Birth doula in the Pheonix area

I just wanted to post this in case anyone is looking for a doula in my area:)

About Me

My name is Rachel Leavitt. I am the mother of five children, all born naturally. Two in a birth center in Tucson, AZ and three in Utah. I graduated from the Univeristy of Utah with my BSN in 2004. Since then I have worked in postpartum, NICU, and Labor and Delivery. I loved my work and felt like it has added a lot to my knowledge base, but I quickly realized that there was a need to help support women more fully who are striving for a normal physiological birth. Thus my attention turned to teaching myself how to support women in labor. I recieved my doula certification from Childbirth International in 2010 and in Jan of 2011 decided it was time for me to turn my attention full time to just doing doula work. I have attended over 200 births with many varying experiences. I have supported women who have used the Bradley method, hypnobirthing, lamaze or their own instincts and intuition. Other healing methods I use to help support birth include reflexology, aromatherapy, hydrotherapy, as well as a strong background in research and science. I work to stay updated on current research relevant to my work as a doula which translates into better care for the women I take care of.

My two goals for women that are work with are 1) to attend to women's mental, physical, emotional and spiritual needs and 2) to help facilitate decision making. Overall, my guiding philosophy is this: "Birth is the experience of a lifetime. Giving birth and being born brings us into the essence of creation where the human spirit is courageous and bold and the body a miracle of creation".

Birth Doula Package

Initial consultation-This is a free visit to talk and discuss what your needs are and make a plan of how to best meet those.

Two prenatal meetings- The first meeting we will go over your goals for your birth, your birth options, and how to best meet those. We will also discuss the various roles of those on your birth team. At the second meeting we will go over techniques to use during labor according to your needs. We can also practice various techniques as needed. I usually will give a reflexology session at this time as well as figure out what kinds of oils you would like to use if wanted.

Meeting your care provider- I also like to go with you to one appointment to meet your care provider and get to know each other.

Unlimited telephone and email support during your pregnancy and after your baby is born.

Full access to my Lending Library-I will bring a list of books I have available to our first visit and you can let me know if there are any you would like to borrow.

24/7 on-call support. I will be available to you at anytime to ask questions or have me come be with you. I will not be more than an hour away at this time unless I let you know otherwise.

10% off all products at http://www.doterra.myvoffice.com/rachelleavitt/. Let me know what products you'll want and I'll order them for you at the discounted price.

Continuous support during your labor- Call me whenever you feel like you need me to be there. Often times I will come when I feel like I should be there, but you are welcome to send me home. Thus far, no one has and I have been there when they needed me for various reasons.

Postpartum visits- The day after the birth I will contact you by phone to see how you are doing. Around day 4 or 5 I will come visit to assess adjustment and if any other follow up care is needed. At this point we will decide if more visits are needed.
My Fee

My Birth Doula package is $500. If you decide to hire me as your Doula, we will go over and sign the Birth Doula agreement and the first $250 of my fee is due as a retainer to secure my availability, covers the prenatal visits, and my 24 hour on-call commitment to you. The remaining balance of $250 covers the birth and postpartum visits, and is due two weeks before your estimated due date.

Please do not let your financial situation stand in the way of having a Doula. I understand the constraints of a tight budget. Please contact me so we can discuss payment options, bartering, or other arrangements to make sure you have the Doula support you deserve. There are a lot of options that I am willing to work with.

For more information about what goes in to a Birth Doula’s fee please visit the following site:
http://bigbellyservices.com/doula%20fees%20detail.htm


Testimonials

"I can't tell you how much I appreciate all your help and advise! This has been a wonderful experience for me and you've made it all teh more better with your kindness and support. You have really helped make Vincent's birth special. Richard would like to say thank-you, he says you are the best ever! And I totally agree. We will always remember what you've done for us! Thank-you". -Serena

Posts from my blog

http://thebeginningofmotherhood.blogspot.com/search/label/birth%20stories.
http://thebeginningofmotherhood.blogspot.com/search/label/hierarchy%20of%20needs
http://thebeginningofmotherhood.blogspot.com/search/label/support
http://thebeginningofmotherhood.blogspot.com/search/label/fear