Birth Doula Services

2019

A Message from Sunday Inside this packet: Thank you for inquiring about includes an agreement for the services I provide, along doula services and related Research; Birth Partner; 2 with a trusted group of doula documents, let me know if you Doula Team colleagues. I would be have any questions or Expectations; Staying in 3 delighted to have the concerns. I am happy to Touch opportunity to share the communicate with you by amazing experience of email, or you are welcome to Birth Options; Comfort, 4 pregnancy and birth with you! call me to chat. Coping, Relaxation It is my mission to provide If you are interested in taking it Six Steps to a Healthy 5 respectful, holistic and one step further, we can engage our services, I suggest Birth compassionate support schedule a free no-obligation that we meet this first time at a public place, such as a coffee Optional Additional 6-7 throughout the childbearing introductory meeting so that shop or library. We can find a Services year with an emphasis on you can determine if The education, self-discovery and Doula Experience is the right spot that is convenient for Agreement for Birth 8-9 self-empowerment for those fit for you and your special both of us. Doula Services planning hospital or home needs. I look forward to speaking Client Registration Form 10 births. In order to protect your with you about how I and my Once you have reviewed this privacy, particularly in the colleagues can serve you! Client Confidentiality 11 information packet, which event that you may not wish to Release Form

Information Why Choose a DONA Certified Birth Doula? Packet By hiring a DONA certified the highest standards and that would otherwise be done and birth doula, you can be assured under a strict code of by your doctor, midwife or that you have an experienced professional ethics. nurse, such as monitoring fetal and skilled guide by your side heart tones or checking for Agreement The DONA certified doula’s who has achieved a major scope of practice is very clear cervical dilation. for Doula professional milestone and and includes informational Because of her vast experience Services who is committed to guidance, emotional support, in the complex birth system, maintaining professional physical comfort measures and she can help you to navigate excellence. positioning to encourage labor this unfamiliar environment. You can be confident that your progress. She does not perform Your doula will remind you certified doula practices with any medical or clinical tasks that your voice and your choice matters!

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What the Research Tells Us about Doula Support

The original findings on the documenting their unique sections, fewer operative valuable effects of doula findings in the 1980s; and the vaginal deliveries (forceps or support happened quite by doula movement began! vacuum extraction), less need accident! Drs. Marshall Klaus Since then, extensive research to use artificial hormones, and John H. Kennell were has continued to conclusively fewer requests for pain seeking to prove the demonstrate that the support medications among mothers advantages of keeping mothers of a birth doula statistically who desire to avoid them, and babies together after birth, improves obstetrical outcomes, shorter labors, healthier babies, when they found that the mere decreases medical improved breastfeeding presence of a supportive complications, improves experiences and less researcher in the birth room mother-infant attachment, and postpartum depression. had very beneficial effects on promotes the expectant These improved outcomes are the mothers’ birth experiences. mother’s overall satisfaction exclusive to doula support and This led them to expand on with her experience. This are not replicated with the their field of research, first translates into fewer cesarean support of loved ones or professional staff.

But, What about My Partner?

A birth doula does not take the and cutting the cord. Other successful no matter how he or place of the birthing person’s partners may worry about the she wishes to participate. partner (be it the baby’s father responsibility of having to The doula can mentor the or another loved one), but she know what to do and when to “Our doula helped me partner who wants to be fully provides assistance in addition do it to help the mother to stay calm and enjoy involved, providing the birth of our baby.” to the partner’s loving support. manage her labor. Still others suggestions for what to do may feel squeamish about the —Former Client Dad For some partners, this time is when and how. And the doula filled with the anticipation of whole process. can help the reluctant or supporting the mother in every Your doula will help your nervous partner feel included possible way, from giving back partner feel comfortable and but safe in a less-responsible rubs to helping during pushing role.

