Services

Our services include the following: - 2 prenatal visits, each approximately 2 hours in length - 1 postpartum visit - availability by phone and email 24 hours a day, up until the last postpartum visit - borrowing access to our library of books and videos - photography of the birth, if desired and a birth story - support during, and immediately after labour and birth Prenatal Visits First Prenatal During the first prenatal visit, we will go over your history, as relevant to pregnancy and birth. We will discuss the kind of birth you would like to have, your hopes and fears, and introduce the idea of a birth plan. Second Prenatal During the second prenatal visit, we will go over your birth plan, which you, perhaps with the help of your partner, will have worked on since we last saw you. The rest of the visit will be used to plan for the labour and birth. We will practice and discuss various pain coping techniques, talk about when you should call us, and how to pass the time in early labour. Labour and Birth As soon as you are in labour, we would like you to call us and let us know. This allows us to prepare ourselves for the eventuality of joining you in the near future, and planning our day accordingly. As soon as you feel as though you need our support, call, and one of us will be there within the hour. We will remain with you throughout the labour, until approximately one hour after the birth. Postnatal Visits The postnatal visit will take place 2-3 weeks after the birth. During this visit, we will discuss how you think the birth went, and how you feel about it. We will stay for between 1-2 hours, and will be available to help you with anything you need around the house. We will offer breastfeeding support as needed, as well as present you with your birth story and photos. Birth Story and Photographs Your birth story will be written from our perspective, and will contain many important, and subtle details of your sweet baby's entry into this world. We will also provide you with a compact disc containing the photo files. How Blossoming Bellies Works If you are interested in learning more about us, please contact us for a no-obligation, complimentary consultation. Both Niko and Julie (barring unforeseen circumstances) will attend all appointments together. Only one doula will typically attend your birth (unless both doulas are requested), depending on who is available at the time. Our Fees The fee for our services is $600. We understand that this may make our services inaccessible to some, so we are willing to adjust that fee on a case-by-case basis, or refer you to another doula, if necessary. *As we start this journey together, our fees are reduced to $400  for the time being.