Your birth is one of the most transformative experiences of your life. Having a skilled and compassionate birth doula by your side can make all the difference. With evidence-based practices and a heart-centered approach, I provide physical, emotional, and informational support to help you achieve a birth experience that aligns with your goals and values—whether in a hospital, birth center, or the comfort of your home.
A birth doula is a trained professional who provides continuous support during labor and delivery. Unlike medical professionals, a doula’s primary focus is on your comfort, confidence, and empowerment. Research has shown that continuous support from a doula can lead to:
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Shorter labors
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Reduced need for medical interventions, including cesareans
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Lower rates of pain medication use
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Increased satisfaction with the birthing experience
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Improved newborn outcomes
(Source: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2017)
WHAT'S A DOULA?
The Evidence Behind Doula Support
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Continuous labor support from a doula reduces the likelihood of cesarean births by 39%. (Source: Cochrane, 2017)
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Doulas increase the likelihood of spontaneous vaginal births and reduce the use of interventions like epidurals. (Source: Evidence-Based Birth, 2019)
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Birthing people supported by doulas report 34% higher satisfaction with their birth experience. (Source: Cochrane, 2017)
How I Support You
During Pregnancy
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Personalized Birth Plan Creation: We’ll explore all your birthing options and create a strategy tailored to your preferences, ensuring you feel informed and empowered.
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Education & Preparation: Learn about labor stages, comfort measures, and possible interventions so you can make confident decisions.
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Emotional Support: Address fears, anxieties, and expectations in a safe, judgment-free space.
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On-Call Availability: Starting at 38 weeks, I’ll be available to answer questions, provide guidance, and support you as your due date approaches.
During Labor and Delivery
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Continuous Physical Support: I’ll use techniques such as massage, counterpressure, positioning, and movement to ease labor discomfort and help labor progress.
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Emotional Encouragement: My calm and steady presence provides reassurance and grounding to help you stay confident throughout your labor journey.
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Advocacy and Communication: I’ll ensure your voice is heard and your birth preferences are respected, helping you navigate conversations with your medical team.
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Guided Breathwork & Visualization: Techniques like rhythmic breathing and visualization help you stay focused and in control during labor waves.
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Partner Support: I work collaboratively with your partner to enhance their confidence and involvement, ensuring they feel supported and connected during the process.
After Birth
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Immediate Postpartum Care: I’ll assist with early bonding, breastfeeding, and any immediate recovery needs to ensure a smooth transition.
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Birth Debriefing: Reflect on your experience and celebrate your strength in a safe, supportive space.
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Postpartum Guidance: Receive ongoing support and resources to help you navigate the early weeks of parenting with confidence and ease.
BIRTH SUPPORT: THE PROCESS
As your birth doula you can expect that I will be available for 24/7 phone and email support for questions, comfort, suggestions by providing unbiased supportive space. I will provide two prenatal visits with you and any other birth support person you plan to have alongside you during labor (i.e. partner, mother, friend). These prenatal visits will prepare everyone for the big day. Think of it like practicing before the game. We will create or confirm your preferences, practice comfort measures and different coping strategies together, and discuss any questions, fears, or areas of concern you might have going into your birth experience. I will be on call from weeks 38 to 42 until I receive your call to join you during your birth to assist with continuous emotional, physical, and informational support throughout your labor and the birth of your new sweet babe. Once you are settled with the newest addition to your family, I will meet with you for a final postpartum visit within your first few weeks home.
PREPARING THE NEST
You will have complete access to me, my knowledge, and my resources 24/7 via phone and email from time of hire. Ask me anything, send me photos, let me debunk the scary things you may have read online and bring on the hormone driven rambles! No question is too big or too small. No inquiry is “out of scope”.
What I do know I will share and what I don’t I will help you find out. I’m prepared to answer any questions you may have, hold space for your journey, advise any big choices you’re making and give my product recommendations for you, baby and your new family in general; clean, green, non toxic, pregnancy safe, baby safe and breast/chest feeding safe.
How many prenatal sessions & how do they work?
