Empowering & compassionate care

for life’s most profound transition

Warm, personalized, evidence-based support for an
informed pregnancy and empowering birth in southern MN

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My birth support philosophy:

Having a child is one of the biggest life changes you’ll go through, and birth is the portal through which you enter this new phase. Birth should be respected as a sacred and tender time, requiring the utmost attention and care.

I believe that every family deserves to feel confident and informed during pregnancy and to have the support they need to birth the way that feels intuitive and important to them!

  • "Madeline was fantastic doula!! She was so helpful in providing resources and thoughtful responses to our many questions! She is very patient and kind and definitely a huge help during my pregnancy!"

    — Alicia

Why hire a doula?  

*

Why hire a doula?   *

Evidence shows that having the support of a doula during the birthing time can improve health outcomes for both the birthing person and newborn.

One study showed that continuous support, like the support you receive from a doula, could have the following positive effects:

  • decreased use of pain medications

  • decreased chance of cesarean birth

  • shorter labor

  • higher APGAR scores

  • increased satisfaction with the birth

*None of these outcomes is guaranteed.

Frequently
Asked
Questions

  • A birth doula supports a birthing person and their to family feel confident and empowered during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

    Some ways a doula can offer support:

    • physical support including help with breathing, movement, massage, laboring positions

    • emotional support with words of encouragement, affirmations, and partner support

    • advocacy for your birth wishes and holding space for decision-making within the birthing time

    *A doula is not medically trained.

  • I am based in Northfield, MN and offer support at hospital, birth center, and home births within Northfield, southern Twin Cities Metro, and Rochester areas.

    Birthing locations I go to include:
    Northfield Hospital, Fairview hospitals (Ridges, Southdale, Riverside), Allina hospitals (Abbott, United), Health Partners/Park Nicollet hospitals (Regions, Methodist), Mayo Hospitals (Rochester, Red Wing), Olmstead Medical Center

    Twin Cities Birth Center, Minneapolis Birth Center, Roots Birth Center

    home births with ~60 minutes of 55057

  • Whenever you are looking for support through the ups and downs of pregnancy and birth prep is a great time to look for a doula! Most folks hire me between 20 and 30 weeks of pregnancy.

  • Yes! Every single birthing person benefits from hiring the right doula, even those with the best support team. Your partner (or mom, friend, sister, etc) knows YOU and your doula knows BIRTH.

    Read my blog post here about the different roles a birth partner and a birth doula can play in labor and birth.

  • Absolutely! Every birth is different, and regardless of how previous birth(s) have gone, it is essential to prepare for each birth in a way that makes you feel confident and empowered. Helping you get there is the goal of my care and education as a doula.

    Together as a team we can use previous birth experiences to shape how you prepare for this upcoming birth.

  • Yes! An epidural is a great pain management tool, and the work doesn’t stop when you start to feel the medicine working. I support clients with epidurals by staying with you while your partner rests, offering position changes based on baby’s location in the pelvis, help you talk through next steps, support and encourage you through the pushing phase, and continue to advocate with you the whole time.

  • Your relationship with your doula is highly personal, so it’s important to interview several candidates to find the right fit. You’ll probably have a gut feeling within the first few minutes of a doula interview if they will be a good fit for your birth team, and it is important to ask them how they align with the kind of support you’re looking for.

    Read my blog post here about how to choose a doula.

  • My standard services include 1 postpartum visit to process the birth, share photos, and offer care referrals.

    I am not a postpartum doula offering newborn care or assistance with light housework, though I’d love to give you recommendations for some great postpartum doulas!

  • Starting from when you sign the contract you have access to me via text, call, or email during the day, through the end of your pregnancy.

    Beginning at 38 weeks I am officially on call for your birth, meaning that I am fully available to offer virtual support at any hour of the day and am ready to join you in person whenever you wish. I sleep with my phone by my bed and love hearing updates from you, even if it’s not baby time quite yet!

  • I have a network of trusted backup doulas that are ready to step in in the rare case that I am ill, have a family emergency, or am at another birth. Providing a reliable backup doula is part of your contract with me, and I will be in communication with you should this option need to be utilized.

  • Medical care is not within the scope of practices for birth doulas, so any medical training a doula may have is a personal preference. I don’t have any formal medical training except for a long-expired Wilderness First Responder certification, though I have numerous birth-related trainings under my belt.

  • I sure do! I share these trusted referrals with clients, but feel free to reach out if you feel stuck looking for a care provider in specific.

labor room counter with paper charts, fetal doppler, baby blanket, speaker, snacks

I’d love to hear from you

Are you planning to birth in a hospital, birth center, or your home in Northfield or the southern Twin Cities metro?

Feel free to reach out via the inquiry form to see what hiring a doula is all about and see if we’re a good fit. I can’t wait to meet you!