What sets me apart as a birth doula?
Jalina, CBP(TBIB)
That's me.
I came to birth work through my own self education and preparation for my 2 freebirths - a decision influenced, in part, by my history of infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss. I started as a Certified Birth Photographer and quickly added birth doula support as the need arose within my community. I have had the honor of attending all sorts of births, from freebirths to C-sections, and have had a variety of birth experiences and locations myself between my 6 children.
Before becoming a birth doula-photographer, I worked as an X-ray Tech at a trauma center, where I had 6 years of practice being a calming presence in intense situations and supporting people through the informed decision-making process. Years of fertility challenges, including 7 miscarriages, have given me the utmost appreciation for the miracles that are your baby's life and birth.
My mission is to support families in making confident and informed decisions; invite them into God's design for birth, life, grief, family, and healing; and to provide continuity of care in order to optimize the birth and postpartum experience - physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I also offer birth photography, postpartum doula support, peer lactation support, bereavement support calls, and no-cost Baby Remembrance Photography.
More about my role as a doula:
I highly customize my support according to each client's needs, desires, and values, and I'm always learning as I go in order to better serve my clients' specific needs. I’ve done everything from donating clothing, bedding, dishes, and breastmilk to catching a client’s baby!
In short, a doula offers emotional, physical, and informational support to expectant families.
Keep scrolling for examples of support I'm able to give:
Birth Preparation
Custom resources and recommendations for anything from natural remedies for pregnancy ailments to breastfeeding and infant care to pregnancy-safe bodyworkers. If I don't already have a resource saved, I'm always happy to look some up!
Basic birth education (if helpful) - nothing formal, just a basic working knowledge of the birthing process to help you recognize signs of progress and to help you get through the hardest moments (such as "transition" and "the ring of fire")
Doula book library access - books on pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and the first months postpartum
Unlimited email support - no limit to the number of questions, concerns, pregnancy updates, or resource requests I will respond to
Text support from 38 weeks for emotional or informational support
Advocacy prep - making sure you know your options and your rights before birth so you can make confident and informed decisions throughout the birthing process without being blindsided
Labor & Delivery
Emotional support - encouraging words, prayer & worship for Chrisitan families
Practical support - making sure you're eating and drinking as much as you want and are able; pain relief techniques and suggestions such as birth ball, water (bath, shower, wet washcloth), labor comb, position change suggestions, etc.
Advocacy support - helping you gather enough information to feel confident in your decisions and making sure your birth support team is honoring your expressed decisions
Birth pool rental (for home births) - pool, liner, air pump, and water pump, plus help setting up and tearing down
Birth photography - add-on with no extra cost due by the time of birth, only the purchase of your selected photo products 6-8 weeks after your birth.
Postpartum
Immediate postpartum - I stay 2 hours after delivery in case you need guidance or support through the initial postpartum exams and protocols (for yourself and your baby), offer peer support for breastfeeding, and to make sure you're all comfortable and have everything you need before I leave
Discounted postpartum doula visits - to help with household tasks, siblings, birth story processing, etc up to 6 months postpartum
Doula FAQ
How far do you travel? What areas do you serve?
A.I travel up to 2 hours from Rouses Point, NY and support home births and hospital births both in Vermont and New York. Many of my clients have given birth at either CVPH in Plattsburgh, New York or UVM in Burlington, Vermont.
I am not religious. Will you still be able to serve me?
A.Yes! I serve all my clients with the same care and respect, regardless of their beliefs. For some families, it is important that the beliefs of the people on their birth support team align with their own, so I make it known that I am a Christ-follower in case that's something an expectant family is looking for specifically. Having worked at a large trauma center in Southern California for several years, I’ve had the pleasure of serving and connecting with people of all ages, appearances, abilities, and beliefs.
Do you support VBAC/twins/medicated birth/inductions/C-sections?
A.YES! While I specialize in home births (including freebirths), I am able and willing to support any type of birth as long as you decide that I would be a good fit for you based on your own goals and values! Every woman deserves to be supported in making informed and confident decisions, and the emotional, informational, and practical support of a doula has benefits no matter what type of birth you have.
Do you accept insurance?
A.I do not currently work with insurance and do not plan to for multiple reasons. Mainly:
1) Insurance companies limit how much I am able to earn and do not provide a liveable income or compensate adequately for my time, experience, passion, expenses, or the level of individualized service I provide each of my clients. I have intentionally set my prices to support my ability to do this work long-term without burnout, which benefits both my present and my future clients as well as my own family.
2) There is a psychological benefit for clients who pay out-of-pocket because with financial investment comes emotional investment. The families who get the most benefit out of doula support are the ones who put in the work to take full advantage of the services and resources their doulas provide.
Why do you charge more than other doulas?
A.1) I am a Certified Birth Photographer, meaning that not only can you request birth photography at no extra charge, but I have also proven my dedication, expertise, and ethics in the birth space.
2) I am a freebirth mom with 6 children, meaning I have a wider array of knowledge and experience than the average birth doula would ever need. (Other doulas probably won't step in and help you catch your baby.)
3) I have 8 years of experience working in the hospital setting, including the OR, so I know how to do my job well without getting in anyone else's way or accidentally bumping a sterile field.
4) I have intentionally priced myself sustainably from the beginning so I can do this work long-term and so I can take on a low volume of clients in order to give each one the highly personalized support that I believe is required of new families in our modern society.
5) I've charged less in the past, and most of my clients have insisted that I charge them more.
Do you offer payment plans?
A.YES! In fact, it is my standard. Clients put down a $500 deposit upon booking, and the rest is split into even payments from the time of booking until 38 weeks, when I go on call for you.
Clients who choose birth photography don’t pay anything extra until about 6 weeks after their birth, at which time they pay the $500 to receive their full gallery of photos (usually 100+) and have the opportunity to purchase additional keepsake photo items.
"Jalina was fantastic to work with. She was a calm and gentle presence in a sometimes scary and tense situation."
—Emily C.
Jalina, Owner and Doula-Photographer of All Around Birth
Areas Served
I offer birth photography, family photography, and doula services anywhere in New York and Vermont that is within 2 hours of Rouses Point, NY.
New York
Champlain - Plattsburgh - Malone - Potsdam - Massena - Tupper Lake - Saranac Lake - Lake Placid - Ticonderoga - Lake George
Vermont
St. Albans - Burlington - Stowe - Barre - Middlebury - Montpelier - Newport