Spring & Varick

Silver Spring Doula works as partnership. There are two full-time doulas that share call - so either one of us may be the one who attends your birth. Our goal is that you meet with each of us at least one time prior to your birth so that you feel comfortable with either of us attending your birth.

Yes! Silver Spring Doula never charges more for a longer birth. when you sign a contract with us, it includes as many hours of support as you need. We educate our clients prior to their births that they have tools to cope with early labor on their own at home, and many find they don't need us until they go to the hospital. Regardless of when you need us, we provide you all the support you need, at whichever location you want us, for as long as it takes to have your baby.

We’ve been practicing for a while! Rose started attending births for her hypnobabies childbirth education students in 2008 and has attended over 75 births. Jenny started attending births in 2013 and has attended over 120 births.

Your care provider will be there for the actual birth, but for the vast majority of laboring people, the care provider checks in periodically and then comes in at the end to catch the baby. Nurses often have more than one patient to take care of, so they are also in and out of the room. Many people are surprise by how long they are actually laboring all alone. All care providers and nurses also go home at the end of their shift, so you may actually end up with a few nurses or doctors or midwives taking care of you during your birth. A doula doesn't change shifts, she doesn't have any other clients to support while she is with you. You are 100% her only priority during your birth. If your birth is 4 hours, she's there the whole time. If your birth is 24 hours, she is there the whole time. She is there to help you through each of your contractions, and make sure your partner can go eat and take a nap without leaving you alone. Doulas provide continuous support for your whole birth!

A midwife is a medical care provider. They would provide prenatal care like an OB would, prescribe medications, screening tests, blood work, listen to fetal heart tones, take blood pressure...in short, they provide *medical* care. Doulas are concerned with informational support, physical support, and emotional support before, during, and immediately after birth. We physically help you through every contraction using massage, breathing techniques, and encouragement. We facilitate communication between you and the hospital staff, provide unbiased, evidence based information, make sure you have the time and information to make decisions, and provide continuous support for you and your partner throughout your entire birth process (as opposed to the medical provider and nurses who are in and out of your room during your labor because they have to tend to other patients).