We’ll have two prenatals together, preferably before you’ve hit 38 weeks. No worries if you’re taking the doula step a little later in your pregnancy.. getting you support is the priority so we’ll make it work!
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Our first prenatal is set up to be a good hardy chat on Zoom (or an outdoor space if you prefer)! Energy, comfort, and safety are very important in this space, so I like to allow time for us to connect more fully before we come together again in your birth space. We can talk about what you know, what you don’t know, what you want to know, and your birth desire/concerns (if you have them). In this prenatal, we will also begin to uncover and solidify your goals and preferences for your birth experience. Talking about WHY you want the birth you want is an empowered birthing puzzle piece very dear to my heart. For all of us to understand why you want the birth you want is huge. When we drop into the truth of your desires, we can better uncover how I can support you best. In my time as a birth keeper, I have found that commitment and determination are big factors when it comes to the trajectory of your experience.
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Your second prenatal is virtual or in your home! This is where we gonna get physical! (insert Olivia Newton John’s fuchsia spandex) We will be moving through possible laboring positions, prenatal stretches, hip squeezes, and rebozo work. I’ll demo physical support options that can help ease and manage labor. I’ll show you my birth bag so you can see what I’ll have in tow and, if you are birthing out of your home, we can spend some time talking about what you will bring in your birth bag. At this prenatal, I can also take a look at everything you’ve got ready for the baby and your postpartum to make sure you’ll be stepping into a fully equipped space once the baby arrives!
LABOR & BIRTH
How does being on-call work?
I go on call for your birth when you are 38 weeks based on the guessed date you were given. I’ll be putting your phone number on emergency bypass so I don’t miss you when it’s go time. I’m staying rested and mindful of your day approaching. I will be there whenever you are ready for the added support. This typically is in active labor.
How long until you arrive after I call?
A common fear is that your doula may tell you that it’s too early for you to need them or that you’re not in “real labor” yet. Please know, I wouldn’t DREAM of starting you off on this journey believing that you aren’t reading your body correctly or don’t know what it is that you need. It’s never too soon. If you want me, I will be there. Even if it’s just to make you a cup of hot tea, breathe with you, and head back home. Once I’ve joined you in active labor, I will stay by your side until that baby is here!
ONCE BABY IS HERE
I will stay for up to an hour post-birth to support you in your immediate post-birth space. If at any point you’re ready for some alone time just say the word and I will slip out and leave you to it. Oh, and I’m a bit of a wizard with a smartphone, so if you want some snaps of those first moments, let me know. I’ve been known to capture some portrait mode magic! You will have an in-home postpartum visit within the first 10 days after baby arrives. The purpose of this visit is whatever you feel will serve you best. It’s okay to not know what that is until baby is here and you’re in the postpartum space. We can unpack your birth a bit, check in about your postpartum healing and support system, I can cook a meal, some baby free time .. we will ogle over your new baby of course, or I can offer other hands-on support and provide resources that can help smooth your transition to parenthood. This visit is included in your Birth package!
My Clients Say
"Karissa was my rock throughout my entire birth. Her calm presence, combined with her incredible knowledge, gave me the confidence to trust my body. She worked so well with my partner and my care team, ensuring my voice was always heard." – Emily R.
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"Having Karissa as my doula was the best decision I made. Her hands-on support and guidance helped me through every contraction. I felt calm, prepared, and fully supported the entire time." – Sarah J.
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"Karissa’s ability to blend evidence-based practices with emotional support was incredible. Her knowledge of labor positioning and pain management helped me avoid an epidural, and I couldn’t have done it without her." – Megan L.
JUST FOR YOU
There is intentionally a lot of information and options listed above because we know that one size seldom fits all. Golden Teacher Wellness is here to work and communicate collaboratively with you by taking all of the above options and blending them into a unique, tailored birth service that will meet you exactly where you are and serve you exactly in the capacity you desire.
A doula for every person who wants one.
- DONA International, the world's leading doula-certifying organization
Karissa Bolinger is a DONA-certified birth doula