Your Doula Team

You will have two doulas on periods of her unavailability. Of Although this is a rare your doula team. Your primary course, you will also meet your occurrence, arrangements might doula will be your main point of backup doula. need to be made for a third contact during your pregnancy You will be given an on-call backup doula to ensure 24/7 and will be available for you schedule, so that you know coverage. during the majority of the on- which doula is available for you The goal is to provide you with call period (37 to 42 weeks). whenever you might need to the assurance that you will have You will also have a backup speak with a doula and when doula support, no matter what doula who will work closely with you are in labor. the circumstances! your primary doula to cover any © 2019 The Doula Experience Perinatal Services

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What You Can Expect From Your Doulas

Your doula team is committed and engage in discussions with We will provide resources and to your personal satisfaction in you on the benefits, risks, referrals, as needed and your birth and immediate tradeoffs and alternatives of requested. postpartum experience. those options, so that you can We will provide continuous We will work closely with you make informed and confident emotional, informational and to ease your fears and lessen decisions. physical support throughout your concerns. We will plan and implement the entirety of your birth We will help you identify your strategies for coping with your experience. birth values so you can prepare labor. We will keep your confidences more confidently for the type We will assist you in planning and protect your privacy, with of birth experience that feels your birth and communicating respect to both ordinary and just right for you. with your care providers. sensitive matters. We will assist you in fully We will respect your goals and understanding your options desires, without bias or judgment.

What Your Doulas Expect of You

First and foremost, your doula We expect that you will share our guidance and support, if it team expects that you will be your values and goals with us, would be helpful to you. honest with, and true to, as well as your special needs or We hope that you will prepare “If a doula were a yourself. In other words, individual circumstances and for your birth by attending a acknowledge and respect who allow us to help you design the drug, it would be good quality childbirth class. unethical not to use it.” you are and what appeals to type of support you need to you and plan and prepare for a achieve your goals. We hope you will not be shy —John H. Kennell, MD DONA International birth experience that will about asking for our assistance We encourage you to face your and allowing us to be a Founder satisfy you and not one that is fears and concerns and based solely on cultural ideals. shoulder to lean on and a approach them directly, with resource for you. Staying in Touch

Communicating on a regular You can let your doulas know Phone calls about non-urgent basis will give you and your your preferred method of matters are welcomed between doula team the opportunity to communication prenatally, be 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday become even more familiar it phone calls, text messages or through Friday and until noon and comfortable with one emails, keeping in mind that on Saturday. For urgent another. A good rule of thumb each form of communication matters, such as a critical is to at least check in with your has its advantages and situation or during labor, call primary doula after each limitations. For example, for anytime, day or night. prenatal obstetrical more in-depth discussions, a Emails will be responded to appointment. If you don’t, she phone call or even an email is within 24 to 48 hours. will be checking in with you! preferable to a text message.

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Options for Your Birth

You have a lot of options to might require negotiation or an Do you want a VBAC, rather consider about the type of entirely different set of decisions, than scheduling a repeat birth experience you want. altogether. Some examples are: cesarean? If a cesarean section The choices you will make How do you feel about relying on becomes necessary, do you range from those that have a IV fluids instead of being free to have any special requests? good deal of significance to eat and drink at will? Do you When your baby is born, how those that simply represent have a preference for how and do you want him/her to be your personal style or goals. when they will monitor your received by you and For instance, a significant baby’s well-being? Do you wish welcomed? What about the decision you will make is to be active and have unrestricted umbilical cord? Who will cut it whether to gestate until movement while in labor? Are and when do you want it cut? spontaneous onset of labor, there any positions or activities How long do you want to keep initiated by the baby, or to that you wish to engage in (or your baby with you, have your labor induced. A not) during first stage labor? Are undisturbed, before newborn choice based on your you planning to use comfort and procedures? Do you plan to personal style is whether you coping techniques for all or part breastfeed? want to wear your own of your labor, rather than Your doulas will discuss all of clothes, rather than a hospital pharmaceuticals? If you are these options and more with gown. When considering your considering a narcotic, nitrous you at your prenatal planning options, it is important to oxide and/or an epidural, do you meeting, but it is best if you know that some will depend have any preferences for when have given them some serious on how you and your baby you wish to receive them? Do thought beforehand. See the are faring through labor, and you want to have as much time as Six Steps to a Healthy Birth on may need to be revised at the you need to get through the page 5 for more information. time, while others are options stages of labor and birth your ”If I don’t know my you can choose no matter baby or are you okay with active Below you will find some option, I don’t what the circumstances of management of labor? Have you options listed for physical have any.” your labor. Additionally, given any thought to positions comfort, coping and relaxation —Diana Korte some care providers or birth and techniques for birthing your techniques. Think about places may not freely offer baby? Does it matter whether you whether any of them appeal to you the full range of options, have an episiotomy or do you you and let your doulas know which may or may not be want to take steps to avoid one? your preferences. okay with you, and which Comfort, Coping and Relaxation Techniques

