Professional Doula Services

What is a Doula?

The word “doula” refers to “a person experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to women and their families before, during, and just after childbirth” (Mothering the Mother, by Klaus, Kennell, and Klaus).

Doulas come from many backgrounds and may or may not have children themselves. In many cultures, the whole community gathers around the mother, offering comfort, food, and care. People of all ages, from children to elders, can be labor supporters, showing that anyone can help during birth.

Doulas support all members of the birth family, as well as their providers at her birthing facility:

The person giving birth needs a doula to allow them to feel nurtured, connected, and safe as they move through the various stages of labor and birth.
Birth partners also benefit from having a doula. Doulas help partners relax, trust the process, and feel more confident in supporting their loved ones. Birth is not just a job for two people. Labor can last many hours and be emotionally and physically demanding. Partners need encouragement, rest, breaks, and food too. The doula works alongside the birth partner to make sure the mother always has support.
Nurses, midwives, and doctors also appreciate doulas because they cannot stay with the laboring person all the time. Doulas provide continuous emotional and physical support, allowing medical staff to focus on the care and safety of both the mother and her baby.

Learn more about how I can meet your needs. Set up a free, no-obligation virtual meeting today!

From RN to Doula

I have been a labor & delivery nurse and pediatric nurse since 1990 (we were the last class at the University of Pittsburgh to wear “nursing caps”). I spent the last part of my nursing career at the Sutter Davis Birthing Center, practicing patient-centered care in an evidence-based, Baby Friendly facility that supports normal birth. Working at a facility with doctors and midwives under one roof, I like to say, “I was raised by midwives”. I learned the concepts of physiologic birth and labor support before ever learning how to do a cervical exam or interpret a fetal monitoring strip. Learning my trade at a facility with some of the best outcomes in California was a unique experience I wish every birth worker could witness.

In 2011, I started Birth Fusion to share my real-life experience and passion with families in a more personal way. As an RN, I can guide families through a process that can be full of surprises. I have witnessed hundreds of births as both a nurse and doula, and I use what I’ve learned to help make the experience feel more familiar. I support you not just with my clinical knowledge, but also as a friend who’s been there, so you feel safe and supported as you make decisions on your path to parenthood.

I have seen many types of birth: vaginal, cesarean, water, twin, pre-term, still, and breech births, with all kinds of family members present, from young siblings to great-grandparents. I’ve been there for unmedicated births, inductions, births with epidurals, and joyful cesarean births. I trust the birth process and know how to help you and your support team stay focused on a safe, memorable experience.

Client spaces are limited. Contact me to learn more

What are former clients saying about their birth experience with Jennifer?

What are your rates?

My services are based on my knowledge as an L&D nurse, childbirth educator, and Evidence-Based Birth® Instructor, as well as the sheer volume of births I have attended as both an RN and a doula. Payment plans as well as savings for cash payments are available.

©️2020 Jennifer Anderson Birth Photography

In-Person Doula Package

The Standard Doula Package

Doula Services Only

8 payments of $350/month or save $50 by paying in full with Zelle®

Covered in full for Kaiser Permanente Clients

The Standard Doula Package Includes:

We meet 5-7 times before your birth, depending on when you sign the contract. My educational meeting schedule includes the following:
- 60-minute free, no-obligation Meet-and-Greet on Zoom
- One telehealth visit around 20 weeks to review the results of your anatomy scan and to prepare for the Glucose Challenge Test at 26 weeks.
- Three 90-minute educational Zoom sessions utilizing the My Doula Visit Workbook from Evidence Based Birth® as our roadmap for 1:1 prenatal education
- 3rd Trimester In-person coffee date at a Davis coffee shop to catch up on your pregnancy and be ready for the busy 3rd Trimester
Two prenatal preparation sessions to prepare for your birth. We will meet on Zoom around 34 weeks and 36 weeks in your home to review the following:
- Your prenatal and medical health history
- Your goals for your birth experience and the knowledge you need to achieve those goals.
- Anticipated medical interventions and/or induction procedures; we also discuss options for medical pain relief, even if you hope to birth unmedicated.
- Your plans for managing family member’s involvement (or not) in your birth experience.
- Labor and birth positions, work with your birth ball and identify useful labor space in your home. Any additional friends/family members who are supporting you are welcome to attend this meeting.
- Review of prenatal stretches to optimize fetal positioning
- Homeopathic remedies provided for safe, at-home cervical ripening
- Unlimited phone/text/email support throughout your pregnancy
- 24hr on-call availability starting 3 weeks before your due date
- Continuous hands-on labor support starting in your home and continuing through hospital admission, birth, and 1-2 hours after your birth.
- Seasoned L&D and pediatric nurse providing experiential knowledge and updated research or ACOG Guidelines as a jumping-off point for discussions with your providers. My background as a NICU and pediatric OR nurse can provide a unique perspective when other risk factors arise.
- Immediate postpartum support after the birth (1-2hrs) to assist with recovery and breastfeeding.
  - I provide additional support in the event of a postpartum hemorrhage or a mom/baby separation. I will stay until things are stable and/or mom and baby are reunited
- A postpartum home visit during your first week home to offer support as you process your birth experience, assist with breastfeeding and newborn care questions, provide referrals and resources, and discuss whatever else is on your mind.
- Unlimited phone/text/email support for 2 weeks postpartum
- Access to my local and web-based resources for ancillary support before and after your birth. I have many connections in the Davis and Sacramento region. I also include on-demand videos on the following topics
  - The ARRIVE Trial
  - Inducing for Postdates
  - Failure to Progress
  - Suspected Big Baby
  - Group Beta Strep (GBS)
  - Prelabor Rupture of Membranes (PROM)
  - Postpartum Hemorrhages
  - Navigating Inductions
  - A labor simulation to practice with your partner
- Free access to create a visual birth plan on Motherboard Birth ($50 value)
- Free admission to my Davis Prenatal Mentoring Program - a local, monthly, in-person support group to help you find new friends and review various childbirth education topics.
- $75 Discount to any Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class offered by Birth Fusion
- $250 Discount to the Nest and Nourish Package with Davis Lactation Support
- Physical bonus packet of EBB®’s Signature Articles and advocacy handouts from Birth Monopoly. Bring it to every prenatal visit and have informed discussions with your provider based on current evidence.
- Free online course from Birth Monopoly - 3 Things Every Parent Needs to Know About Hospital Birth. This online course teaches advocacy skills for birth.
- Free access to four interactive web apps from Injoy covering the following topics:
  - Understanding Pregnancy
  - Understanding Postpartum Health
  - Understanding your Newborn
  - Understanding Breastfeeding
  - These online resources include 3D videos, graphics, downloadable PDFs, checklists, and more.

