Frequently Asked Questions

- What is a doula?

The word "doula" is of Greek origin and traditionally means "a woman's servant." Today, a doula is recognized as a person who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to a birthing person and their family before, during, and shortly after childbirth.

- OK, but what exactly does a birth doula do?

Doulas do many things including provide emotional support, evidence-based information about pregnancy and childbirth, logistical support in the way of checklists and resource guides, and physical support during labor.

- Do doulas have training or credentials? What makes you a "professional" birth support worker?

Anyone may advertise themselves as a "doula," but a professional birth support worker should have some sort of training, experience, and certification. Lindsey is trained and certified by DONA International, a member of the Doula Association of Alberta and Calgary Doula Association, and certified by the Canadian Red Cross and IPAC Canada. adora is also insured by ProLink Canada, a Member of the Canadian Association of Birth Photographers, and is GST registered under the Government of Canada. Learn more about Lindsey.

- A doula replaces my partner/mom/other support person, right?

No way! A doula could never replace your partner, your mother, or any other person who means that much to you! Nor would we want to! A doula supports your existing relationships by providing strategies, suggestions, and instruction to other members of your birth team so that they may interact with you in a way that is positive and memorable for you both.

That said, if you don't have a partner/mom/other support person, hiring a doula is a great option to get the comfort, guidance, and connection you're looking for during childbirth so you aren't going it alone!

- Why would I want to have a doula? I can just bring my mom/sister/friend for free.

Yes, that's true, and I would be happy to work alongside them too! Because a doula is professionally trained in comfort measures and evidence-based research, they may be able to provide more strategic physical and informational support than a non-trained person would. They have also experienced the frantic activity of labor and birth many times and won't be phased by the hectic environment. And, as a neutral third party, a doula won't bring emotion or bias into your pregnancy or birth experience the same way family members often do. More evidence for doulas.

- Does a doula replace a doctor or midwife?

Not at all, and we won't try to! Doulas do not provide ANY kind of medical support. We don't perform cervical checks, we can't prescribe medication, we won't even make an "educated guess" about that nagging pregnancy rash. What we WILL do is encourage you to have open, honest, and regular conversations with your care provider and give you strategies for bringing up questions or concerns that are worrying you.

- I already have a midwife because I want a more holistic childbirth experience, so I probably don't need a doula.

You should ask your midwife about this! Calgary midwives love working with doulas because they provide an additonal layer of support to your pregnancy and birth experience. Similar to doctors/OBs, midwives are not available 24/7 to answer your questions or provide hands-on care. Your midwife would typically attend your labor once you're fairly close to pushing; your doula generally joins you to provide physical comfort measures and confidence-boosting mantras much earlier in labor. Your midwife also leaves soon after birth because they are on-call for other clients; your doula will stay to support you in the initial latch/breastfeeding experience and walk you through those early postpartum hours.

- Does a doula help with breastfeeding?

Yes! Your doula will assist with initiation of breastfeeding/first latch within an hour or two after birth, as long as everything has gone smoothly. More about Services.

- Can you attend my home birth?

Yes, you bet! As long as you are the client of a registered Alberta midwife, I would be happy to attend your home birth! More about Services.

- Are you a holistic midwife or traditional or radical birthkeeper? Will you attend my freebirth (premeditated birth without a medically-trained care team)?

No, a planned, medically-unattended birth is not a birth experience that I am comfortable attending for liability reasons and personal beliefs.

- Can I hire you to watch my newborn while I __? (take a shower, get a massage, get my hair done, have a nap)

Not really. As an expert in labor and birth, my schedule is incredibly unpredictable and not well-suited to regular postpartum doula support. Depending on your specific needs for daytime/evening/overnight shifts, I have a roster of fantastic postpartum doulas I would connect you to instead. Your postpartum doula and I can work closely together, especially immediation before/after birth to make your transition of care seamless and supportive.

- How are you different from any other Calgary doula?

I built adora with certain principles in mind that are the most modern you'll find in a Calgary doula business:

1. adora offers pregnancy support that makes sense for the modern family: online booking, digital contract signing, mobile-friendly web forms, and simple communication through text messaging, email, or whatever other method suits you best.

2. adora is committed to providing pregnancy and birth support that is non-judgemental with respect to medicated vs. non-medicated births, vaginal births vs. c-sections, and breastfeeding vs. bottle feeding. This is your birth, your body, and your baby; whatever decisions you make regarding those three things are the right decisions for you.

3. adora birth + wellness is my real, professional, full-time business. I pride myself on all the things that entails: professional credentials and assurances such as insurance claim eligibility, GST registration, and liability insurance; privacy of your information; slick software and a high-quality online experience; beautiful communication support materials; and a stellar reputation in the maternity care community.

- What do you provide? What does our doula package include?