Whatever brings you comfort in Environment: staying home as sing/moan/count, focal point, your everyday life will be most long as possible, privacy, quiet, pray/chant/meditate, soothing helpful and appealing to you in dim lighting, scents/aromas, words, distraction, warmth your labor because it is a music, special items from home Physical Comfort: representation of who you are. Relaxation Techniques: activity/freedom of movement, Out of the following options, calmness, encouragement, rest, shower, bath, warm take note of those that interest companionship, breath compresses, cold compresses, you and those you expect to help awareness, massage/touch, acupressure, massage/massage you cope with your labor. Maybe guided imagery/visualization/ tools, TENS unit, birth ball, you can think of others? self-hypnosis, vocalization/ pillows, nourishment

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Six Steps to a Healthy Birth by Lamaze International

Lamaze International, a long- links to other resources that Healthy Birth Practice 4: time leader in childbirth promote evidence-based birth Avoid interventions that are education, developed a set of practices. not medically necessary birth practices to help birthing If you are interested in learning Some practices that are people learn how to give birth more about how Lamaze routinely done (episiotomy, in the safest and healthiest way International came to its routine IV fluids, early cord possible. The Lamaze Healthy conclusions, click on the links clamping) may not actually be Birth Practices are meant to under each Healthy Birth necessary, and in fact, have simplify the birth process with Practice to download an article been shown to have increased an approach designed to ease explaining and supporting the health risks. Do your research fears and reduce pain. research for each practice. on birth interventions and have These Healthy Birth Practices Healthy Birth Practice 1: a conversation with your care are supported by research Let labor begin on its own provider about their frequency studies that examine the of use. If you find your goals benefits and risks of maternity Avoid inducing labor (learn are not in alignment, you may care practices. That means that about medical reasons for consider finding a new they represent "evidence-based induction) unless necessary. provider. care," which is the gold Babies know best when to be born -- allowing baby to Healthy Birth Practice 5: standard for maternity care Avoid giving birth on your worldwide. Evidence-based choose his or her birth date helps ensure proper growth back and follow your body's care means "using the best urges to push research about the effects of and health. specific procedures, drugs, Healthy Birth Practice 2: Laboring and birthing while tests, and treatments, to help Walk, move around and lying in bed (on your back) can “The power and guide decision-making." change positions throughout lengthen labor, make it more intensity of your contractions cannot be labor painful, and make birth more In February 2017, the difficult. stronger than you, American Congress of Moving around in labor isn't because it is you.” Healthy Birth Practice 6: Obstetricians and just for fun, it helps labor —Unknown Gynecologists (ACOG), which progress! Different positions Keep mother and baby is the professional organization work well to speed up labor, together - It's best for for OB/GYNs in the United lower pain, and help baby mother, baby and States, released new move down. breastfeeding recommendations called Healthy Birth Practice 3: Babies do best on mom's “Approaches to Limit Bring a loved one, friend or chest. Uninterrupted skin-to- Intervention During Labor and doula for continuous skin care gives babies the best Birth.” ACOG’s position aligns support start in life. perfectly with the Lamaze Six Hopefully, this information Healthy Birth Practices. Continuous support during labor has been shown to will be useful to you as you Also, on the Mothers Advocate reduce the length of labor, prepare for and plan the type website, you will find six free lower the risk of cesarean and of birth experience that, not brief videos describing and medical interventions, and only is the healthiest for you supporting each of the Lamaze increase confidence about and your baby, but also aligns Six Healthy Birth Practices, labor and birth for you and with your goals and ideals. along with free print materials your partner. available for download and

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Optional Additional Services

