About Me
My name is Jaye and, if you are reading this, you probably already know me. I have lived in Grand Marais for 2 years, but grew up in Silver Bay and know the North Shore well. I am wife and a mother of two young children and a dog.
I am pursuing my Doula certification through Birth Arts International. I am also a certified Aromatherapist through Essence of Thyme College of Holistic Studies and a certified Herbalist through Green Wisdom Herbal Studies through The North House Folk School. I used my training and knowledge in the fields of aromatherapy and herbalism to help enrich your pregnancy and birth experience.
While I am just now pursuing my Doula certification I have eight years of experience working in the birthing community. I did birth photography in San Diego for five years and was a photographer for Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep for three years- only stopping when I moved to Grand Marais and my services were no longer needed.
I experienced first hand the struggles that a pregnant woman experiences living in our rural community and hope to help other mothers have a better birth experience.
I am pursuing my Doula certification through Birth Arts International. I am also a certified Aromatherapist through Essence of Thyme College of Holistic Studies and a certified Herbalist through Green Wisdom Herbal Studies through The North House Folk School. I used my training and knowledge in the fields of aromatherapy and herbalism to help enrich your pregnancy and birth experience.
While I am just now pursuing my Doula certification I have eight years of experience working in the birthing community. I did birth photography in San Diego for five years and was a photographer for Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep for three years- only stopping when I moved to Grand Marais and my services were no longer needed.
I experienced first hand the struggles that a pregnant woman experiences living in our rural community and hope to help other mothers have a better birth experience.
What is a Doula?
The widely accepted definition of a doula is a woman experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the mother before, during, and after childbirth. What this means can vary from doula to doula. Read on to see the services I offer for each of these phases of your pregnancy and journey into motherhood.
Do I Need a Doula?
No one *needs* a doula, but a doula is nice to have. Doulas provide many services and are flexible to what services they provide the laboring mother. These services will be different from mother to mother because no two mothers, or births, are the same. So your experience with your doula will be unique to you. Also, numerous studies have shown that when doulas attend birth, labors are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they breastfeed more easily.
Can You Deliver My Baby?
No! Only those trained to do so should provide medical services. I am not medically trained and do not provide any medical services. I provide some physical comforts, like massage, but cannot do the things that a medically trained professional does. I do not monitor the baby's heart rate (or yours), I do not do cervical checks, I do not catch babies, etc. I also do not give medical advice outside of suggesting you consult with your doctor/midwife if you have a medical concern.
What About My Birth Partner?
The role of the doula will change from birth to birth. At some the doula will be the primary birth support partner, either due to the absence of another partner or the decision made by the couple for the other parent to not be present. In other births the primary partner may be the second parent. In these cases the role of the doula is to support your partner as they support you. If they get tired I can step in while the refresh. Labor and delivery can be a long and exhausting journey for everyone involved. For you, the laboring mother, it can be physically exhausting. For your partner it can be emotionally exhausting and they often feel helpless. My job is to show them ways they can be (and feel) helpful.
What About My Care Provider?
It is a common misconception that care providers do not like doulas because they fight against the care provider or interfere with their medical advice. That is not my role in your birthing experience. If you have certain preferences, like to not have an episiotomy, I can help you communicate these wishes to your care provider and help you advocate for yourself. I will not, however, argue or interfere with your care provider if they have determined one to be medically necessary in an emergency situation.
What Prenatal Services Do You Provide?
My services are described in detail in the contract. To summarize, upon booking we will have our first prenatal meeting. During that meeting we will discuss what your wishes are for your birth and what your plans are as far as transportation, hospital, care provider, and others in attendance. I want to get familiar with you and what you are hoping for in your birthing experience. After that I am available for emotional support and maybe an occasional shoulder rub. Call/text/email me if you are stressed, panicking, or just need someone supportive to talk to. One month before your estimate due date we will touch base again and see if anything has changed that I need to be aware of.
What Birth Services Do You Provide?
My services are described in detail in the contract. To summarize, early stages of labor look different for women in our community. When a woman lives near the hospital she is going to give birth at she will often labor at home until she is experiencing intense labor. For us, this trip to the hospital often happens much sooner. I can help with the drive to Duluth either by driving you myself while your partner provides support, or be the one providing support while your partner drives. Once in Duluth I will stay with you whether you choose to labor in a hotel or go straight to the hospital. From there the services I provide will be unique to you, and will likely change as your labor progresses. I'm training to adjust what I do to be what you (or your partner) need at that time.
