Lunamar Birth Well
Your Delaware Birth Doula

Having doula care is an essential component of your perinatal plan.

I am pleased to offer doula care for clients in the state of Delaware, beginning in the third trimester through one month postpartum.

It is my honor to walk by your side as you not only birth your baby, but birth the new version of yourself.

What does a birth doula do?

Emotional Support

Having a doula present for your birth offers continuous emotional encouragement and reassurance throughout labor and birth. A doula can also help you to cope with your fears and anxieties, creating a calm and positive birthing environment.

Advocacy Support

A doula can help to support you in communicating your birth plan preferences and wishes to your care team, reminding your team that you are at the center of your birth.

Physical Support

A doula is trained to provide a variety of physical comfort measures, including massage, hip squeezes, assisting you with different birth positions, and facilitating breathing and relaxation techniques to cope with the pain and discomfort of birth.

Partner Support

A doula isn’t just there to support the birthing person; they can help your chosen birth partner, too! A doula and your chosen birth partner are part of the same team, working to support you and your needs during a transformative, powerful time.

Informational Support

In prenatal sessions together, doulas provide clients with information about what to expect during late pregnancy, birth, and postpartum life.

Continuity of Care

Depending on your birthing location, it is common for you to see many different providers during your pregnancy and birth. Having a doula ensures you are supported every step of the way with someone who knows you and your wishes inside and out.

What are the benefits of having a doula?

  • A Cochrane review of 26 trials involving more than 15,000 women found that women who received continuous support were more likely to have a spontaneous vaginal birth and less likely to have intrapartum analgesia or report dissatisfaction with their childbirth experience .

  • Studies have shown that people who have doula support during pregnancy and birth are less likely to have a cesarean section, instrumental delivery, or the need for epidural analgesia. One study reported a 39% decrease in the risk of cesarean birth and a 15% increase in the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth .

  • Research indicates that the presence of a doula can shorten labor by an average of 41 minutes .

  • The presence of a doula is associated with higher Apgar scores for newborns and a reduced risk of negative childbirth experiences. Mothers also report higher levels of satisfaction with their birth experience

  • Doulas provide critical support that can enhance early mother-infant bonding and improve breastfeeding initiation and continuation rates. Studies suggest that doula-supported mothers are more likely to breastfeed and less likely to have difficulty breastfeeding.

  • The continuous presence of a doula has been shown to decrease the need for pain relief medications during labor. Women with doulas are 10% less likely to use any form of pain medication and 60% less likely to request an epidural.

  • Continuous support from a doula has been associated with lower rates of postpartum depression and anxiety. A study published in the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing found that women with doula support had lower rates of postpartum depression.

    1. Bohren, M. A., Hofmeyr, G. J., Sakala, C., Fukuzawa, R. K., & Cuthbert, A. (2017). Continuous support for women during childbirth. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (7).

    2. Campbell, D. A., Lake, M. F., Falk, M., & Backstrand, J. R. (2006). A randomized control trial of continuous support in labor by a lay doula. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing, 35(4), 456-464.

    3. Hodnett, E. D., Gates, S., Hofmeyr, G. J., Sakala, C., & Weston, J. (2013). Continuous support for women during childbirth. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (7).

    4. Gruber, K. J., Cupito, S. H., & Dobson, C. F. (2013). Impact of doulas on healthy birth outcomes. Journal of Perinatal Education, 22(1), 49-58.

    5. Mottl-Santiago, J., Walker, C., Ewan, J., Vragovic, O., Winder, S., & Stubblefield, P. G. (2008). A hospital-based doula program and childbirth outcomes in an urban, multicultural setting. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 12(3), 372-377.

    6. Klaus, M. H., Kennell, J. H., & Klaus, P. H. (2002). The Doula Book: How a Trained Labor Companion Can Help You Have a Shorter, Easier, and Healthier Birth. Da Capo Press.

    7. Langer, A., Campero, L., Garcia, C., & Reynoso, S. (1998). Effects of psychosocial support during labour and childbirth on breastfeeding, medical interventions, and mothers' wellbeing in a Mexican public hospital: a randomised clinical trial. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 105(10), 1056-1063.

Doula care for all my clients include the following services:

  • Initial Consultation

    In our 30-minute online meet and greet, I will meet with you and your chosen birth partner so we have an opportunity to connect and see if we are a good fit to work together. I believe trust and vulnerability are essential when selecting your birth team, and this is your opportunity to make sure I am the right doula for you and your birth.

  • Four Prenatal Sessions

    We will schedule four 2-hour prenatal visits together, two online and two in-person. I know, this seems like a lot of time, but the best time to prepare for labor and postpartum is before baby arrives. We will cover many areas during these visits (and trust me, they go by fast!) from learning all about labor stages, practicing positioning, mind-body exercises for pain coping, making a comprehensive postpartum plan, and so much more.

  • Labor and Birth

    It's the big day (or middle of the night!) I will arrive at your birthing place at the mutually-agreed upon time to see you through your labor and birth of your baby, and will stay up to one hour postpartum if desired.

  • Postpartum Visit and Closing

    Within one month of birth, I will do a home visit (with a handmade meal) to review your birth with you, offer any resources you may need, review the birth and your brightest moments, gush over your new babe, and celebrate you!

Pricing Information

All of my services, including doula care, are offered on a three-tier pricing scale that reflects the client’s current economic circumstances. No matter the tier you choose, you will receive the same quality care. Visit the Pricing Scale page to find out your tier to determine the amount of your financial investment below.

Full Moon Tier: $1,500

Crescent Moon Tier: $1,000

New Moon Tier: $500

What questions do you have?

Taking the first step on the birth path is no small feat. As you assemble your team and start the planning process, many questions will arise. I have tried my best to answer some of them here. If you have any other questions, please reach out and schedule a meet and greet. I can’t wait to meet you.

  • It is a misconception that doulas only attend "natural" births (I take umbrage with that term, by the way!) I believe that birth comes in all forms, and the support of a doula is crucial no matter where or how you are planning to give birth. Hospital births with epidural, planned Cesareans, birth center births, and everything in between- doula care can be beneficial for it all!

  • NO. Doulas are NOT medical providers and as such are not able to give medical advice/treatment, administer medication, or anything else that a doctor, nurse, or midwife would do. Doulas are highly trained in childbirth education, can offer resources for parents and partners to make their own decisions, but we do not offer medical support or care of any nature.

  • No, I do not accept insurance. However, I can provide you with an itemized statement that you may submit to your provider for reimbursement. By the end of 2025 I also will be completing my eligibility requirements to be a Medicaid-approved doula in the state of Delaware.

  • Currently I am only able to accept clients who live in and give birth in Delaware (New Castle and Kent Counties only at this time.)

  • Yes. If you are interested in custom postpartum doula services, please click the button below. I can help with postpartum preparation, meal preparation, light housework, or just a shoulder to cry on (postpartum is HARD!)

    At this time I do not offer overnight postpartum doula visits.

And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, Speak to us of Children. And he said:

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and he bends you with his might that his arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness;
For even as he loves the arrow that flies, so he loves also the bow that is stable.

“On Children” | Khalil Gibran