In addition to the basic services At UH Landerbrook: 6-week Call UH Health Match at 216-844- offered by your doulas under their BirthWorks® ($170), 5-week 4000 or Southwest General at scope of practice, Sunday offers HypnoBirthing® ($170), 3-hour 440-816-8036 to register. Early optional services in accordance Comfort and Coping Techniques registration is recommended. with her additional trainings and supplementary class ($35); at UH These and more options are also certifications. Westlake: 1-day or 2-evening offered privately in your home or Sunday offers a variety of Express Prepared Childbirth ($85); at Sunday’s home in Strongsville. childbirth preparation class at Southwest General: 2-evening Please inquire about availability options at three hospital locations Express Prepared Childbirth ($80). and fees for private or small group or privately. instruction and refresher classes. BirthWorks® International Classes

BirthWorks® is a philosophy of acknowledgement of the to decrease fear and increase childbirth that upholds birth as emotional and psychological confidence, all offered with a instinctive and pregnant people aspects of pregnancy, birth and positive attitude and focus. as fully capable of birthing parenting, a discussion of the A six-week class is offered at their babies. Classes include medicalization of birth, UH Landerbrook or privately. information about the techniques for being an physiology of birth, informed consumer, and tools

® “True learning is not HypnoBirthing—The Mongan Method Classes accomplished by pounding something HypnoBirthing® is a method of relaxed manner. Classes into positives and instruction new into our psyche; it childbirth preparation utilizing include discussions of the for the birthing person and is allowing our innate wisdom to come forth.” relaxation and self-hypnosis physiology of birth, informed birth partner on how to techniques designed to allow decision making, comfort effectively use the program. —Allan Cohen the birthing person to respond measures, self-hypnosis A five-week class is offered at to her labor in a calm and exercises, reframing negatives UH Landerbrook or privately.

Express Prepared Childbirth -and- Comfort & Coping Techniques

Express Prepared Childbirth pregnancy, labor and birth, It offers comprehensive is offered as two evening based on the Lamaze® preparation for expectant sessions or one all-day session philosophy. parents, helping them learn how to create a relaxed and at UH Westlake, two evening Comfort and Coping supportive labor and birth sessions at Southwest General Techniques for Childbirth is or privately. These abbreviated environment, discover how offered at UH Landerbrook or movement and positioning classes are designed to help privately as a three-hour relates to comfort and coping prepare expectant parents with supplement to prepared and contributes to labor basic information about the childbirth classes or as a progress, and utilize multiple physical and emotional aspects refresher for subsequent births. of the third trimester of techniques for minimizing the discomfort of back labor. © 2019 The Doula Experience Perinatal Services

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TENS for Labor

Transcutaneous electrical nerve pathways that cause Sunday has received specialized stimulation is a non-medicinal discomfort. Obstetric TENS training in the use of TENS way to relieve discomfort in has been found to be an and rents obstetric units to childbirth. TENS uses effective technique in over 80 clients along with an in-home electrical stimulation to percent of births, especially for complementary instructional increase the release of the back discomfort, and has no session because TENS works body’s natural pain-relieving known harmful effects to most effectively when begun substances and block the nerve mother or baby. early in labor.

Spinning Babies®

Sunday offers private and adding comfort now and pregnancy and during labor to group three-hour Spinning easing birth later, birth help “make room for baby!” Babies® Parent Classes based positions that open the pelvis Spinning Babies® reveals how on the approach of Physiology to let baby come through more the baby can find optimal Before Force™. You will learn easily, and all about your baby’s positions for labor and make Daily Essentials Activities® and active role in birth. Together, birth less painful, and even the Three Sisters of Balance® mother and birth partner can pleasurable! that help birth muscles to relax, use these techniques during

® Evidence Based Birth ”The moment where you doubt whether you can fly, you cease Sunday offers private and further into the complex issues doula, birth care provider and forever being able group three-hour Evidence of research, informed consent, nurse. to do it.” ® Based Birth Savvy Birth legal rights and authority, and Access to the Evidence Based —Peter Pan Workshops that do not take communication skills, as well Birth® online course for the place of a prepared as what it’s like to give birth parents taught by Rebecca childbirth class, but with a truly supportive team Dekker, the founder, is also complements one by delving made up of your partner, available. Breastfeeding Support

