“Doula” is an ancient Greek word meaning “handmaiden”. Throughout history women have relied on other women for support and assistance during labor and birth. Now, when it is needed more than ever the practice is being revived. A birth doula provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to a mother before, during and just after childbirth.
Research has found that when doulas attend births labors are shorter, there are fewer complications, and there is less need for interventions like epidurals, vacuum extractions, oxytocin and cesarean deliveries. Babies are born healthier and breastfeed more easily.
A birth doula:
-recognizes birth as a key life experience that the mother will always remember.
-understands the physiology of birth, and the emotional needs of a woman in labor.
-provides emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint, assisting the mother and her partner though out the entire labor.
-nurtures and protects the woman’s memory of her birth.
My Approach
I offer parents my support to have the birth that they envision, whatever that may be. My priority is supporting you through the experience with respect and with kindness. I work to assist you in preparing yourself to make informed decisions for any scenario that may arise. I offer you information and research to answer your questions. At your birth I offer a calming, nurturing presence and I provide you with continuous emotional and physical support.
About Me
Faith Evans-Sills holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in Painting. She is engaged in painting on a regular basis and likes to explore other creative outlets including crafting with and for her children, and exploring holistic family living.In 2003 when she became pregnant with her first child she spent time extensively researching her birthing options, evaluating her birthing choices and finding community in which she felt supported through the birth and as a new parent. Through developing a network with other new and expectant parents Faith began sharing her knowledge and supporting other women to have the birth experiences that they envisioned and to educate themselves about the choices available to them. As women began turning to her for information and support Faith felt a calling to fulfill her dream of becoming a certified labor support doula. After the birth of her second child in 2007, she pursued her doula training and began attending births.
Faith is now the mother of a son and a daughter, she lives with her family in Park Slope, Brooklyn. She is professionally trained through DONA as a labor support doula who offers support to women and their families though out pregnancy and birth.
My Service Package
As a doula I work with laboring women and their families, offering non-judgemental support. I work in all settings including hospitals, birth centers and homes. I also work with clients seeking natural childbirth, vaginal births after cesarians, women planning to have epidurals, and those having scheduled cesarians. As your labor support doula I will respect all of your decisions and support you, you can not offend me or make a decision that I will not like!
I offer a complimentary initial one hour meeting at your home or public venue of your choice. At this meeting we will discuss your birth expectations and get to know one another. If after this initial meeting you feel that you would like to work with me then we will set up a prenatal meeting.
For our prenatal meeting I will come to your home to meet with you and your partner. We will spend time going over your birth plan and expectations in detail. If you have not created a birth plan and would like to have one I will help you explore your options. I will also help you research your choices for the baby immediately after the birth and to plan for your postpartum needs as necessary. As a breastfeeding, babywearing mother I would be happy to help you learn more about these practices if you are interested.
I will be available to you for contact via email thoughout your pregnancy to discuss your questions and concerns.
Starting at 3 weeks prior to your estimated due date I will be available to you for 24 hour phone and email support.
Once you think that you are in labor I ask that you call me right away. From there we will make a plan for when you want to me join you, either at your home or your birthing location. I will come to you whenever you want me to join you during your labor and I will remain with you continuously for the remainder of your labor. I also will remain with you for an hour or two after you give birth, leaving once I have helped you establish breastfeeding and you and your baby are resting comfortably and ready for some quiet family time.
We will have one postpartum meeting at your home about 2 weeks after the birth. At this meeting we will marvel at your baby, discuss your feelings about the birth, any concerns or difficulties that you are having and we will make sure that breastfeeding is well established. If you have any postpartum questions that I can not answer, I can refer you to local resources for the help that you need.
Fees
The total fee for my service package is $400. Half of this fee is due at the prenatal visit, and the remaining half is due at the postpartum visit.
I offer a complimentary initial one hour meeting at your home or public venue of your choice. At this meeting we will discuss your birth expectations and get to know one another. If after this initial meeting you feel that you would like to work with me then we will set up a prenatal meeting.
For our prenatal meeting I will come to your home to meet with you and your partner. We will spend time going over your birth plan and expectations in detail. If you have not created a birth plan and would like to have one I will help you explore your options. I will also help you research your choices for the baby immediately after the birth and to plan for your postpartum needs as necessary. As a breastfeeding, babywearing mother I would be happy to help you learn more about these practices if you are interested.
I will be available to you for contact via email thoughout your pregnancy to discuss your questions and concerns.
Starting at 3 weeks prior to your estimated due date I will be available to you for 24 hour phone and email support.
Once you think that you are in labor I ask that you call me right away. From there we will make a plan for when you want to me join you, either at your home or your birthing location. I will come to you whenever you want me to join you during your labor and I will remain with you continuously for the remainder of your labor. I also will remain with you for an hour or two after you give birth, leaving once I have helped you establish breastfeeding and you and your baby are resting comfortably and ready for some quiet family time.
We will have one postpartum meeting at your home about 2 weeks after the birth. At this meeting we will marvel at your baby, discuss your feelings about the birth, any concerns or difficulties that you are having and we will make sure that breastfeeding is well established. If you have any postpartum questions that I can not answer, I can refer you to local resources for the help that you need.
Fees
The total fee for my service package is $400. Half of this fee is due at the prenatal visit, and the remaining half is due at the postpartum visit.
What Clients are Saying
“ My husband and I can’t imagine the whole (birth) experience without Faith. We definitely needed a third person, and Faith remained calm and encouraging through the highs and lows of my long labor. Her suggestions for positions and her massaging during contractions were very helpful.”
“I am so glad my husband and I had Faith at our daughter’s birth. Her enthusiasm and commitment to helping women give birth is obvious. Faith respected my vision for the birth and did everything she could to help me accomplish my personal goals. Through a very long, intense first time labor, her steadfast presence was invaluable to us.”
“I am so glad my husband and I had Faith at our daughter’s birth. Her enthusiasm and commitment to helping women give birth is obvious. Faith respected my vision for the birth and did everything she could to help me accomplish my personal goals. Through a very long, intense first time labor, her steadfast presence was invaluable to us.”
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