Helping You Have a Happy,
Healthy Birth The Way You Define It.
- Are you pregnant and experiencing many changes to your body?
- Do you feel anxiety about what’s to come in your labor and delivery and how best to prepare?
- Is your partner concerned and wondering what they can do to support you?
As your birth doula, I will provide you and your partner with emotional, physical and informational support before, during and after delivery.
During pregnancy, your body goes through many changes, which can be challenging and uncomfortable. As you get closer to delivery, I will be there to help relieve anxiety and prepare you and your partner for the birth based on your wishes.
- Answering questions and providing information about what to expect
- Creating a birth plan together based on your needs
- Instruct you on prenatal yoga poses to assist your body with flexibility and strength
- Practicing ways to get physical and emotional relief during labor
During labor and delivery, I draw on my professional training and experience to provide physical and emotional comfort.
- Providing reassurance to you and your partner and make suggestions for labor progress
- Helping with relaxation, soothing touch, suggestions for positioning, help with labor pain and other needs in labor
- Assisting you with communication with the staff, to make sure that you have the information you need to make informed decisions as your labor progresses
The birth doula support will continue after your beautiful baby is born.
- Supporting mother and baby with the start of breastfeeding
- Checking in with you the day after delivery to see how things are going
- Visiting your home to review your birth experience, admire your baby and answer questions
MEET KRISTIN FISHER
*Vaccinated for Covid-19
As expecting parents, you have many questions and concerns. Having delivered 3 healthy children without any medical interventions or drugs, I know first-hand the importance of having a birth doula at your side. Not matter what your personal choices are for your birth, I am passionate about assisting you. Whether you plan to deliver in the hospital, at a birth center or in your home, I have experience as a birth doula in all of these settings with medical professionals at your side. I completed my training as a doula from DONA International, including a childbirth course and the basics of breastfeeding. I am independent and self-employed. As your Doula, I work for you, not your caregiver or hospital. I am your advocate and your support.
Doula Services $850
**$150 for travel greater than 30 miles away from Mankato, MN
Including the following Doula services:
- Meet with you 2 times before your birth to talk about how you feel, what to expect and provide suggestions to support you and your partner (one visit can be replaced with a prenatal planning appointment with you and your care provider).
- Assist you in writing your birth plan – a list of wishes for your labor & delivery
- Be available 24/7 by phone and text starting at 37 weeks leading up to your due date and delivery
- Meet at your home during early labor and meet you at the hospital or birth center once you are in active labor
- Stay with you 1-2 hours after birth and ensure baby is feeding
- One postpartum visit within 2 weeks of birth
- Text and phone support as needed up to 6 weeks postpartum
- If you require a scheduled Cesarean Surgery, I will accompany you during your intake and recovery. Occasionally, hospitals allow a second support person to be in the operating room. In this case, I would be present with the mother during her surgery. Clients with a planned Cesarean Surgery will receive eight hours of overnight Postpartum care from me in addition to my presence at your birth.
Payment Schedule
$250 is to be paid when you select me as your doula
$700 is due at 37 weeks (*$850 for travel distance greater than 30 miles from Mankato)
TESTMONIALS
Kristin has a calm, caring, positive attitude, providing helpful/soothing techniques & positions. She assisted with breathing, comfort positions, massage and partner support. Kristin was a great person to talk about options throughout our birth. She was there to give feedback but wasn’t’ pushy about anything. She was an amazing member of our birth team & we couldn’t have done it without her. In fact, our OB provider complimented Kristin at the end, saying she was a great addition to our team. In such a vulnerable, special time, we felt completely comfortable & at ease having her with us.