As a certified lactation journey, assist both parents in issues outside of her area of counselor, Sunday is fully understanding their baby’s expertise or scope of practice. prepared to support you in special needs and Breastfeeding support by accomplishing your communication style, identify phone or email is provided as breastfeeding goals. She can effective milk transfer, part of your birth doula help you understand the troubleshoot the most services. If you want or need dynamics of the mother/baby common breastfeeding issues more individualized attention, breastfeeding couple, provide and concerns, and provide you can schedule additional guidance and support as you resources and referrals for consultations during pregnancy begin your breastfeeding support for more complex or postpartum. © 2019 The Doula Experience Perinatal Services

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Agreement for Birth Doula Services

What is a birth doula and what does she do and not do? A professionally trained and certified birth doula provides physical support, emotional reassurance and informational guidance to an expectant mother and her partner before, during and immediately after her birth, ensuring a safe and satisfying experience. A birth doula provides advocacy through mediation. She does not speak on behalf of the expectant parents, but will assist their understanding, informed consent and decision-making process. A doula works for her clients and not for the care providers or hospital. A birth doula does not perform any medical or clinical tasks that would otherwise be done by the doctor, midwife or nurse. A birth doula does not take the place of the expectant mother’s partner (the baby’s father or other loved one), but provides assistance in addition to his or her loving support. Research has shown that the presence of a birth doula at an expectant mother’s birth improves obstetrical outcomes, decreases medical complications, improves mother-infant attachment, and promotes the expectant mother’s overall satisfaction with her experience.

Obligations of your birth doula: A backup or co-doula will be enlisted by your primary doula, Sunday Tortelli, to ensure doula coverage at all times. One (1) in-home prenatal planning meeting will be scheduled at approximately 34 to 36 weeks gestation for you and your partner to meet and become better acquainted with your primary and backup doulas. At that meeting, you will have the opportunity to share with your doulas your birth preferences, goals, expectations and any concerns or special circumstances. Optional additional prenatal meetings are available for an additional fee. Your primary doula or her backup doula will be available to answer any questions or concerns and provide guidance in dealing with pregnancy issues and/or planning your birth experience from the onset of this Agreement through your six (6) week postpartum period. (See “Communicating with your doulas.”) Optional private or group childbirth preparation classes, workshops and breastfeeding consultations are also available under separate arrangements. In general, your doulas will be on-call to accompany you in labor beginning approximately three (3) weeks prior through two (2) weeks past your estimated due date. Special circumstances regarding possible preterm or postdate birth, or adjustment of your estimated due date will be taken into consideration and accommodations made to the best of the doulas’ ability. Your doulas will keep you apprised of their schedules of availability. Your doulas will ensure that at least one (1) doula will be available at all times around your estimated due date. In the extraordinary event that neither your primary nor backup doula would be available during a specific time frame, arrangements will be made for a third backup doula. Every effort will always be made to provide doula coverage even in the most unforeseen circumstances. Initiation of labor support services will be based both on plans previously made during prenatal contact and immediate need. Both early in-home labor support and meeting at the hospital in labor are options, as are planned home births. A minimum of one (1) hour will be required by the doula to prepare to join you in labor, in addition to travel time, although she will strive to join you as soon as possible after being notified. Continuous doula support will be provided throughout the entirety of labor, birth and the immediate postpartum period. In the event of an unusually prolonged labor, your backup or another doula may be called in so as to provide you with optimum care. The doula who attends your birth will offer a postpartum follow-up visit within three (3) weeks of your birth to assist you with processing your birth experience. Postpartum phone consultations with your primary doula and/or your birth doula, if not the primary doula, providing guidance and assistance with breastfeeding, infant care and managing your postpartum experience are available for the entirety of your six (6) week postpartum period. (See “Communicating with your doulas.”) Additional postpartum meetings and/or in-person breastfeeding consultations are optional for an additional fee. Your doulas will afford you complete privacy and confidentiality in all matters for all time. See the “Client Confidentiality Release Form,” available for your signature. Communicating with your doulas: Your doulas will provide you with their phone numbers (both primary and secondary, if applicable) and their email addresses. Your doulas welcome non-urgent phone calls between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and between 9 a.m. and noon Saturday. Urgent phone calls (i.e., during labor or a critical situation) are welcomed any time, day or night. Email and text messaging should be reserved for non- critical matters and will be responded to as soon as possible, typically within 24 to 48 hours. It is not advisable to communicate via email or text messaging during labor, for urgent matters and/or during a critical situation.

