FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions are part of feeling prepared.
Choosing birth support is personal.
Here are answers to some of the questions families often have before working with
The Franklin Birth Collective.
What exactly does a birth doula do? A birth doula provides continuous emotional, physical, and informational support throughout pregnancy, labor, birth, and the immediate postpartum period. I help you prepare for your birth, explore your preferences, practice comfort measures and positioning, support your partner, and provide a calm, steady presence during labor. My role is to support your choices and help you feel informed, prepared, and cared for throughout your experience.
2. Is a doula a medical professional? No. As your birth doula, I provide non-medical support and do not diagnose conditions, perform clinical examinations, administer medications, monitor fetal heart tones, or make medical decisions. Your medical care remains with your physician, midwife, nurses, and other healthcare providers. My role is to complement your medical team by focusing on your emotional, physical, and informational support.
3. Will you replace my partner during labor? Not at all. My goal is to support both you and your partner or chosen support person. I can help your partner feel more confident by suggesting comfort measures, positions, ways to offer reassurance, and opportunities to stay involved. Your partner knows and loves you in a way no doula can replace—I bring experience, preparation, and an additional layer of support to your birth team.
4. Can I have a doula if I plan to get an epidural? Absolutely. Doula support is not only for unmedicated births. Whether you choose an epidural, other pain-management options, or no medication at all, you still deserve continuous support. I can assist with positioning, comfort, communication, emotional reassurance, partner support, and navigating changes throughout labor.
5. Can you support me if I’m being induced? Yes. Inductions can involve multiple steps and sometimes a longer labor experience. I can help you prepare beforehand, understand questions you may want to ask your medical team, stay comfortable through the process, explore positioning and coping techniques, and provide steady emotional support as your labor unfolds.
6. What happens if I need a Cesarean birth? Your support does not disappear because your birth plan changes. If a Cesarean becomes part of your birth story, I will continue providing emotional and informational support within hospital policies and my non-medical scope. If I am permitted in the operating room, I can support you there; if hospital policy limits who may be present, I will support you and your family as circumstances allow before and after the birth..
7. When do you go on call for my birth? For birth-support clients, my on-call period begins at 37 weeks of pregnancy. During this period, I remain prepared for labor to begin and will provide you with specific instructions for contacting me when you notice signs of labor or experience an important change.
8. When should I contact you once labor begins? I encourage you to contact me when you believe labor may be beginning, your water breaks, you experience a significant change, or your medical provider recommends that you be evaluated. Early communication allows us to stay connected and determine together when you would like in-person doula support. For urgent medical concerns, always contact your healthcare provider or emergency services first.
9. What happens if you are unavailable when I go into labor? Birth is unpredictable, so having a backup plan is an important part of responsible doula care. In the rare event that illness, an emergency, overlapping births, or another unavoidable circumstance prevents me from attending your birth, a qualified backup doula may be contacted according to the terms of your service agreement. We will discuss backup support during your prenatal preparation so you know what to expect.
10. When should I book my doula? You can reach out at any point during pregnancy, but earlier is usually better. Because I accept a limited number of birth clients around each estimated due date, availability may become limited. Booking early also gives us more time to build our relationship, prepare together, and make the most of your prenatal support.
11. Where do you provide birth support? The Franklin Birth Collective provides birth doula support throughout New Jersey, subject to availability, travel distance, and the policies of your chosen hospital or birth setting. We will discuss your planned birth location during your complimentary consultation to make sure it falls within my service area.
12. Do you offer payment plans? Yes. Payment plans are available for birth-support packages. A booking retainer is required to reserve your estimated due-date availability, with the remaining balance paid according to the payment schedule outlined in your service agreement. We can discuss the available payment structure during your complimentary consultation.
13. How do I know which package is right for me? You don't have to figure that out alone. During your complimentary consultation, we'll talk about your pregnancy, birth preferences, support system, concerns, and the type of experience you're hoping to create. From there, I can help you compare The Nurture Package, The Signature Birth Experience, and The Bespoke Experience so you can choose the level of support that feels right for you.
4. What happens after I book? Once your service agreement is signed and your booking retainer is received, your estimated due date is officially reserved. You'll receive your client welcome materials and intake questionnaire, and we'll begin planning your prenatal sessions. From there, we'll prepare together throughout pregnancy, transition into your on-call period at 37 weeks, and continue through birth and the postpartum support included in your selected package.
STILL HAVE A QUESTION?
Let’s talk about your birth.
Every birth is different, and choosing the right support should feel personal. Schedule a complimentary consultation and let’s talk about what you’re envisioning for your experience.