DOULA SERVICES
Providing compassionate care and support throughout your pregnancy and birth to help you have a positive and empowering birth experience.
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Up to 3 Prenatal Visits, which include getting to know you, creating a birth plan if you choose, and talking about your preferred methods for me to use during your labor and birth.
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Continued availability to you throughout pregnancy.
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Physical and Emotional Support during labor and birth. (Counter pressure, essential oils, hot and cold, guidance for partner, etc.)
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1 Postpartum Visit
Pricing:
Flat Rate of $700 regardless of how long or short labor is.
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*Free 30 minute Consultation for each potential client so we can get to know each other and see if I am compatible with you and your family.
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ABOUT ME
My name is Erica and I am looking forward to getting to know you! I am a happy wife and a doing-my-best mother to three beautiful, energetic kiddos. I love people, animals, and family time. I also love walking, playing the tuba, horseback riding, and playing board games with my family. I am passionate about educating, empowering, and supporting women and couples throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and parenthood. I also enjoy teaching marriage and healthy sexuality classes.
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I am an extremely sensitive person. This kind of sensitivity is commonly referred to as emotional intelligence. As far back as I can remember, I have been keenly aware of how the people around me are feeling. I was the teenager who went out of my way to include the teen who was feeling excluded. I was the friend who recognized that her friend was struggling, without her friend having to say a word.
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I believe in creating understanding, inclusion, and acceptance by learning about others and their belief systems. Learning and speaking Spanish and Portuguese, as well as studying Chinese, German, and American Sign Language, have all contributed to the deep value I feel for striving to respect and understand all people and their unique perspectives. Four months into my time in Brazil, I was mistaken for a native. Apparently, my sensitivity to the mannerisms and speech patterns of the natives carried into my own mannerisms and speech.
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My sensitivity has not only helped me to build cross-cultural understanding and to develop an inclusive personality, but has also helped me in my university studies of family systems, family theories, and couple dynamics. My awareness of couple and family interactions serves me well in helping families through sensitive situations such as childbirth. Through my childbirth educator certification program, as well as my own experiences, I have learned about the heightened emotional and physical sensitivity women experience during labor and birth. I have found that my extreme sensitivity towards others enables me to effectively and lovingly support women through these heightened, new, and intense experiences.
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The statistics showing that doula support during births is connected to a 50% decrease in cesarean rate, a 25% decrease in length of labor, a 40% decrease in use of oxytocin, and a 60% decrease in requests for epidural do not come as a surprise to me (American Pregnancy Association "Having a Doula: Is A Doula For Me?").​
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The feeling I had after giving birth to my children was empowering. I came from the experience with belief in myself. I believed that I was strong and capable, and that with the support of those who love me, I can do anything I am required to do.
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I am eager to continue supporting mothers and their families through the life changing and empowering experience of birth. I believe that with loving support, birth can indeed be an empowering and life altering experience that can leave a woman knowing how strong and capable she truly is. I want every mother to come away from her birth experience feeling that she is strong and capable. Women can do incredible things, and the support they receive makes a difference.
Having a Doula: Their Benefits and Purpose. (2019, July 16). Retrieved from https://americanpregnancy.org/labor-and-birth/having-a-doula/
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EDUCATION
Brigham Young University
Bachelor of Family Studies. In-depth study of how families function healthily, marriage theory, and healthy sexuality.
Childbirth International
Childbirth Educator Certification. In-depth study on physiology of pregnancy, changes women experience, and how to educate and support women and their partners through pregnancy and childbirth.
Personal Experience
I chose to have each of my babies at a birth center with the support of a doula. I have learned through personal experiences which things may significantly help or hinder a mother in labor.
TESTIMONIALS
"One of the biggest differences between my first labor and my second was having Erica there. I wanted to have an unmedicated birth and I knew it was likely that I would have a longer labor and a bigger baby. I called Erica to come to my house around 3 am and it was so nice to have her there. She was very very prepared. She was ready with the things that I had hoped for and more. She did a lot of massaging, counter pressure, diffusing oils (that I had chosen), and most especially gave me many words of encouragement the whole time. She was very supportive of me and all of my preferences. When we went to the hospital Erica continued being very helpful. I never felt that she was overstepping her bounds or intruding in any way. She was careful to make sure I was comfortable with everything she was doing. She was so proactive and it was like she knew exactly what would help and when. The things she did made it feel like I was progressing and moving forward in labor. One of the best things about Erica is that she radiates peace, which is so nice during labor. She was calm and helped me feel relaxed and confident. During the hardest part of my labor she reminded me of my baby and helped me keep going by encouraging me. I delivered my 10 lb 5 oz baby unmedicated after a long labor and I couldn’t have done it without Erica’s help. I would recommend her to anyone!"
Nataly R.
"From the moment she walked through the door, Erica blew me away with her natural ability to 1) know what my wife needed, and 2) fulfill those needs. I thought I had things figured out pretty well from the previous time, but was amazed at how well Erica was able to be on the same wavelength with my wife, even during the most intense moments. Her labor lasted all through the night and into the next morning, and Erica was with her every step of the way. Whether it was a light massage, a round of essential oils, deep breathing exercises, or words of encouragement, Erica always found a way to make my wife's labor easier. Needless to say, we'll be asking her (and maybe even begging her) to help us with our next delivery in December!"
Nathan R.
"Erica was with us when my daughter was in labour. We were all there trying to support her and make her comfortable during the contractions...but Erica knew exactly what she needed at the right moment. She showed up with her big Mary Poppins bags. She had essential oils for rubbing her legs, a diffuser, snacks, washcloths, and even ice! She has great intuition and could tell when my daughter was feeling too hot before she even said anything. She was very helpful and it was great having her there. She knows what to do and how to make everyone feel at ease. I wish I would've had someone like her when I had my babies. I chose midwives instead of doctors because they seemed more compassionate and would wipe your brow once in a while... but nothing compared to the full attention that Erica provides."
Maris C.
"It was such a pleasure to work with Erica Richardson during my pregnancy and I highly recommend her! She was a wonderful asset to me and a great addition to the birth team. Throughout my pregnancy she was able to help me find answers to any questions I had. This was very helpful. Above all, she was so kind and supportive to my husband and I as we navigated me having a baby for the first time. This was especially meaningful as we dealt with pregnancy during the stressful COVID-19 pandemic. Because of the pandemic, we had to alter our birthing plan, yet Erica was so supportive and helpful to me during this process! We love her!"