I believe that birth is a rite of passage and however you choose to birth should be honored. Birth has the power to transform. It is an opportunity to let go, listen, and receive. As a Doula, my intention is to inform and empower birthing people to trust their inner knowing and support them through the transition from pregnancy to parenthood.

What is a Birth Doula?

The role of the Doula is to provide continuous physical and emotional support through pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. During labor, the Doula’s job is to focus solely on the needs of a birthing person and partner, guiding them through the use of breath, gentle massage, and meditation.
However you choose to give birth, unmedicated, medicated, or surgically, the support of a Doula is incredibly beneficial in lowering stress and reducing the odds of unnecessary interventions.

Preparing for Birth | Prenatal Sessions

As we work together leading up to your birth, it is my intention to help you find clarity, ease, and hopefully a sense of excitement about the incredible experience that is unfolding before you. We will meet 3-4 times before your birth. These prenatal sessions are an opportunity to get to know each other. We will explore anything that is coming up for you emotionally surrounding your birth, such as fears and expectations that may be present. We’ll discuss comfort measures and relaxation techniques that you may be interested in using during labor. If you plan to have a partner or birth team present, we will meet together to come up with a plan on how we can best support you. I provide you with information about the stages of labor, the birthing process, what to expect if you are birthing at the hospital, birth center or home, newborn care procedures, education on breast + bottle feeding, and what you may need to feel prepared for your postpartum period. For our last meeting together, you have the option of having me join you at a prenatal appointment so that I can meet your practitioner or we can continue our education at home.

Labor and Birth Support

In the two weeks leading up to your due date, I will be on call and ready to meet you when labor begins. Once I join you, I’ll remain by your side throughout the entirety of your birth. We will focus on the relaxation, breathing, and comfort measures we discussed in our prenatal meetings. I will be there to help you ask the right questions in order for you make informed decisions as they arise and I will do everything I can to make this the birth experience you envisioned.

Postpartum Visit

Once you have settled into a routine, we will plan a final postpartum visit. This is an opportunity to talk and connect about your birth experience and anything that may have come up during your birth that needs healing. As a Lactation Educator and Counselor, I’m available to counsel any breastfeeding issues should they arise and point you in the right direction for continued support. Birth is only the beginning of this journey and I can’t stress enough the importance of finding the right support for yourself and your partner after the birth of your child.

Birth Photography

Having been a photographer long before I became a Doula, it is a joy for me to include birth photography in my list of services. I am often asked how I am able to support a birthing woman while also documenting the experience, but all I can say is that it just works! If you are interested in birth photography, we can discuss what that will look like and how we can tailor it to your needs.

Newborn + Family Photography

I love nothing more than being able to capture authentic moments between parents and children and the newness that follows the birth of a child. I shoot with all natural light and my sessions last no more than 2/2.5 hours so as not to exhaust everyone involved.

One on One Birth Preparation Sessions

If you are looking for the support and personalized education that a doula brings to their clients without the day-of doula support, this is a wonderful option. These sessions can be customized to wherever you are in your birth and postpartum education and can be done virtually if need be. Individualized Childbirth Education includes signs and stages of labor, possible interventions, what to expect if you are birthing at a hospital, birth center or home, newborn care procedures, comfort measures and relaxation techniques, lactation education, and how to be prepared for the postpartum period. I now offer these sessions for Los Angeles based clients.

Virtual Birth Support

While we are in this period of uncertainty and flux due to the Coronavirus, I will be offering my services as a virtual doula and childbirth educator.  I’ll work with you to decide how you’d like to plan our prenatal sessions and how I can best support you on the day of your birth. Please email me if you are looking for support or have questions about what this may look like.

Please email me at kate@katedanson.com for pricing and more information.

The Specifics

Birth Doula Support
1 initial meeting in person to connect
3-4 prenatal visits including the possibility of a doctor/midwife visit
Individualized Childbirth Education including signs and stages of labor, possible interventions, what to expect if you are birthing at a hospital, birth center or at home, newborn care procedures, comfort measures and relaxation techniques, lactation education, and how to be prepared for the postpartum period
Phone and email support during pregnancy and 6 weeks postpartum
On-call in the weeks surrounding your estimated due date
Continuous physical and emotional support through the entirety of your birth
1 Postpartum Visit

Birth Photography
1 initial meeting in person to connect and discuss your needs and how I can best support you
On-call in the weeks surrounding your estimated due date
Photographic documentation of your labor, birth, and the moments after when you have your baby in your arms
Photos will be ready for you as digital files 4-6 weeks postpartum

Newborn and Family Photography
2hr Session | at-home or on location documentary portraits of your new baby and family
Photos will be ready as digital files within 2 weeks of our session

One on One Birth Preparation Sessions | ideal for LA based clients
2-3 Sessions In-Person or Virtually
Each session is about 1.5/2 hours in length and covers everything you need to know to be prepared for your birth and postpartum window
Session 1 | getting to know each other, discussing your ideal birth & postpartum experience, and going through my educational materials to help you find clarity in that vision
Session 2 | you will be provided information about the stages of labor, the birthing process, what to expect if you are birthing at the hospital, birth center or home, possible interventions, newborn care procedures, and comfort measures & relaxation techniques
Session 3 | our final session will cover lactation education and how to be prepared for the postpartum window, including ayurvedic recipes and practices that support your body’s innate ability to heal after childbirth
Email support during pregnancy and postpartum period included

Birth Packages

Package 1 – Doula

1 initial meeting in person to connect
3-4 prenatal visits
Childbirth + Lactation Education | Postpartum + Home Prep
Phone and email support during pregnancy and postpartum period
On-call in the weeks surrounding your estimated due date
Continuous physical and emotional support through the entirety of your birth
1 Postpartum Visit

Package 2 – Doula + Birth Photography

1 initial meeting in person to connect
3-4 prenatal visits including a doctor/midwife visit
Childbirth + Lactation Education | Postpartum + Home Prep
Phone and email support during pregnancy and postpartum period
On-call in the weeks surrounding your estimated due date
Continuous physical and emotional support through the entirety of your birth
1 Postpartum Visit
+ Birth Photography

Package 3 – Virtual Birth Support

3-4 prenatal meetings via FaceTime or Zoom
Childbirth + Lactation Education | Postpartum + Home Prep
Phone and email support during pregnancy and postpartum period
On-call in the weeks surrounding your estimated due date
Virtual/Phone Support during your labor and birth
1 Follow Up Postpartum Virtual Meeting

Package 4 – One On One Birth Preparation Sessions

2-3 Sessions In-Person or Virtually
1.5/2 hours in length and covers everything you need to know to be prepared for your birth and postpartum window
Childbirth + Lactation Education | Ayurvedic Postpartum Prep
Email support during pregnancy and postpartum period included
Virtual/Phone Support during your labor and birth if you don’t plan to have a doula present

Photography Packages

Birth Photography

1 initial meeting in person to connect and discuss your vision for the birth photography
Birth Photography at your birthing location

Newborn + Family Photography

1 initial phone/email conversation to discuss your vision and the location of the photo shoot
2hr photo session

Please email me at kate@katedanson.com for pricing and more information.