FAQs
Why should I hire a doula? I already have a spouse/partner to help me anyway.
According to DONA International, research has proven that having extra labor support, like a birth doula, can help make labor and birth a shorter, easier and healthier experience. Women are less likely to need Pitocin, less likely to have a cesarean birth, less likely to use any pain medication, and more likely to rate their childbirth experience positively. A postpartum doula has proven to reduce postpartum mood disorders and increase breastfeeding success.
Even with a supportive partner, hiring a doula can still be incredibly beneficial. A partner is one who knows the birthing person the best and is typically the most emotionally invested through the birth process. The partner may not remember what his/her partner wants or just may not know how to best help. A provider only gets to know the birthing person so well throughout pregnancy having many different patients to serve. Plus, he/she may not even be the one that attends the birth. And even if he/she is, it’s usually not until close to birthing the baby. Having a doula who is working for the family directly and having multiple individualized meetings prenatally to get to know the fami, can be a priceless liaison between the two.
Evidence-Based Birth’s article on the Evidence On: Doulas
Are virtual support services offered? Why would I want virtual support?
Yes! Any meeting or consultation for birth or postpartum can be done virtually instead of in person.
Virtual support can still be incredibly beneficial. While it takes out the in person, physical support from a doula, the informational and emotional support that virtual avenues still provide can make all the difference in the world. Learning and knowing what questions to ask, what different options are, how to advocate for yourself, what’s going on in the birth process itself, are all crucial things regardless of in person support or not and something a doula can provide virtually. Plus, physical components like comfort measures and laboring techniques can also be taught and practiced virtually.
I’m thinking about getting an epidural. Will I still be supported in that?
Definitely! While Kristina is an advocate for the natural, physiological birth process our bodies were created to go through, she completely understands and will support medicated births, including cesareans. A lot of support is still needed through any kind of birth, especially when unexpected things come up.
What birthing locations are served?
Kristina supports hospital, birth center and home births. The only birth center within her service area is the Holy Family Birth Center. The hospitals within her area include PRMC, DuPont Hospital, Parkview Randallia, Lutheran Hospital, Parkview Huntington, Parkview Whitley, Parkview Wabash, Bluffton Regional Medical Center, and Adams Memorial Hospital. There can be some exceptions with birthing locations outside of her area.
For a list of area homebirth midwives and/or other birth providers, or for any possible birthing location exceptions, please reach out.
If virtual support is being provided, she can support births in any US location.
What if I am outside the service area?
Kristina is open to taking clients outside of her service area (a 35 mile radius), but it is on a limited, schedule dependent basis. If she is able to take you as a client, you would be charged the current IRS business standard mileage rate for any miles beyond 35 miles. This would include the prenatal visits, birth, and postpartum visit. While one in home prenatal visit is required, you do have the option of making the other meetings virtual.
What form of payments are taken and do I get a receipt?
Cash, check or card payments are accepted. Checks can be made out to “Waltman Wellness.” For card payments, request an invoice and a card payment link will be sent to you. Once the full payment has been received, a receipt will be emailed via edoula.biz. If a payment is due and has not been received, an invoice requesting payment will get sent.
What is everything Kristina can do as a doula? Are there any restrictions?
Please see the services page to see what Kristina can do. She does not/is not: a midwife, ob/gyn, or clinical or medical provider of any kind, give any medical advice or diagnoses, perform any clinical tasks (i.e. blood pressure, fetal heart checks, vaginal exams, etc.), make decisions for you, protect you from your provider, take the place of any support partner, have a personal agenda for your birth or parenting, guarantee a certain outcome, a counselor, therapist, housekeeper, babysitter or nanny, give out medications or treatments when prescribed.
Being trained and certified through DONA International, Kristina is required to follow their Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics. You can learn what those are by clicking here: DONA International’s Birth Doula Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics
