• Prenatal Visit #1

When you decide that you would like to move forward with hiring Matriarch, we will meet as soon as possible to sign the contract, make payment arrangements, fill out your intake form, and you will be given a resource package. (Approx. 60-90 minutes)

 

• Prenatal Visit #2

Around the 30-week mark of your pregnancy, we will get together to complete your detailed birth preferences form. This is what I will use to type up your one-page birth plan that we will bring to the hospital. (Approx 90-120 minutes)

 

• Prenatal Visit #3

We will do this meeting some time between 36-38 weeks. This will be our final meeting before your birth. We will meet to go over your birth preferences once more to make any necessary revisions. You will also have the opportunity to have a look through my doula bag that I will bring with me to the hospital. I encourage you to try out the items and see what you might enjoy on delivery day! We will also discuss any anxieties you might be having and work out a support plan. (Approx 60-90 minutes)

 

• Regular Check-Ins Via Text

Throughout your pregnancy, I will send you texts to check-in and see how things are going for you, any updates on baby, if there are any supports or referrals you need, etc. I do my check-ins on the following schedule:

• Monthly for First Half of Pregnancy (Weeks 8, 12, 16, 20)

• Bi-Weekly Until Final Six Weeks (Weeks 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34)

• Weekly Until Full Term (Weeks 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)

• Every 2-3 Days After Due Date Passes, Until Birth

 

• As-Needed Support

You don’t need to wait for my check-ins if you need to talk! You can reach out via text, phone call, or email at any time! Reasons for reaching out might be questions, concerns, needing a referral for community supports, or even just having a hard day and needing someone to listen. I am here for you no matter what. I will respond with 1-2 hours during business hours (Monday-Friday 9:00am-6:00pm, excluding statutory holidays) for non-urgent matters. If urgent, call any time day or night.

 

• Appointment Accompaniment

I will attend up to two pregnancy-related appointments with you throughout the course of your pregnancy and postpartum period. These can be doctor’s visits, ultrasounds, or even a childbirth education class! The appointments can be up to two hours long (plus $50/hour for every additional hour). I can also attend more than two appointments, also at a rate of $50/hour. This is a great option for times where your partner may be unable to take work off and you need some support, or even if you just want an extra set of hands alongside you and your partner.

 

• Lending Library

In the ‘Media Recommendations’ section of this package, there is a list of books that I own in my personal library. As a client, you have access to them at no additional cost. You can borrow as many as you want throughout your pregnancy and return them when you’re finished.

 

• On-Call from 37 Weeks

Once you hit 37 weeks, I am officially on call for you! That means my phone volume is on high, my doula bag is packed, and your birth plan is printed out and ready to go when you tell me the time has come. If you think you’re in labour, please call me any time day or night!

 

• Labour and Delivery Support

Time to have a birth day party! You’ve waited a long time, and the big day is finally here. When you head to the hospital (or wherever you plan to give birth), I will meet you there and stay by your side offering you continuous emotional, physical, and informational support throughout the entirety of your labour and delivery. I will bring my bag of tools and comfort measures along with all my techniques and we will work together to give you the best birthing experience possible!

 

• Doula Bag Tools and Comfort Measures

The following list is what I currently have in my doula bag, and what will be available for you to use during your labour. You can use as few or as many as you would like!

• Birthing Ball

• TENS Machine

• Birthing Comb

• Stress Balls (Soft, Medium, Firm)

• Aromatherapy- Essential Oils (Fresh Linen, Coconut Lime, Vanilla, Eucalyptus, ‘Soothing’, Orange, Lemongrass, Peppermint, Lavender)

• Aromatherapy- Wax Melts (Apple Cinnamon, Lavender, ‘Healing’)

• Heat Packs

• LED Flameless Candles/Tealights

• Bluetooth Speaker and Soothing Music Playlists

• Massage Equipment (Oil, Massage Balls and Rollers {Smooth or Textured})

• Hair Ties

• Mini Handheld Fan

 

• 1-2 Hours Immediate Postpartum Support

Hooray! You did it!! Baby is here. I will remain at your side while you are in recovery, supporting you in bonding with your baby through skin-to-skin and your first attempts at feeding. Once you head over to the Postpartum Unit (approximately 1-2 hours after birth), I will be on my way, UNLESS you feel like you are needing my support for a little longer, which is totally okay!

 

• Hospital Stay Check-Ins

During your hospital stay, I try to give you space to bond as a family, have visitors, rest, and enjoy those precious first days, but you can reach out to me at any time if you need anything at all. If you feel that something isn’t quite right and you need some support, you can always request that I return to the hospital. I am happy to do that!

I will send you a text about 24 hours after the birth of your baby (unless you gave birth at 3am, in which case I maayyyyy wait until morning hours) to check in on how you are all doing.

I ask that you or your partner please send me a quick text message when you are discharged from the hospital so that I am aware that everything is all good.

One week after birth, I will send you another text to check-in and we will schedule your first postpartum visit. Again, if you need anything before this check-in date, reach out!!

 

• Postpartum Visit #1

A little over a week after baby is born, we will have our first postpartum visit. During the visit, we will debrief your birth experience, discuss supports you feel like you may need, check-in on your recovery, check-in on how baby is doing, discuss any infant care challenges you may be having, as well as discuss how feeding is going. (Approx. 60-90 minutes)

 

• Postpartum Visit #2

I will continue to check-in weekly during the postpartum period. On my three-week-postpartum check-in, we will schedule our second and final postpartum visit. During this visit, we will do a follow-up from the week before on your recovery, supports needed, baby updates, etc. My goal is to ensure that you have all the supports you will need moving forward once our contract ends. We will say our goodbyes and I will give you a feedback form that you can decide whether or not you would like to complete. After this visit, our time together has come to an end and communication will cease. But I will always love to hear from you, so feel free to pop into my emails at any time!