My Services
“In giving birth to our babies, we may find that we give birth to new possibilities within ourselves”
-Myla + Jon Kabat-Zinn
Your stories shape how to prepare for what is ahead. This may be previous reproductive experiences or stories shared from your family & friends, getting to know these stories - your hopes and the challenges you have faced all help shape your preferences for this experience. Every birth evolves in different ways, as your doula I will adjust support measures for what you are experiencing in each stage. To empower you and your birth partner, I find that education and practicing support measures prior to start of labor lessens your apprehension.
I am very excited to announce that I have achieved my certification as a Professional Hypnotist through International Certification Board of Clinical Hypnotherapy! Coming soon will be my offerings to further your life goals through the power of your mind.
Melanie (she/her)
Guiding your Birth
Prenatal Visits: Getting to know your history, concerns and fears. I will explain your birth options and help you develop your birth preferences during your first prenatal visit. A second prenatal visit will involve education and practicing support measures for each stage of labor.
Continuous Virtual Support: I will be available to you via email/text/phone, guiding you with any questions or concerns that may arise. I will aid in evidence based research and guide you to community resources you may need.
Continuous Labor Support: When you feel the need for support, I will join you and offer support throughout your labor, birth and immediate postpartum period.
Postpartum Birth Client Checkin Visit: I offer one check in visit after your birth to process birth experience, and touch base on your recovery. I also offer A la carte postpartum hours for my birth clients, I find these hours are important in the birthing parents recovery and for real time education & support for your newborn.
check in visit must occur within two weeks unless agreed upon beforehand,.
Postpartum Packages: For those families just wanting postpartum support, I require a minimum of 40 hour day* packages (minimum 4 hour day shift between the hours of 10am to 4pm). Having Doula support during your postpartum period is like investing in your own personal guide. I offer guided newborn care to help you gain skills and confidence with your newborn. I ensure that you have opportunity to rest and self-care while I take care of light housekeeping, meal prep and newborn care. Additional hours are available as needed.
* I only take on 8 hour overnight shifts for my birth clients and or clients referred to me by other doulas or care providers - pending my availability.
Birth Package
Guided Birth Support - $1,800
Email/text/phone support
Two Prenatal Visit - in person to discuss preparation, birth preferences and to strategize your personal preferences for your birth.
$50 dollar coupon for private birth class listed below
Preparing for Birth booklet
Continuous labor support beginning when needed
Help immediately after birth with feeding and recovery
One postpartum check in visit within two weeks of birth
50% retainer for Birth package is due at signing of contract
My Birth Clients have the option of scheduling Postpartum Support hours - hours will be agreed upon at signing a postpartum & a birth contract. I primarily do day shifts, but will do one overnight shift in the first two weeks. These hours will be under a postpartum support contract, a 50% retainer will be due at signing contract.
Postpartum Package
Guided Day Postpartum - $1,800
Forty hours Guided Day Postpartum Care
10 days of 4 hour shifts
Additional hours may be scheduled per my availability - 40 hours for postpartum only clients is the minimum. My birth clients may schedule hours they feel they need at the time of signing me.
50% Retainer due at signing of contract
An estimated schedule will be placed on my calendar - as with all things birth, there will be flexibility.
This package is day shifts only
Guided Postpartum - $4,500
One hundred hours Guided Postpartum Care
25 day visits of 4 hour shifts*
One pre-postpartum visit on organization & newborn care
50% retainer due at signing of contract
*If needed, hours may be used for an 8 hour overnight in weeks 1 & 2 (10pm to 6am shift). All other shifts will be day shifts between 10am and 4pm
Customized Postpartum Packages are available
HypnoBirthing® Private Course - $500
Comprehensive Childbirth Education
Deep Relaxation Techniques guiding Self-Hypnosis
5 weekly classes - 3 hours each (15 hours total)
Zoom rehearsal to personalize techniques learned in class. Scheduled after class completion, prior to week 37
Class Materials including: HypnoBirthing® The Mongan Method Textbook, Resource Handouts, Rainbow Relaxation & Affirmation Trac to guide you toward self-hypnosis
Flexible Schedules available - send a contact form to discuss openings
private classes held in Round Rock, or virtual via zoom
I do offer virtual classes via zoom to those out of my geographic area (Austin, Texas), submit a consultation form to discuss.
What Next*
Send me a message with your estimated due date via the contact form
We will set up a time for a consultation
After consultation I will send a copy of my contract covering the services requested
We sign the contract
I’ll send you an invoice of the services requested
You pay a fifty percent deposit and you are scheduled on my calendar
* I also work with Giving Austin Labor Support (GALS), if you are having budget constraints due to COVID please contact me to discuss options.
Reviews
“Thank you so much for everything. There isn’t anyone else I’d rather take care of my daughter. It has been wonderful having you and she is so happy and I am thankful for you as well. Till next time, Laura & Drew” March 2024
"My husband and I were very excited and scared since this was our first pregnancy. After hearing so many difficult deliveries, my main goal was to have a normal and enjoyable delivery experience since these moments are so rare in one’s life. It was good luck and destiny that we met Melanie and just one conversation I knew I wanted her to be my doula. She was our HypnoBirthing instructor, birth and postpartum doula. I can not thank her enough to help me feel empowered in my pregnancy, navigate the pain during labor using hypnobirthing and help us through the most difficult 1 month after birth. I want to emphasize her amazing skills to relax mother using hypnobirthing during labor pain. If there is only one person you can bring during your labor, I would choose Melanie for that. We cherish and love our whole experience with her.” - Anju and Prateek January 2023
“We can not thank you enough for all you have done for us and with us throughout this journey as new parents. We are so thankful our paths have crossed. It was meant to be!” Marlene & Nate April 2022
“We loved the course and found all the information so valuable. Would highly recommend this course to anyone who is looking for an empowered birth. Melanie was awesome & made us feel so comfortable. :)” Emily & Nick February 2022
“I am so thankful - I would not have been able to do this without Melanie. She was with me throughout labor and delivery and helped comforted me tremendously. Melanie has a heart of gold, she is amazing! Thank you, Daria April 2021
“I faced & released some fears I had. I love the breathing & relaxation techniques - also the education about pregnancy and birth was really useful. Update: I birthed my son last Saturday! I was not stressed out going to the hospital, which I was really worried about. The techniques learned in class were very helpful - I felt I knew what to do when I arrived at hospital.” Karen January 2022
“Thank you so much for helping this mama. She needed a person to love and comfort her and you were amazing! Elle, Midwife April 2021
“Melanie was an absolute blessing to have with us.” Wesly April 2021
“Melanie was a beautiful soul to have in delivery. She was very attentive to mom & dad and was so helpful throughout it all. Sweetest doula ever!” Emily, RN April 2021
“Melanie was a gem during labor. She provided so much helpful advice & tips and was definitely great help making my labor bearable and pleasant. I would recommend her to any mom giving birth.” Mee March 2021
“Melanie is so supportive & helpful. We truly appreciate the care, compassion & assistance she has provided this patient and the others which she has helped.” Yolanda, RN March 2021
“Sincerely from my heart I wanted to thank you for helping out so much during our baby’s birth. Your help was a blessing , we both were really stressed out with the whole situation and not knowing what could’ve happened. I’m very thankful you were sent our way because you made the experience so much better. Your input and soothing techniques really helped out during our baby’s birth. Thank you so much for encouraging me and for supporting my decisions. Thank you for just being there for us. One day when our baby is old I’ll be sure to tell her about you and how wonderful you were. I can’t thank you enough!” Angelica February 2021.
