“Life, love, and purpose are threads of the same cloth — we’re just learning how to weave them.”
Maybe you left an appointment with more questions than answers. Maybe you’ve read six different opinions online and somehow feel less informed. Or maybe you simply want time to prepare with someone who will slow down and explain things.
These paid, one-to-one calls give you dedicated time to learn about the topics that matter to you. You don’t need to book a full doula package to schedule a session.
Partners and support people are welcome to join.
30-Minute Focused Call — $45
Time to explore one specific topic and your main questions about it.
60-Minute Education Call — $75
More time to explore a broader topic or several related questions.
Both options include brief preparation and a short follow-up email with relevant resources. Extensive research is quoted separately and agreed upon in advance.
Preparing for Birth
What labor can look and feel like, including its different stages.
Comfort measures, movement, positioning, and relaxation.
Ways your partner or support person can help.
Creating flexible birth preferences.
Preparing for a hospital, birth center, or planned home birth.
Understanding Your Options
Common terms, tests, and procedures you may hear about during pregnancy and birth.
Induction, monitoring, pain-relief options, and cesarean birth.
Understanding informed consent and preparing questions about benefits, risks, and alternatives.
Making sense of guidelines and research—including where evidence is uncertain.
Preparing for conversations with your maternity care team.
Planning for Postpartum
What to prepare before your baby arrives.
Building a practical plan for rest, meals, household help, and visitors.
General education about recovery after vaginal or cesarean birth.
Emotional changes, support systems, and when to seek professional help.
Talking with your partner about responsibilities and expectations.
Newborn & Feeding Basics
Feeding cues and basic breast/chestfeeding or bottle-feeding education.
Preparing your feeding space and support plan.
General newborn-care questions.
Understanding when a question needs an IBCLC, pediatric provider, or another professional.
Preparing for a Different Experience
Identifying what you want to approach differently after a previous birth.
Turning concerns into questions and preferences you can discuss with your care team.
Planning for consent, communication, privacy, and personal boundaries.
Including cultural traditions, chosen family, and your preferred language for your body and parenting roles.
You don’t need to know which category your question belongs in. Tell me what you’re hoping to understand, and we’ll decide whether an education call is the right fit.
1. Email me.
Contact themanisteedoula@gmail.com with:
Your preferred session length: 30 or 60 minutes.
Your main topic or a short list of questions.
A few dates and times that work for you, including your time zone.
Whether you prefer a phone or video call.
Please share only a general description of your questions initially; you don’t need to email medical records or detailed personal health information.
2. We’ll agree on a time.
I’ll confirm whether your topic fits the session, answer scheduling questions, and send payment instructions. Your appointment is confirmed once payment is received.
3. Send your questions at least 24 hours beforehand.
For a 30-minute call, choose one focused topic. For a 60-minute call, choose one broader topic or up to three related questions, listed in order of importance.
This gives me time to review relevant guidelines, evidence, and resources. If your questions require extensive research, we’ll agree on the scope and any additional fee before proceeding. If questions arrive less than 24 hours before the appointment, we may need to reschedule.
4. Have a real conversation.
We’ll work through your questions in plain language, with room to pause, ask again, and include your support person. You don’t need to study before you show up.
I enjoy digging into guidelines, exploring the evidence, and helping people understand how things connect.
I won’t pretend there’s a clear answer when the research is limited or recommendations differ. If something needs more investigation or falls outside my knowledge, I’ll say so. We can discuss an appropriate resource, referral, or separately arranged follow-up.
My goal is to help you feel better informed and more prepared to participate in decisions about your care.
These sessions are trauma-informed and LGBTQ+ affirming. Your questions, family structure, cultural priorities, and preferred language are welcome here.
You don’t need to want a particular kind of birth, feeding approach, or parenting experience. We’ll focus on understanding your options and what matters to you.
These are educational sessions informed by my nursing background, doula training, and ongoing nurse-midwifery and lactation education.
They do not include medical assessment, diagnosis, treatment, interpretation of your personal test results, or recommendations about which medical treatment you should choose. They do not establish midwifery care, provide psychotherapy, or include ongoing doula availability.
I offer basic feeding education. Feeding difficulties or concerns beyond that are referred to an IBCLC or the appropriate healthcare professional.
For urgent symptoms or concerns about you or your baby, contact your healthcare team rather than waiting for an education appointment.
Choose a paid education call if you want dedicated time to learn, explore evidence, discuss a topic, or prepare questions for your healthcare team.
Choose a free 30-minute meet & greet if you’re considering hiring me and want to discuss my services, approach, availability, pricing, and whether we’re a good fit. The meet & greet does not include individualized education or research review.
You deserve time to understand what you’re being told and ask the questions that haven’t had enough space.
Email themanisteedoula@gmail.com to schedule an education call or request a free meet & greet.