What Postpartum Services Do You Provide?
My services are described in detail in the contract. To summarize, whether it's your first child or your fifth, those first couple of weeks home after a baby is born are hard! You are dealing with a lot of hormones and emotions, lack of sleep, and maybe even a little depression. I am someone you can call/email/text for emotional support. I can come by a couple of times postpartum to help out with the adjustment. While the "Baby Blues" are pretty normal, postpartum depression is a serious condition. If you feel you are suffering from PPD you need to speak with your doctor as soon as possible. I cannot diagnose or treat PPD. We will have one official postpartum appointment to reflect back upon your pregnancy and birth experience and to give you the opportunity to provide me with feedback on my services.
Can You Help Me If I'm Having a C-Section? What About an Induction?
Yes! There are many things I can help you with if you are having a scheduled or emergency c-section or induction. Depending on the hospital and their policies I may be able to be with you while you are having a c-section. Typically, the baby is taken away during your repair which can take about half an hour. If you have a partner your preference may be for them to stay with the baby which would leave you alone. In this situation I could stay with you and provide emotional support during your repair until you are reunited with your baby. For an induction labor I will likely remain on call and drive myself to Duluth when you begin progressing rather than be with you from the start, as inductions generally start out slow. When you need me, call me!
Are There Optional Services That You Provide?
As a certified aromatherapist and herbalist I have spent time researching how essential oils and herbs can help women trying to conceive, pregnant women, and new mothers. Through my apothecary business I have several products that can help ease certain ailments. I would be happy to discuss these with you further if you are interested. Or you can check out my blog on this page. My ultimate goal is to create a complete support service for women and mothers in all phases in their parenting journey, hopefully alongside Birth Partners. I will be working toward a Birth Educator Certification and hope to be trained in teaching general birth classes as well as birth hypnosis. I am also working toward my prenatal yoga certification and hope to also teach a "baby & me" postpartum recovery fitness class and stroller club. Someday I would like to also provide a resource for support groups to form, for infertility, pregnancy loss, PPD, etc. Many of these will be years away and dependent on the perceived needs of the community in the years to come.
What Do Your Services Cost?
While I am working toward my certification my fees are $450 ($400 if paid in full at booking). I will spend roughly 2-6 hours with you during your pregnancy (usually dependent on what point in your pregnancy we start working together) plus you will receive a personalized herbal consultation. Our time spent together during your labor and delivery could be anywhere from several hours to even a day or two. Should your stay in Duluth extend past your delivery I will also need to arrange a ride home, which I will do at my expense. Postpartum care time can vary to an hour to 4-5 hours depending on your personal needs. I do not offer my services a la carte. Complete package only. My fees will primarily cover the cost of taking time off work and transportation costs. Once my certification is complete my fees will be going up.
What If You Miss the Birth?
Should I miss your birth due to precipitous labor, a scheduled c-section, or similar circumstance then additional postpartum care will be provided to make up for the lost care. If I cannot attend due to my illness, a family emergency, or other cause I am responsible for then $200 for the birth services is refunded. The remainder is non-refundable even if I miss the birth. Should I miss the birth because you did not contact me, hospital regulations would not allow me to remain in the birthing/operating room, or you decide you want to a be alone no refunds or additional services will be provided.
Do You Accept Payments? Insurance?
Yes, I do! At this time you have the option to make two payments. The initial payment or booking payment is $150. The remaining $300 is due 30 days before your estimated due date. You can also pay in full at booking and save $50, paying only $400 total. I accept cash, check, or PayPal. You can also pay via Etsy (coming soon!). PayPal also has a credit option and usually gives you six months interest free on qualifying payments. Go to PayPal.com for more information. I do not accept insurance.
What Is Your Cancellation Policy?
If you are early in your pregnancy you have 14 days from the time of booking to cancel and receive a full refund minus the $25 cancellation fee. If you cancel 30 days to 2 weeks before your due date you will receive a 50% refund minus the $25 cancellation fee. If you cancel 2 weeks before your due dates you will receive a 25% refund minus the $25 cancellation fee. No refunds within one week of your due date.
What If I Have More Questions?
Go to the Contact/Book page and shoot me an email/text or give me a call. I will be happy to address any other questions you have!
Phew! That was a lot of information! Here are some labor pictures and cute baby pictures for getting through all of that.