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Agreement for Birth Doula Services (continued)

Obligations of the client(s): Your doulas expect that you will share insights about yourself, along with your goals and desires for your birth experience, which can provide the information they will need to assist you in the best possible way. Discussions will take place regarding ways in which your doulas will be able to help you and your partner during your labor and birth to make it a rewarding experience. Preferences for your birth will be discussed at your prenatal planning meeting and can be revised, expanded on, or amended during any prenatal consultations, as well as during your birth experience. You are encouraged to maintain communication with your primary doula at least during the last few weeks of your pregnancy in order to keep her apprised of your status and enhance your comfort level with one another. Information relevant to your birth experience will be relayed to your backup doula. It is recommended that you inform the primary doula, or the backup doula on call, as soon as you are aware that labor has begun, no matter what time of day or night. She will be able to offer suggestions and encouragement for working with your labor at that point and as it progresses. Ultimate responsibility for choices made, procedures incorporated or interventions utilized during the course of pregnancy, labor, birth and the immediate postpartum period are the prerogative of the parents, in conjunction with their birth care providers. The doula’s responsibility, should you deviate from your previously stated plans, will be to respect and support your decisions wholeheartedly and assist you in implementing your course of action. Your assistance and cooperation with scheduling a postpartum follow-up visit within three (3) weeks of your birth is expected.

Terms of agreement for birth doula services: The fee for birth doula services as outlined herein is $850.00. A non-refundable retainer fee of $300.00 is payable upon acceptance of this Agreement along with submission of the Registration Form. (Make checks payable to Sunday Tortelli and mail to 19006 Stony Point Drive, Strongsville, Ohio 44136 or pay with a credit card via PayPal to [email protected].) The balance of $550.00 is due and payable to the doula who attended your birth no later than two (2) weeks following the birth. One-half (1/2) of the full fee ($425.00) is due and payable upon your decision to dissolve this Agreement at any time, and for any reason, within eight (8) weeks of your estimated due date, in payment for reserved scheduling, on-call status and any discussion(s), consultation(s) or meeting(s) already completed. The outstanding balance due will become payable to Sunday Tortelli within one (1) week after dissolution, or any balance already paid in excess of $425.00 will be returned to you. Inability to provide doula services due to circumstances beyond the doula(s)’s or parent(s)s’ control, such as a rapid labor or medical emergency, extreme weather conditions or unavoidable traffic delays, or due to your failure to contact the doula(s) in a timely fashion, will result in the remainder of the full fee becoming due and payable no later than one (1) week following the birth. Failure to provide doula services as a result of error or negligence on the part of the doula(s) will result in a full refund of all fees paid within one (1) week following the birth. Additional optional prenatal and/or postpartum doula meetings incur a $50.00 per hour fee, payable either with the balance due (as for an additional prenatal meeting) or at the time of the additional postpartum visit. Optional in-home breastfeeding consultation, over and above the breastfeeding support provided as part of the doula services, is available under a separate arrangement and incurs a $50.00 per hour fee, payable at the time of the visit, whether during the prenatal or postpartum period. Optional private childbirth preparation classes, online courses, workshops and/or TENS unit rental are available under separate arrangements.

By verbal and written understanding, all parties accept this Agreement in good faith and with great anticipation on this ______day of ______, 20______.

SIGNED BY ______(Mother) ______(Partner)

______(Sunday Tortelli, Primary Doula)

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Doula Client Registration Form Mother’s name: Partner’s name: Mother’s occupation: Partner’s occupation: Street address: City/Zip: Special directions (i.e., where to park, where to enter):

Home phone: Mother’s cell: Mother’s work phone: Partner’s cell: Mother’s email: Partner’s email: Preferred method of communication prenatally: Due date: LMP: Ultrasound dating at ______weeks gestation Care provider: Birth place: Mother’s age: Partner’s age: Pregnancy No. Birth No. VBAC? Yes__ No__ Names/ages of any other children (if relevant):

Pet(s) in the home (if relevant):

Overview of any previous birth and/or postpartum experience(s) (if relevant):

Anticipated goals for this birth:

Planned or completed preparation for this birth (classes, books, etc.):

General health:

Special concerns or needs:

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Client Confidentiality Release Form

While doulas are not medical care providers, they are privy to some personal and health information about their clients in order to be able to fully serve them. Confidentiality of medical and personal information obtained during the course of a doula’s work is of utmost importance and can be interpreted to fall under HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) regulations. While the permission to have that information may be implied by hiring the doula, and the information may be shared voluntarily, it is recommended that the client signs this Client Confidentiality Release Form.

