What is a virtual doula?

A virtual doula is a professional birth doula who accompanies you through pregnancy, birth and postpartum, in a virtual setting. Meetings and support is all done virtually via facetime, telephone calls, zoom meetings etc.

In this difficult times doulas are as important if not more important than ever to guarantee you get the birthing experience you desire.

To schedule a virtual interview please email us at joyinbirthing@yahoo.com or call us at 310-435-6054

When Doulas Must Provide Support at a Distance

In a virtual platform, almost everything a doula offers can still be provided:

helping to find a comfortable position.
providing reminders about rest and hydration.
providing guidance, relaxation and coping skills.
helping to answer questions.
helping to formulate questions for care providers.
guiding the partner through hands-on body work that cannot be provided from afar.

Before labor:

After choosing a format to use like Zoom or even FaceTime, we'll walk you through several sessions of labor support, almost a mini doula certification for your partner.
We will share a collection of videos of positions and comfort measures that partners can learn to do in advance.
During the course of labor these videos can be dropped into the chat box on Zoom.
When providing labor support at the hospital virtually, it is a good idea to check in in advance on what the Wifi connection will be. Hopefully their own Wi-Fi will be good enough. But we can always chat on the phone.

Hospital Bag:

We will share ideas for your birth bags. Items that I may carry in my doula bag that may not be on your list of things to pack. For example, I usually have a fan for myself and the partner to use to cool the laboring person during the resting time between pushing contractions. The partner may not have something like that in their bag. While any piece of paper in the room could potentially be used to as a fan, it is easier for you to say, “Now would be a good time to go get that fan you have in your birth bag”.

Virtual Support Before During Pregnancy:

Prior to the birth you, we will send you several self-hypnosis Mp3 you can take along and listen to during labor. I have been a virtual doulas many times and clients have really benefited from listening to my voice.

When Labor Begins:

Depending on regulations I may be able to join you in-person in early labor. We will practice all the relaxations techniques you can continue at the hospital. If I cannot join you in person we will have time to review all the labor techniques in early labor and perfect your partner's help.

Devices for Support at the Hospital:

There are a variety of devices that birthing people usually bring to the hospital. Laptops, Tablets and Smart-phones are obvious options.

Ideally, you want this to be a hands-free.

The birthing person and their partner may want to bring a long cord for charging purposes, as well as an emergency battery pack.

Pros of a Laptop or Tablet:

can sit on table
can sit on bed-stand next to bed-stand
your face will appear bigger to them

Cons of a Laptop or Tablet:

must have a large enough surface to rest on. This is often the tray table in the room.
Nurses often move tables to do their work resulting in you needing to have someone put you back in place.

Pros of a Smart Phone

can be propped on a tripod in a variety of places in the room
can be bluetoothed to a speaker
can be attached on top of an IV pole, or even taped in place with a pop socket (with permission of the hospital staff)
Can rest on top of the “pump box” of an i.v. pole (with permission of the hospital staff)
IV poles tend not to be moved as much as tables in a room

Cons of a Smartphone

may require the purchase of a tripod
doula's face will be small

Protocols for having the virtual device in the labor room:

As new staff members join the labor team, ask the partner to introduce you.
Be sure that they put their device into “do not disturb mode”. This will allow for an uninterrupted experience.
If the birthing family has two phones, we can always use the unused phone as a place to text the partner.
Be aware that at some hospitals, your device may have to be turned off during pushing times.

Here's some up-to-date information on pregnancy and breastfeeding during Covid-19 and from a trusted website . Evidencebasedbirth.com/covid19

Virtual doula PACKAGE DESIGNED FOR FIRST TIME PREGNANCY

Weekly telephone conversations after 36 weeks of pregnancy

Get answers for all your questions with someone who will spend as much time as you need explaining all medical gibberish. (If we don’t have the answers we will find them for you from our medical support team.) Get referrals for pediatricians, OBGYN, midwives, chiropractors, massage therapists etc.

4 virtual prenatal meeting - Partner coaching - Baby care

Childbirth education classes in the comfort of your home. (4 to 5 hours in two visits). We will create together an action plan to promote a peaceful - worry-free labor and birthing environment. You will feel comfortable and prepared on what to expect during labor and delivery at home and at the hospital. Daddy will learn how to be the best doula there is. Daddy /partner will learn the three Rs: relaxation / rhythm / ritual How to support emotionally and physically the mommy-to-be. Learn how to communicate with the medical staff with love and respect to get your desires met with a smile. This will be a mini doula certification course for the partner where they will learn hands on techniques to support you at home and at the hospital. Lots' of pictures are included in all our materials to help you visualize the different comfor positions. We will discuss natural induction methods to avoid an early induction and or cesarean.

Hypnosis Mp3 and e-books delivered via email one the deposit is received.

Soothing self-hypnosis Mp3 designed to be listen to every night before you give birth, preparing you for a natural and painless childbirth. You will also receive the Painless Childbirth bundle a series of 3 books and 5 recordings designed to help you prepare for your birth. (value $150)

Continuous virtual labor support home and/or hospital

You will benefit by having a doula answer all your questions about any and all procedures during your entire stay at the hospital via telephone facetime or any other means of communication. You will receive constant emotional and informational support to manage the labor waves. At the hospital Doula Giuditta will be virtually there to help you with labor, with hypnotherapy and suggestion on aromatherapy to be used at the right time. to create an environment where all people attending you will be aware of your preference and desires. I

Postpartum home visits (two)

Giuditta is a certified Lactation Educator (breastfeeding expert) who will help you perfecting the latch-on technique for breastfeeding virtually, I have done this now many times and it can really be helpful.. Answer all your new baby questions. Offer alternative and natural methods to any non-medical problem like pumping, milk production, gas etc. Expert in "The Happiest Baby On the Block" techniques to calm your baby in a few short minutes. Review your diet and nutrition to insure a good breastfeeding experience (ms Tornetta is a gourmet chef). Refresh your baby care techniques. Get answers to your questions.

Unlimited phone calls and txt up to 6 weeks after the baby is born

Enjoy unlimited phone calls and txt with experienced postpartum doula and lactation expert Giuditta. So often new mothers have a lot of questions that might seem silly but need immediate answers. Those are the questions you’d want to ask an expert but not urgent enough or medically related you’d want to bother your pediatrician about. Having Giuditta available to you 24/7 for the first 6 weeks of your child’s life can make a huge difference in your state of mind and in your serenity.

2 JOYFUL PACKAGE

DESIGNED FOR SECOND OR MORE PREGNANCY

Initial phone consultation at no cost
Two prenatal virtual visits

Together we will create an action plan to promote a peaceful - worry-free labor and birthing environment. You will feel comfortable and prepared on what to expect during labor and delivery at home and at the hospital. You will receive great imagery to promote comfort measure and your partner will be able to learn how to assist you.

Continuous labor support home or hospital

You will benefit by having a doula answer all your questions about any and all procedures during your entire stay at the hospital. You will receive constant emotional and physical support to manage the labor waves.

Self-hypnosis MP3 home program.

Virtual support during labor at the hospital.

You will be able to manage the waves of contraction with a shooting hypnotic voice guiding you through each laboring pressure. Enjoy a gentle and relaxing massage, we have many great tools in our doula bag to support you during labor .

Unlimited phone calls and txt up to 6 weeks after the baby is born

Choose The package that fits your needs. Prices will de discussed during the interview.