with expert doula support for international families in Munich

This is the most common question I’m asked, so don't feel bad if you are still learning this. A doula is a birth professional who provides a wide range of holistic support to families before, during, and after childbirth. There are so many ways a doula can help you while becoming a parent and you can read about it more in the descriptions of my services.

Here in Germany, midwives or "Hebammen" are the primary medical caregivers during birth. Even if doctors are present in the clinical setting, a midwife must attend the birth of every baby in Germany. A doula does not replace a midwife. A midwife is a highly-trained medical professional, similar to a nurse, who can give medical advice and provide medical care and support. A doula, on the other hand, is a birth companion who provides support while parents explore and navigate all the ups and downs of having a baby. I like to say that a Hebamme is more like a nurse and a doula is more like a counselor or coach. 

The support I can give you as a doula can start during pregnancy and go all the way through the first year of your child’s life. My continuous, one-on-one, empathetic support builds intimate relationships that support you on emotional, mental, and holistic levels as you become a parent.

As a doula providing one-on-one (or doula-to-couple) support, I can commit to up to two birthers per month within my on-call period.

The on-call period I offer when supporting births consists of a total of 21 days, beginning 10 days before and continuing until 10 days after the estimated due date. However, if birth happens before or after this date range, I will still provide support as my availability allows.

If you are interested in my support during your labor and birth, please book a free discovery call as soon as possible so we can get to know each other and see if we are a good fit. I confirm inquiries as soon as my schedule allows, which is by the third trimester at the latest. I have a waitlist for subsequent inquiries. Even if I am unavailable to support you directly for birth, we can work together during pregnancy to make sure you and your partner are best prepared to welcome your baby.

It is my belief that every birthing person should have access to quality care in whatever form they need and choose it. This means I support birth in all settings and circumstances, whether that be a homebirth, at a midwife-led birth center, or birth in a clinic. I find it essential to the birth process that you give birth in the space you feel most safe, and only you can know where that space is. I also want to help you create safety in your birth space if you find that, due to health complications, you need to give birth in a clinic.

As a doula, I work independently of a specific clinic, and have supported births at all ten of the clinics in the city of Munich. I have also supported births in some of the suburbs, such as Dachau, Starnberg, and Landshut as well as many homebirths and births at the Geburtshäuser, or birth centers in Munich. Because I am not affiliated with one clinic or location, I can provide open insights into the similarities and differences of the various birth locations and care providers. I’d be happy to provide guidance as you navigate your options during pregnancy.

I’m happy to support you whenever and however I can! There are many reasons you may not want a doula at your birth:
Maybe you want to keep the number of people in your birth space to a minimum
Maybe you registered at a Geburtshaus and feel you don’t need doula support because a midwife will be there (although I still often support births at a Geburtshaus)
Maybe the clinic you chose for birth, unfortunately, restricts the number of companions you can bring to just one, and that should be your partner 

My support as a doula can still be invaluable as you prepare for birth or find your footing as new parents. During pregnancy, I support parents in many ways, including navigating the German birth care system, making informed decisions about their care, putting together a birth plan, and addressing their questions and emotions. It’s also never too late to get a doula! My support postpartum can help you feel more confident with your newborn baby, or help you process a difficult birth experience. I have additional training in supporting the processing of trauma births and pregnancy and baby loss.

During pregnancy and postpartum, I offer personal support on an hourly basis, online for 80€/hr and in-home for 100€/hr. These are my starting fees, but I do offer a sliding scale for those in need. My birth support packages range from 1600-3200€ depending on your needs and preferences. We can discuss in our free discovery call which combination of services I recommend and what the total cost would be. My classes start at 20€ per module and support circles at 10€ per session. 

Most insurance companies will not cover doula support. Although there are many birth professionals who think that doula services should be covered by insurance, I only think this is a good idea if you pay for my services and your insurance reimburses you. If insurances were to pay me directly, they would likely want to place regulations on my work as well. (For example, the insurance regulations for midwives have put their profession into a crisis! You can learn more about that in my classes.) I find it of utmost importance that, as a doula, I’m only acting in the interests of the parents I support. I provide my clients with receipts of service that can be submitted to insurance companies for a possible refund, but I can not guarantee this.

In addition to doula services, I offer private birth and postpartum preparation classes as well as babywearing consultations to find the right sling or carrier for you and learn how to use it. There are many wonderful birth related rituals and celebrations and I enjoy supporting birthers and their families in planning and hosting a mother blessing. I have a passion for birth related art such as belly painting and placenta prints. I am a certified yoga instructor and offer occasional yoga sessions as well as retreats for new and seasoned mothers. If you are a doula yourself and are interested in learning from me, it has been my great pleasure to mentor doulas in the Munich area, so please feel free to reach out to me!