Mary Bader
Labor Support and Postpartum Doula Services

  ·  216.470.9094
1603 Belle Ave  ·  Cleveland, Ohio 44107

About Our Doula Services: What You Can Expect

• Excellent rapport with the mother and her family through prenatal visits and telephone contact.
• Information about birth choices and help for the mother as she organizes her birth plan.
• Availability to the mother 24 hours per day by phone prior to labor.
• Availability for labor to begin at any time.
• Remaining at the mother's side throughout her entire labor.
• Explaning obstetric routines and procedures to the mother and family; keeping the mother advised about her progress during labor.
• Maintaining a calm, supportive and encouraging presence.
• Recognizing the importance of fathers and other family members; encouraging and promoting their efforts to help the mother (doulas always serve as role models).

• Assisting the mother with position changes that alleviate pain and encourage the baby's descent in the birth canal.
• Providing massage, accupressure, counterpressure, aromatherapy and visualization, all of which alleviate pain and promote relaxation.
• Assisting with shower or whirlpool bath.
• Protecting the labor room environment according to the mother's wishes
• Respecting the mother's birth plan choices throughout labor, delivery and after the baby is born.

About Our Postpartum Doula Services

Postpartum services are available days, evenings and overnights. The postpartum doula works a minimum of 4-6 hours during the day or evening and a minimum of 8 hours overnight. The family and the postpartum doula will negotiate the days and hours of care that will be most helpful to them. Parents are assured care for all contracted hours and can increase the number of hours of care if the need arises. The postpartum doula will support the family as long as they feel they need help. Postpartum care is available anywhere from a few days to several months. The specific needs of each family will be discussed and decided upon an individual basis.

Daytime Care offers support, not only for the mother and infant(s) but for the entire family as well. Your postpartum doula helps maintain a sense of balance and peace in your home by staying ahead of daily chores, including laundry, dishes and meal preparation. In such an environment, the new parents are able to rest, relax and get to know the new addition to their family.

Overnight Care offers support to the parents during the night by assisting with breastfeeding and/or bottlefeeding, diaper changes, preparing drinks and snacks for the new mom and some late night dishes or laundry. The postpartum doula can help you adjust to the changes in your nighttime routine and help you find ways to care for yourself as you care for your baby.

Bedrest Care allows the woman to limit her activity level, knowing that her children are well cared for and her home continues to run smoothly.

Special Services

In addition to the above services, each mother receives a journal of her child’s birth story, and each baby receives his or her own handknit hat.

The birth journal tells how the labor progressed, including exams, tests, funny comments that the mother and family members may have made, and medical details, such as the time the baby was born, the name of the hospital, weight, length, and Apgar scores. These birth journals are a great reference for moms and their families because women in labor are usually unaware of what's going on around them and frequently want details of the labor and delivery to help them relive the event.

Looking for a Doula in the Cleveland, Ohio area?

Mary Bader is a DONA certified doula and postpartum doula with years of experience assisting long and short labors, natural births, high-risk pregnancies, and VBAC births. For more information, contact at (216) 470-9094.