I, ______, at ______(address),

______(phone no.), give my permission for my doulas, Sunday Tortelli and ______, ”Few things can to take notes about me, including personal information I choose to disclose help an individual more than to place to her/them, and information regarding my labor, birth and postpartum, as responsibility on him, and to let him know well as any information regarding my child(ren). I understand that this that you trust him. “ information may be used for the purpose of doula certification or —Booker T. Washington recertification and will be shared with the Certification Committee of DONA International. I also understand that this information may anonymously be used by the DONA International Data Collection Committee for statistical purposes, and that my birth doula may use this information to provide me with a summary for my own personal use.

Signature: ______

Date: ______

www.doulaexperience.com

The Doula Experience Perinatal Services

19006 Stony Point Drive Strongsville, Ohio 44136 Phone: 440-572-2574 About Sunday Tortelli and Her Colleagues Cell: 216-496-5904 Sunday Tortelli was one of the first group of doulas awarded the Email: [email protected] exclusive DONA Advanced Certified Doula designation in 2015, and Web: www.doulaexperience.com she was one of the first 100 doulas ever certified in 1994. She has also Facebook: www.facebook.com/DoulaExperiencePerinatalServices/ been a DONA approved birth doula trainer since 1997.

Sunday is certified as a childbirth educator with Birth Works International, the HypnoBirthing Institute and Lamaze International and is an Evidence Based Birth instructor and Spinning Babies parent Information Packet & Agreement educator. In 2015, she received the prestigious Fellow of the Academy of Certified Childbirth Educators award. She is also certified as a for Birth Doula Services lactation counselor with the Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice. Sunday currently serves on the DONA International Birth Doula Advocacy and Certification Committees and previously served on the DONA International Board of Directors as the Director of Publications, President Elect, President and Past President from 2005 “Be very kind to the mother.” to 2016 and on various committees since 1994. Locally, she is a Co- Leader and Member Relations Chair of ICAN of Greater Cleveland. —Marshall Klaus, MD DONA International Sunday is the mother of four adults whose birth experiences shaped Founder her philosophies and fueled her passion for birth work. All doulas associated with The Doula Experience Perinatal Services are trained and experienced in the art of labor support.

A Few FAQs

Where do you provide doula about your safety but does not planning to have an epidural or services? provide clinical care. So, midwives choose to have one at some point in Doula services are provided at home and doulas works together to provide your labor, your doula continues to and hospital births in Cuyahoga you with a good balance of safety and offer physical, emotional and County and certain areas of Medina, emotional and physical support. informational support. Lorain and Summit Counties. Will you recommend books, What if I schedule a cesarean? When will we meet our backup videos or websites? Your doula will accompany you to doula? What if we aren’t Check out the resource page on my the hospital and provide support comfortable with her? website for recommendations, but I while you are being prepared for the You will meet the backup doula at am happy to provide personalized birth and then when you are in the prenatal planning meeting. If you recommendations and can also lend recovery. If permitted, she will are uncomfortable with her, I will you copies of some books and videos. accompany you in the operating room arrange for another backup doula. When do you join us in labor? along with your partner. Most of all, she will remind you and everyone else If I have a midwife, will I still That’s up to you. Typically, your that this isn’t a medical event, it is need a doula? doula will provide phone support and the birth of your precious baby! Your midwife and your doula fulfill encouragement in early labor and will join you in active labor when you How long will you stay with us very different roles. While your after the baby is born? midwife will surely be supportive and feel the need for in-person support. encouraging, her main role is to What if I want an epidural? Typically, around one or two hours, not leaving until mother and baby oversee your and your baby’s health Whether you go into your birth and safety. Your doula also cares are comfortable and settled. © 2019 The Doula Experience Perinatal Services