Next step? Check my availability and book a virtual meet-and-greet appointment here!

What kind of doula are you? What sets you apart?

I always loved it when my girlfriends were pregnant. I couldn’t help but try to make them laugh whenever I could.

My nest may be empty now, with these beautiful babies in college, but my heart is full

This is a question you should ask of every doula you interview.

Inviting someone to share such an intimate experience is a personal choice. Doulas have many different backgrounds. Some are spiritual and focus on the woman’s transformation and connection to the earth. Others are new to the field and eager to support you in the many ways birth can happen. They show up with all the tools and energy for a week-long trip to Disneyland. Some doulas are nurturing and confident, like a parent. Great doulas come from all walks of life.

I’m a bit of an oddball. I’ve seen enough to know that birth is never routine. I’m old enough to be a mom to many of you, and a very young grandmother to some of you. I used to be a baseball mom and a reluctant dance mom. I’m now in my empty-nest season, which is making a lot more room for my birthwork. I’m also a wife, daughter, sister, and friend. In spring and summer, you might find me keeping score at a River Cats, Giants, or A’s game. You may also see me walking my dog or working on a spreadsheet. Spreadsheets are what I do to down-regulate. Oddball indeed.

I’m proud of my Pennsylvania roots. I’m the daughter of a Navy Veteran (and I swear like him), and my two younger brothers taught me the art of laughing at yourself. I’m well-known for my irreverent sense of humor and have the loudest laugh in the room. I like to keep things light when needed during labor, but I also know how to find peace and respect the “sanctuary” of birth. I’m here to listen and offer support, whether you need a laugh or a shoulder to cry on. I can take charge when needed or step back when you and your partner are in sync. I’m comfortable helping your family support you, or letting you take the lead. My ability to adapt comes from years of experience in birth.

I’m not one of the earthy, spiritual doulas, though there’s a place for them. I’m more of a practical, real-life friend who will laugh with you in the grocery store when someone in a hurry runs into a door with their coffee (physical humor always gets me). We have fun, relax, and don’t take ourselves too seriously. We focus on the moment, “right here, right now”, and bring your baby into the world in the safest, most empowering way, using the latest evidence as our starting point. We celebrate the moment your baby is placed on your chest, and you hear that first cry. Birth is like a snowflake - no two are alike.

That is what sets me apart.

Want to see if I'm the right doula for you? Book an appt today

Wedding days and births have so much in common. They will be the last memories to leave us and ones we plan for for months, if not a lifetime. You get one shot to get it right, and sometimes, the gods don’t play nice. My outdoor Napa wedding turned … — Wedding days and births have a lot in common. They are memories we hold onto and plan for a long time. You only get one chance, and sometimes things don’t go as planned. My outdoor Napa wedding became the “Fog Bowl 2004” when a thick cloud rolled in, and everything got wet and cold. My wedding planner, much like a doula, reminded me why we were there. It wasn’t for the flowers or the photos, but for the memory and the promise, just like on the day of your birth. My planner told me, “Keep laughing. If you smile, everyone will smile with you, forget about the weather, and the day will be what it was meant to be.” I took that advice to heart. Like birth, sometimes you have to change your plans, take a moment, lean on your support team, and smile—everyone will smile with you.

Doula Services