What is a doula?
What exactly does a doula do?
How long have you been a doula & what is your background?
This is my second child. Why should I hire a doula?
What is the difference between a "baby nurse" and a doula?
Is there any task you can’t or don’t do?
Do you cover overnight hours or weekends?
What areas/towns do you work in?
When should I call?
What is the typical time frame that families work with a doula?
What if we sign up for 10 hours & then decide we want more?
Is the cost of hiring a doula reimbursed through insurance or are there any other ways to pay?
Can we meet in person before I sign up?
Do you supply references?
When do you begin and end working with a client?
How do I sign up for service?

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What is a doula?
A doula (do-la) is an experienced, trained, non-medical care provider who supports you and your family in the exciting, but often hectic time following the birth of a new baby. If you’re a first-time mother, a doula is a caring, comforting presence and a non-judgmental “mother’s mentor.” A doula can answer questions regarding infant care and offer tips and tricks for feeding, bathing, clothing and soothing your baby. First-time parents often find that working with a doula quickly builds their confidence in their new parenting skills.

What exactly does a doula do?
Generally, a doula cares for and provides physical, educational and emotional support for the new mother and her partner so they, in turn, can nurture and bond with their new baby.

How long have you been a doula and what is your background?
I have worked in the field since 2000. My training includes attendance at a Doulas of North America (www.DONA.org) approved training series. I maintain adult and child CPR certification and regularly attend professional seminars on topics related to new parenting, such as Teaching Infant Massage, Recognizing Postpartum Depression and Getting Breastfeeding Off to a Good Start. I am a college graduate and have worked as a teacher, editor, freelance writer and garden designer. I am the mother of two grown daughters and the grandmother of two and have been a resident of northern NJ for more than 25 years.

This is my second child. Why should I hire a doula? 
Because a postpartum a doula offers a set of capable, helpful hands. Parents with older children will have more time to focus on bonding with their new baby while maintaining all-important connections to their other children. Listing exactly what a doula does is difficult because every family has its own set of needs that will become clear after the new baby arrives. Here are some things a doula might do for you:  

	Care for older siblings
	Catch up on laundry
	Prepare nourishing meals
	Run errands
	Pick up groceries or supplies
	Provide resources and referrals

What is the difference between a “baby nurse” and a doula?
A “baby nurse” (who, by the way, is typically not a nurse at all) cares only for your infant and provides no care for you and no instruction in baby care.

As a doula, I nurture both the mother and the baby (and often the father). I mentor you and answer your questions in a gentle, non-judgmental way. I offer physical and emotional support with the aim of building your confidence so that you are soon more comfortable taking care of your baby. You’ll learn practical tips for swaddling, dressing, bathing, & soothing your baby. In addition, I provide skilled breastfeeding help. And as my client, you also have access to a collection of books and DVDs on birth, breastfeeding and baby-related topics from my lending library. If time allows, I also handle household chores, such as shopping, cooking nutritious meals, tidying up, laundry, errands and caring for other children.

Is there any task you can’t or don’t do?
Insurance regulations prohibit me from transporting you or your children in my car. And while light housework, such as a quick sweep or vacuum, or cleaning up the kitchen from meal preparations, is within the scope of doula work, bathrooms and other large cleaning tasks are not.

Do you cover overnight hours or weekends?
Unless circumstances are truly extraordinary, I work between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. I discuss nighttime parenting at length with all my clients and can offer many tips and resources to boost your confidence. As a general rule I do not work on weekends; however, I will sometimes visit first-time breastfeeding moms for a short visit if they arrive home from the hospital on a weekend.

What areas/towns do you work in?
I work within 20 miles of Bloomingdale, NJ. If you live farther than that, I charge an additional fee to cover travel time plus any parking fees.

When should I call?
It’s best to call early in your pregnancy to ensure support.

What is the typical time frame that families work with a doula?
While my basic service agreement covers 10 hours of service, the most popular contract is for 20 hours. This translates into about three hours of help, every other weekday, for about two weeks. For most, this is a good start, while others may find they could use more support for longer periods of time.

What if we sign up for 10 hours now and then decide we want to add more hours after our baby is born?
Provided my schedule is not heavily booked, that should be fine, although you may have to take the hours that others with contracts have not previously requested.

Is the cost of hiring a doula reimbursed through insurance or are there any other ways to pay?
Depending on the circumstances and the carrier, the cost of hiring a postpartum doula is sometimes reimbursed by medical insurance. Check with your carrier. If you have set up a flexible spending account, you can use that to pay for doula services.

Can we meet in person before I hire you?
Yes. Provided your baby is not yet born, we can arrange a one-hour meeting in your home or a mutually convenient place. If you subsequently sign a contract with me, that meeting counts as your first contract hour.

Do you supply references?
Happily! Upon request, I will provide you with references.

When do you begin and end working with a client?
I begin service anytime within the first two weeks of the birth of your baby. However, in my experience, first-time and/or breastfeeding moms benefit most when service begins as soon as possible. I suggest that I visit your family on the day after you arrive home from the hospital so we can be sure that you are confident and comfortable (especially with breastfeeding). Hours must be completed by the time your baby is six weeks old.

How do I sign up for service?
Call (973.291.8200) or e-mail me (elaine@tendertimesdoula.com) to be sure I am free when you plan to need assistance. At that time, I can e-mail the necessary forms to you. Alternatively, you can download the “Client Questionnaire”, “Service Agreement" and "Confidentiality Release" forms. Please print, fill out and return them with a deposit check to Elaine Petrowski, 14 Buena Vista Way West, Bloomingdale, NJ, 07403.