The Invited Birth
Michelle Roper, Doula
Birth and Postpartum Services
DONA International-trained Doula
About me
I am a Richmond, Virginia native, and enjoying being a part of the many things our city has to offer. I am also a mother of 2-year-old and 5-year-old preschoolers, a student, and an active volunteer for my church. When I want to recharge I hit the gym for an intense workout, and I am always up for a good comedic or action-packed movie. Working as a doula in the Richmond area has allowed me not only to help others, but also to do what I am passionate about. There is nothing like having a job you absolutely love!
Why I Became a Doula
My desire to become a doula came after my own birthing experiences. Without a doula I never would have been able to go in to the hospital feeling confident in my decision to have a natural birth – and stick with it! With her support I trusted my body, and endured the pains of back labor with no interventions.
I also have her to thank for informing me that I was a good candidate for a homebirth. While experiencing contractions at home with my first I was much calmer than she expected me to be, considering I was planning to have a hospital birth. She almost had to convince me to get into the car, because I was in no hurry to move from the comforting, quiet environment of my own living room. I had learned to trust my body, and was only concerned with focusing on bringing my baby into my arms.
We went on to have our second child in the comforting, quiet environment of my own home, without worrying about having to leave. Our son was born in a birthing tub, after a much easier labor. I had been given the priceless gift of two amazing birth stories. Without a doula I would not have endured the pains of back labor to have a natural birth, much less explore what a homebirth would be like.
She inspired me. I wanted to tell everyone how great birthing is, and wanted to know every other mom's birth stories. It was only then that I realized natural birth women, doulas, and especially homebirths are not the norm in the United States, much less Richmond, Virginia! It had not even occurred to me that I had done something that many women do not. I thought, “How could they not know how great this is? Why don't women know? Someone has got to get the word out!”
As you can see in my own birth story, doulas make an amazing difference in a woman's life. Just as I learned, women were born to give birth, and can – even without the use of drugs! Women have the right to make a birth story, and know their options. They also have the right to know all the options that come even after their baby is born.
What is a doula?
Doula is a classical Greek word that means “a women who serves.” Today, the word is used to describe a person who is trained in, experienced in, and dedicated to providing emotional, physical, and informational support to a mother (and her family) before, during, and after birth.
Every woman has unique needs before, during, and after the birth of her child. In particular, she needs continuous emotional and physical support outside of the medical care and education she receives from her doctor or midwife. As your birth/postpartum doula I will meet with you at least once just to talk about how I can best meet your individual needs. During the meeting we will also discuss my role, fees, and services.
Why use a doula?
Women have complex needs during childbirth and the weeks that follow. In addition to medical care and the love and companionship provided by their partners, women need consistent, continuous reassurance, comfort, encouragement and respect. They need individualized care based on their circumstances and preferences.
DONA International doulas are educated and experienced in childbirth and the postpartum period. We are prepared to provide physical (non-medical), emotional and informational support to women and their partners during labor and birth, as well as to families in the weeks following childbirth. We offer a loving touch, positioning and comfort measures that make childbearing women and families feel nurtured and cared for.
Numerous clinical studies have found that a doula's presence at birth
- tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications
- reduces negative feelings about one's childbirth experience
- reduces the need for pitocin (a labor-inducing drug), forceps or vacuum extraction and cesareans
- reduces the mother's request for pain medication and/or epidurals
Research shows parents who receive support can:
- Feel more secure and cared for
- Are more successful in adapting to new family dynamics
- Have greater success with breastfeeding
- Have greater self-confidence
- Have less postpartum depression
- Have lower incidence of abuse
– source: "Why use a doula?" from DONA International
Inviting your birth
An invited birth is one that is welcomed with open arms, no matter what the outcome may be. From the very moment a mother learns of her conception the birthing experience is long awaited, and anticipated by all family members. There are countless preparations to be made, and many times women forget that preparedness is physical, mental, and emotional.
It is important for a woman to feel comfortable about her upcoming birth. When any fears and questions have not been brought to the light they can come up during labor, and be even more difficult to deal with. If my clients choose, I work with them to invite their birth as a means to prepare for the unknown, and let go of any reservations they may have about their big day. It helps a woman to trust her body, and bring out any fears she had not realized in the past.
Once a birthing invitation has been done it is as if she has taken a leap of faith, and invited her birth to come into her life for all that it is and will be. This can be done a number of ways, from sitting quietly and meditating to making an actual invitation. There is an amazing freedom that comes from inviting your birth. We cannot control what the future holds, but we can embrace it with open arms.
My services
As a DONA International-trained doula, I happily offer both birth and postpartum services.
Birth
Services
My job as your birth doula begins before you go into labor. From the very first moment you invite me into your story I am thinking about how I can best meet your needs. It is vital that we are comfortable with each other, and I believe that the most important role I have in supporting a woman in labor is to create a safe environment.
At our first meeting we will discuss what types of childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care education you have had. You can also ask me any questions or raise any concerns you may have. Once we have met, I am available around the clock for support by phone until I meet with your family for a postpartum visit.
In order for me to meet your needs, it is important for you to keep me updated with health concerns expressed by your doctor or midwife, and to ask them about having a doula while in labor. If you would like, I also enjoy accompanying my clients to a prenatal visit before the birth of their babies; I feel that this gives us even more time to become comfortable with each other.
When your labor begins, or you think it might have begun, I ask that you please call me as soon as possible. From that point on I will meet you at your home or planned place of birth to offer labor support until about 1 hour after the birth of your baby. False alarms are normal, and I consider them a great time to practice for real labor. Please keep in mind that a doula does not give medical advice, and if you have any medical questions or concerns they should always be brought to the attention of your healthcare provider.
Fees
As your birth doula I charge $500. Half is due once we sign a contract agreeing that I will work as your doula, and the other half is due at the postpartum visit. (Couples who hire me as their birth doula are given a discount if they hire me as their postpartum doula; see the postpartum fees section for more information.)
If this fee or payment schedule does not work for you, please do not be discouraged! I am more than happy to work with you to find a payment plan that works for your family, and will charged based on a sliding scale as necessary. Every woman deserves the right to a doula.
My birth doula services include:
- At least 1 prenatal visit; I prefer to have 2-3 meetings
- Assistance making your birth invitation
- 24/7 phone support
- Accompaniment to a prenatal visit, if desired
- Labor support until 1 hour after the birth your baby
- A postpartum visit with your family within 2 weeks of the birth
- Education on baby wearing
Postpartum
Services
The postpartum period is often referred to as the fourth trimester, and I could not agree more. During the first few weeks a family's schedule, priorities, and needs completely change, even if they already have children. As your postpartum doula, I work to support your familyís immediate needs.
Supporting a mother during the postpartum period can mean playing many roles. No matter, what every mom needs rest and assurance that she is doing all the right things. I am more than happy to watch after older siblings, help with light household chores like dishes and laundry, as well as focusing on mom and her new baby. The times that I work with your family also vary depending on your needs.
These factors can be decided when I first meet with your family. At this meeting we will go over my contract, any questions and concerns you may have, and what you need in a postpartum doula.
Fees
My fee as your postpartum doula is $15-30/hour.1 There are various ways we can decide on payment. You may decide you want to buy a set number of hours, and then use them how you chose over a set amount of time (a great gift idea for a new mom!). If you canít decide on exactly how much support you may need, we can make a schedule as time goes on and decide from there what works. If you are not paying in advance, payments should be made at the end of each working week. Schedules I typically work are overnight from around the time of babyís last feed to right after a feeding in the early morning, or during the day for at least a 4 hour shift.
1 Families who hire me as their birth and postpartum doula are eligible for a discount for postpartum services.return
Included in my postpartum services:
- One visit to become acquainted with each other
- 24/7 postpartum support from our first visit until my last working visit with your family
- Emotional and physical support to mom and baby, including light household chores
- Care for multiple babies (another doula may be needed to assist me if a family has more than two newborns to ensure the best care can be provided)
- Education on baby wearing
Testimonials
Thanks so much for all the valuable information you provided me in preparing us for our big day. As a new parent, we are going to have millions of questions and concerns and we'll probably be asking you a lot of them. Good luck. You'll be the most “in demand” doula soon!!
Great to have a second opinion on options to reduce pain of labor.
Great to have Michelle available to my daughter throughout the birth process and now with postpartum depression.
Michelle was indispensable when our baby was born. Her encouragement, support and resourcefulness through 5 weeks of contractions, a (surprise breech) c-section, late milk and initial poor supply – I just can't say enough. I would absolutely want Michelle to be my doula with future births.
My availability
Contact me
Call
(804) 426-3898
Find me on 
Facebook at The Invited Birth