I highly, 5 stars recommend Kristin from Atalanta Journey Birth Doula for anyone who is looking for someone to assist with their birthing experience. Kristin was my doula for both of my children’s births and I honestly am not sure if the experience would had been as smooth and positive had she not been there. She is highly intuitive, calm but direct, hands on if need be, and just a wonderful energy to have in the birthing room. Having decided to have natural births for both of my pregnancy’s, Kristins voice was such an important guide for me through my process. I can still hear her calm voice, “Less noise, more air..” That was a game changer with my first labor. To have that voice remind you and give you guidance while in the middle of it all, to me, was important. I could go on and on. Kristin is a wonderful, intuitive, and experienced doula that I feel would add all the positive and helpful energy to any birthing experience! She truly cares. Thank you Kristin!
Kristin Doula’d all four of my beautiful kids! Each time so different, each time she was the constant. And believe me, Dads shouldn’t do this alone any more than moms should. I’m a big fan of Kristin’s work! Thanks!
I just had my first child and used Kristin’s services. I would highly recommend Kristin! she was there every step of the way from my daily “is this normal” questions to helping my husband massage and keeping me calm through the birth experience. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience for bringing a child into this world and Kristin was a great teacher and coach. no matter if you want an all natural birth or an epidural to have a calm voice through it all is definitely an asset.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Before Labor
I will meet with you and your partner at least once before labor to get acquainted, to explore and discuss your priorities and any fears or concerns, to discuss your birth plan and how we might best work together. I also want to know your own ways of coping with pain and fatigue and how you and your partner foresee working together. At this meeting, we can fine-tune any preparation for your birth, including logistics and specific concerns you may have.
I will also inform you of times when I am unavailable for labor support. To cover those times, I will arrange one or more qualified back-up doulas. This meeting typically lasts between 1-2 hours.
When You Are in Labor
I prefer that you call me as soon as you think you are going into labor or are unsure if you are going into labor. I can answer questions and make suggestions over the phone. We will decide if I should come right then or wait for further change. I usually need approximately 1 hour to get to you from the time you request that I come. We will also decide whether to meet at your home, hospital or the birth center. I will remain with you throughout active labor and birth. If, due to extraordinary circumstances, I am unable to be with you, my back-up doula will come.
I may also call my back-up if your labor proceeds longer than 24 hours and I believe it is in your best interest to have a change in birth support.
After Birth
I will meet with you and your partner at least once before labor to get acquainted, to explore and discuss your priorities and any fears or concerns, to discuss your birth plan and how we might best work together. I also want to know your own ways of coping with pain and fatigue and how you and your partner foresee working together. At this meeting, we can fine-tune any preparation for your birth, including logistics and specific concerns you may have.
I will remain with you for 1-2 hours after the birth to make sure you are settled and comfortable. I can also help you initiate breastfeeding. I will be available to you by phone for up to two weeks after your birth. During these two weeks, we will schedule a postpartum appointment to review the birth, admire the baby, and I can answer any questions and obtain your feedback.
Our Story
Atalanta was a Greek heroine, who was rescued by a bear as an infant. She grew to be a beautiful woman and a skilled huntress. Her story inspires the spirit of strong and capable women. Atalanta is seen running like the wind, her essence flowing forward through the centuries liberating women to activate their bravery.
During a recent birth I attended, I could tell the mother was feeling physically unmotivated and emotionally weary. She was sitting on a birthing ball and between contractions, I pulled a stool up to face her. I took her hands gently and looked into her eyes. Then I explained that I understood she was feeling weary and I was there to support her and help motivate her. Because in front of her was a mountain to climb and when she reached the top, she would feel so completely inspired and satisfied. The views will be breathtaking and the sense of accomplishment real. But for now, in that moment, she needed to gather her energy to climb. It was going to be hard, exhausting but I knew she has the will and the power to do it. I reminded her that her husband and I were right there with her every step, providing support and encouragement. I knew she could do it. And we climbed together for the next several hours. She was persistent and strong and so completely inspiring.
SET UP a Free Consultation
If you live in the Mankato area and you are interested in having me as part of your birth team, contact me to set up a FREE consultation.
