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Verge Birth

What does a doula do?

Doulas are professionals trained in providing emotional, physical, and informational support during labor. They are not responsible for the medical outcomes, but rather for supporting the laboring person. Doulas may work with the birthing person's support person to provide massage, heat/cold, aromatherapy, and positions that can help ease the pain of contractions and facilitate the progression of labor. When the birthing person wants to use medical interventions or when things don’t go exactly as planned (which they usually don’t!), doulas are there to help the birthing person and partner, if there is one, understand and consider their choices in real-time.

Benefits of a doula

  • Whether you are giving birth in a hospital, birth center, or at home, you will have skilled medical professionals such as nurses, midwives, and doctors who are focused on making sure you have a safe birth. But many people in labor find that no matter how much they have prepared or how many medical practitioners are present, it is reassuring to have a knowledgeable person at the birth who is accountable only to them.
  • Having a doula has been shown in numerous studies to improve medical outcomes in birth, including:
  • 50% reduction in the need for Cesarean delivery
  • 25% shorter labor
  • 60% fewer requests for epidural anesthesia
  • Nearly double the rate of successful breastfeeding
  • Read more about the clinical benefits of a doula at DONA International and at the American Pregnancy Association.

Why choose Verge?

All families and all bodies, regardless of structure, identity, cultural expression, or financial means, deserve quality care. Patti is passionate about supporting all kinds of pregnant bodies. Her doula training (DONA approved) and has prepared her for supporting laboring people; her commitment to education ensures that her clients are informed; and her intuition and evidence-based practices provide a holistic approach.
As a queer person who experienced many years of fertility treatments and pregnancy loss, she understands different kinds of families and that pregnancy can be both a joy and a source of worry. Her life experience helps her to be particularly attuned to those who are umothered or untethered to their family of origin. Patti has had a long career of amplifying voices and clearing paths. More about Patti

What's included?

  • The doula package is coupled with support service before and after birth and includes the following:
  • Complimentary initial conversation via email, phone, or in person to discuss services and determine whether Verge is the right fit for you
  • One to two comprehensive prenatal meeting(s) to discuss in depth your pregnancy history, birth preferences, and other information that will help prepare you for the birth and help provide the best support to you
  • Unlimited phone and email consultation during your pregnancy
  • Attendance at your labor and delivery, including emotional, physical, and informational support
  • Postpartum visit to help with feeding, birth recovery, sleep issues, other questions
  • Cost: The cost for the package is offered on a sliding scale. Sliding scale information can be found here.
  • Many Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) will cover all or part of doula services. Verge can provide you with an itemized receipt you can submit directly to your insurance carrier for reimbursement.
Supporting you and your choices. Every birthing person has different hopes for their birth. A successful birth is one in which the parent(s) feel that they were supported and empowered to make the choices that were right for them throughout the process.
Partnering with partners. The doula's role is to support both the birthing person and their support people, whether they are co-parents, partners, siblings, friends, or grandparents. A doula will work side-by-side with partners to support the laboring person.
Communication and affirmation.Pregnant, laboring, and birthing people are powerful. Physical and emotional support from a doula can help a birthing person to stay in touch with that power.

  • AFFIRM YOUR POWER

  • ADVOCATE FOR YOUR VISION & CHOICES

  • SUPPORT PARTNERS IN SUPPORTING YOU

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