Your package includes one prenatal meeting, attendance at your labor and birth, and one postpartum followup. A birth doula experience can encompass many things including information (resource guides, professional referrals), emotional support, and physical support during labor. Adora's doula service packages also include on-site birth photography if desired (subject to additional fees). More about Services.

- What happens at the prenatal meetings?

Generally speaking, we discuss your pregnancy concerns, look for issues concerning labor and birth where you need some extra confidence and address those with information or strategy, and define a plan or your specific preferences for your birth experience (in other words, write a "Birth Plan").

- What if I don't want birth photography? I don't want my vajayjay on instagram!

Prior to your birth day, you will be given the opportunity discuss to what level you are comfortable sharing images, and to provide your specific consent. More about birth photography.

- Have you attended a birth at ___? (insert Calgary care facility here: South Health Campus, Rockyview Hospital, Foothills Medical Centre, Peter Lougheed Centre, Arbour Birth Centre, High River Hospital)

Yes, yes, and yes! I have attended at all Calgary-area hospitals and birth centres, and would be happy to do so for you too!

- Have you worked with my doctor/midwife previously?

Possibly! I have worked with so many doctors and midwives that it's become hard to keep track! However, my previous relationship with your care provider isn't that important; I'm willing to work alongside anyone in a respectful way that adds value for all parties.

- Do you provide medical advice?

Not at all! Doulas do not provide ANY kind of medical support. We don't perform cervical checks, we can't prescribe medication, we won't even make an "educated guess" about that nagging pregnancy rash. What we WILL do is encourage you to have open, honest, and regular conversations with your care provider and give you strategies for bringing up questions or concerns that are worrying you.

- Will you come to my appointments or talk directly to my doctor/midwife?

If you have a specific appointment that is of concern (eg: ECV, amniocentisis, other pregnancy-related tests or procedures), we can work into your contract that I will attend for reassurance and informational support.

During your pregnancy and labor I will provide strategies for you to have tough conversations with your care provider or request more information before consenting to procedures. However, it is not my place to speak on your behalf and I will not express your wishes directly to your care provider, nor would they accept my voice as a substitute for yours.

- What if I need a c-section? Then I don't need a doula.

Doulas are very useful in c-section circumstances, from providing emotional support in coping with that recommendation, to providing one-on-one support to mom or baby after surgery, to giving you tips and guidance on managing the postpartum period after a c-section.

- How much does a doula cost?

Doula services in Calgary range from $700-1,600 on average. Service packages and options may differ between providers, so when interviewing prospective doulas, make sure to ask what specifically their fee includes. adora's Services + Pricing.

- Why are you more/less expensive than other Calgary doulas?

adora may be more expensive than other Calgary doulas, and less expensive than others! My fees are set according to the level of on-call service you will receive, the technology solutions that make your experience easy and painless, and the level of professionalism, and education you will benefit from.

- Do you offer payment plans?

adora contracts require an upfront retainer fee of 50% and the remaining balance due at 36 weeks. If you choose to make periodic payments and spread the amount out monthly or biweekly, that's absolutely doable! More about Services + Pricing.

- What if I need a c-section? Do I get a refund?

No, but there are other unique benefits I can offer in case of a C-section birth! adora C-section clients are entitled to exclusive cost-free loan of a Halo bassinet [ optimal for C/S recovery ], assistance preparing your home for C/S recovery, and extra postpartum care in-hospital while you sleep off your anaesthetic.

- What if my labor is fast? Do I get a refund?

In a word, no. Fast labor (also known as "precipitous labor") is not a justification for a refund. However, if unlucky circumstances result in my failure to attend your birth, additional postpartum support is an alternative option to fulfill the commitment as laid out in your contract.

- What if I change my mind and I don't want a doula to attend my birth? Do I get a refund?

No. Contrary to what you might think, your fee isn't actually paid just for me to attend your birth; in reality, doula fees compensate me for being on-call, for waiting for 32 days for the phone to ring, for dropping my life at a moment's notice - walking out on Christmas, a movie, or my daughter's birthday party - to support you on your biggest day. If you choose not to exercise that option, that's up to you, but unless you have cancelled your service contract in advance, fees previously paid are non-refundable. If you decide partway through your pregnancy that you do not require doula services, you may cancel your contract, but all fees paid to that point are non-refundable.

- What happens if I give birth prematurely?

First, you should know that this is unlikely! Second, you should know that I have previously supported pre-term/preemie births and you are in good hands! And third, as soon as we sign a contract and your retainer fee is paid, I am on-call for you.

Outside of 38-42 weeks of your estimated due date, my response time may be increased or I may be committed to other clients or away on vacation. If I am not able to attend on a specific date this will always be communicated with you and a certified, experienced backup doula will be available for you at no extra charge.