Frequently Asked Questions

• A doula is a trained professional who provides continuous emotional, physical, and educational support to parents before, during, and after birth. Unlike medical providers, doulas offer non-clinical care, focusing on comfort, advocacy, and informed decision-making to help families navigate their birth journey with confidence.

1. Bridging Gaps in Care
   Doulas fill the gaps in traditional healthcare systems by offering personalized, holistic support that focuses on the well-being of both the birthing person and their partner.
2. Continuous Support
   In large hospital settings, care providers change frequently, but doulas remain a constant, reassuring presence throughout pregnancy, labor, and postpartum.
3. Comfort & Pain Management
   From massage and relaxation techniques to breathing exercises and position changes, doulas help ease discomfort and promote a smoother labor experience.
4. Emotional & Non-Judgmental Support
   Doulas hold a safe, compassionate space for birth parents, offering encouragement and guidance without judgment.
5. Involving & Supporting Partners
   Whether your partner wants to be hands-on or simply needs guidance, doulas help them feel empowered and included in the birth process.
6. Informed Decision-Making
   Doulas provide evidence-based information to help parents understand their options and advocate for their choices while working alongside medical providers. They do not offer medical advice but instead help facilitate open, informed discussions.
7. Education & Preparation
   From birth planning and coping strategies to breastfeeding and newborn care, doulas equip families with the knowledge and tools they need for a positive experience.
8. Supporting All Birth Experiences
   Whether you choose a hospital, birth center, or home birth, doulas support all types of births, including medicated, unmedicated, cesarean, VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean), and more.

Our trained and/or certified birth workers ensure a high standard of care, and with a variety of doulas available, each family can find the perfect match for their unique needs.

Postpartum Doulas are the gentle bridge between birth and everyday life with your baby. We provide hands-on, emotional, and educational support during those first tender weeks after delivery what many call the fourth trimester.

A Postpartum Doula’s role can include:

✨ Helping with feeding (breast/chest or bottle)

✨ Caring for baby while you rest or shower

✨ Light meal prep or household support

✨ Emotional check-ins and reassurance

✨ Helping you and your family adjust to new routines

It’s not about doing everything for you it’s about helping you feel confident, supported, and loved while your body heals and your family grows. 

Please text me as soon as you suspect labor has begun, even if your contractions are still mild or irregular. Once you reach out, we’ll stay in continuous contact by phone or FaceTime so I can guide and support you through early labor.

During our prenatal visits, I’ll teach you and your birth team what to do during this stage so you feel calm and confident. I’ll join you in person once your body moves into active labor.

You’ll never have to go through it alone from that first text until your baby arrives, I’ll be right there with you, virtually or in person, every step of the way. 

Yes! Once you join the hive, I’m on-call 24/7 for all labor updates and emergencies.

For regular questions or non-urgent communication, you can reach me during office hours (Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.). Outside of those times, please send an email, and I’ll respond the next business day.

Because I’m often supporting births, I prefer text messages first that way, I can respond quickly, even if I’m in the birth space.

You’re never alone in this journey when you need me, I’m there. 

Every birth is unique, and sometimes babies come quickly! If that happens, I’ll provide guidance by phone right away and do everything possible to reach you. In the rare case I can’t arrive in time due to rapid labor or medical circumstances, your consultation and prenatal time are still honored, and refund policies will be stated in your agreement.

Yes! Overnight postpartum care is available at $40/hr (8-hour minimum). Many families add this for their first week home — it creates a peaceful transition for both parent and baby.

If an emergency or another birth overlaps, I’ll send a trusted backup doula from my team. You always have the right to meet or decline a backup before your birth. If no backup is available, a partial refund will be issued per our contract.

Your deposit is non-refundable it secures your place on my birth calendar and ensures I’m on call exclusively for your due month.

Once we commit to your birth, that time is held just for you meaning I turn away other families to serve your hive. If you choose not to use my services after booking or once prenatal visits have started, all fees remain the same as outlined in your agreement.

Flexible payment plans are available to make your investment more manageable. 

🍯 Placenta Encapsulation: Nourishment for the Fourth Trimester

Placenta encapsulation also known as placentophagy is an ancient, cross-cultural practice that has been honored for centuries in communities across the world.

From China and Vietnam to Italy and parts of Africa, families have long recognized the placenta as a powerful source of nourishment, strength, and balance after birth.

Potential Benefits of Placenta Encapsulation

Across generations, the placenta has been cherished as a natural way to support postpartum recovery.

While scientific research is still limited, many mothers share positive experiences with increased energy, emotional balance, and smoother recovery when taking their encapsulated placenta.

 Potential benefits may include:

• Supporting hormonal balance and mood regulation
• Promoting energy restoration and reduced fatigue
• Helping maintain iron levels and postpartum healing
• Supporting milk production and early lactation
• Encouraging overall feelings of calm, grounding, and wellness

Every mother’s body is unique, and results vary.

Placenta encapsulation is not a medical treatment or replacement for postpartum medical care — but for many, it’s a meaningful tradition and part of a holistic, heart-centered healing journey.

📚 Learn More & Explore the Research

If you’re curious about placenta encapsulation and want to explore both traditional wisdom and scientific perspectives, here are a few trusted sources to begin your research:

• National Institutes of Health (NIH): Human Maternal Placentophagy: A Review
• Cleveland Clinic: Placenta Encapsulation – What You Should Know
• American Pregnancy Association: Placenta Encapsulation Information

🐝 Our Philosophy

Whether you choose to encapsulate or not, your healing matters most.

At Smiley Bee Love, we honor both traditional wisdom and modern research, creating space for you to make informed choices that align with your body, your beliefs, and your journey as a mother.