Atlanta Doula Care

Q: What is a doula?

A doula is a trained, non-medical support professional who provides emotional, informational, and physical support to families during pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum. [Internal link: “Our Doula Services”]

Q: What does a doula do before, during, and after birth?

• Prenatal period: education, preparation, and birth planning.

• During labor and birth: continuous presence, comfort measures, encouragement, and advocacy.

• Postpartum: debriefing the birth, newborn guidance, and emotional support.

Q: Is a doula medically trained?
No. Doulas are not medical professionals. They do not perform clinical procedures.

Q: Do I need a doula if I’ve had a baby before?
Yes. We are most commonly hired by parents who wish they had a doula the first time. They hire us hoping for a better birth the second time. Every birth is unique. Families often say the presence of a doula brings calm, reassurance, and stronger advocacy even if they’ve birthed before.

Q: Do I need a doula if I plan to get an epidural?
Yes. Doula’s are not just for moms wanting an unmedicated birth. Doula’s help you labor longer without an epidural, but they can also help you get your epidural at the right moment. After your epidural is in place, your doula will help you move through labor more effectively. Using frequent position changes will help your labor progress well even after an epidural. Your doula is trained to use the best positions for each phase of labor, training nurses often do not have, or simply do not have the time to use.

Q: Do I need a doula if I am planning a cesarean/C-section?
Yes. Many families find a doula helpful even with a cesarean. A doula can prepare you beforehand, help you understand your options, create a calming environment in the OR if allowed, and provide continuous support for both you and your partner before, during, and after surgery.

Q: When should I hire a doula?
We can book pretty quick, so you’re never too early! Most families reach out in the second or third trimester, though it’s never too late.

Q: How much does a doula cost?
In the Atlanta area, a birth doula ranges from $1500-$2500. The more experienced the doula, the higher the fee.

Q: Is doula care ever covered by insurance?
It depends. Contact us for more information.

Atlanta Birth Photography & Videography

Q: Do I need a birth photographer or videographer?
These services preserve the emotions, details, and memories of your birth story that might otherwise be missed. [Internal link: “Birth Photography Services”]

Q: How does “on-call” work?
Photographers and videographers are typically on call 24/7 starting around 38 weeks of pregnancy until delivery. Same as doulas.

Q: How long will they stay after birth?
Most stay for 1–2 hours postpartum to capture first family moments.

Q: What about lighting?
We are professionals and work with available light, or discreet flash if necessary, to preserve the natural birth atmosphere. Sometimes we bring our own lighting.

Q: When should newborn or family sessions be scheduled?

• Newborn: usually within 5–14 days after birth.

• Lifestyle newborn: up to 6–8 weeks old for more awake portraits.

• Family: anytime — often coordinated with maternity or newborn sessions.

Q: How long before I receive images or video?
A preview may arrive within a few days; final galleries or films usually take 2–6 weeks.

Atlanta Postpartum Doula / Overnight Infant Care

Q: What is a postpartum doula?
A postpartum doula is typically an experienced woman who provides overnight newborn care - feeding, diapering, soothing, and monitoring baby’s well-being while parents rest. How the schedule looks is up to you and your needs.

Q: What tasks does a postpartum doula perform?
Feeding, changing, burping, soothing, tracking sleep/feeding logs, and bringing baby to mother for breastfeeding if desired. Overnight care can also include some light household chores such as tidying the kitchen and living areas, packing and unpacking the dishwasher, and washing and folding baby clothes.

Q: How many hours is a typical shift?
Usually 8–10 hours (e.g., 10 pm–6 am).

Q: How many nights should I hire a postpartum doula?
It depends on your needs - most families hire a postpartum doula for 2-4 nights a week, for 4-6 weeks. However, we’ve supported families for more nights per week and some up to 4 months postpartum.

Q: Why do families hire night help?
Studies show that sleep deprivation is one of the strongest predictors of postpartum depression and anxiety (NIH, 2020). Overnight support helps parents recover and reduces risks. Postpartum doulas help the whole family to regulate sleep. Through gentle sleep support, doulas help set a healthy sleep schedule for infants, that will benefit long term sleep habits.