postpartum Package: $20-40
Postpartum doulas nurture and support the mother and her family after the birth of a baby-a time of great change in a household. 

As a postpartum doula I am available to help answer questions and provide help and assurance in a judgement-free, gentle way that allows you to discover your unique parenting style. Postpartum care begins after the birth of your baby for a minimum of 4 hours a day for as many days or weeks as you choose. We will work together to determine the length of time that you require me to assist you.
The package includes:
  • Breastfeeding support: latch and positioning
  • Emotional and physical support from labor recovery
  • Sibling care/babysitting
  • Meal preparation and light housekeeping
  • Unlimited phone and email support
  • Lavender-based, 100% organic baby massage oil
All Doula Fees and Services are payable in cash, credit card or via Paypal.
Some research about why doulas are valuable:
Research shows that women who have a doula attend their birth are 21% less likely to have a Cesarean section.[i]



[i] Hodnett, Gates, Hofmeyr, Sakala, Weston. Page 11, Cesarean outcome: relative risk with a doula is 0.79.
Ample research shows that the continuous presence of a caring, calming, and supportive doula not only leads to a more empowering and rewarding birth experience, but also to a host of other improved birth outcomes, such as:
-       increased initiation and duration of breastfeeding[i]
-       shorter labors[ii]
-       less need for anesthesia or analgesia[iii]
-       fewer vacuum and/or forceps births[iv]
-       higher APGAR scores[v]
-       better mother-baby bonding[vi]
-       less postpartum depression[vii]
-       more positive feelings about the birth[viii]
These outcomes, in turn, lead to many other health improvements. Breastfeeding, for instance, decreases a child’s risk of overweight and obesity, childhood illnesses, SIDS, asthma, and diabetes.[ix] It also helps the mother lose weight gained during pregnancy—important because 52% of U.S. women of childbearing age are overweight[x]—and decreases her risk of postpartum depression, diabetes, heart disease, and various cancers.[xi]


[i] Nommsen-Rivers LA, Mastergeorge AM, Hansen RL, Cullum AS, Dewey KG. “Doula care, early breastfeeding outcomes, and breastfeeding status at 6 weeks postpartum among low-income primiparae.” J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs, 38:157-173, 2009.
[ii] Campbell DA, Lake MF, Falk M, Backstrand JR. “A Randomized Control Trial of Continuous Support in Labor by a Lay Doula.” JOGNN, 35 (4): 456-464), 2006.
[iii] Kennell, Klaus, McGrath, Robertson, Hinkley.
[iv] Ibid.
[v] Gordon NP, Walton D, McAdam E, Derman J, Gallitero G, Garrett L. “Effects of providing hospital-based doulas in health maintenance organization hospitals.” Obstet Gynecol, 93(3):422-426, 1999.
[vi] Landry SH et al. “The effects of doula support during labor on mother-infant interaction at two months,” Pediatric Res, 43:13A, 1998.
[vii] Wolman WL, Chalmers B, Hofmeyr GJ et al. “Post-partum depression and companionship in the clinical birth environment: A randomized, controlled study.” Am J Obstet and Gynec, 168: 1380-1393, 1993.
[viii] Gordon, Walton, McAdam, Derman, Gallitero, Garrett.
[x] Baker JL, Gamborg M, Heitmann BL, Lissner L, Sorensen TIA, Rasmussen KM. “Breastfeeding reduces postpartum weight retention.” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition; 2008; vol 88: pp 1543-1551.

[xi] WomensHealth.gov. The cancers are breast cancer and ovarian cancer.