Washington DC and Northern Virginia
Doula SUpport
you DESERVE
a doula who sees you
I began in birth work 14 years ago as a witness and documentarian. As time passed I intuitively began supporting my families emotionally and physically as well.
I was bringing my doula heart to births for years before officially certifying as a doula. It was the logical next step and something I was already doing at many births.
YOUR DOULA EXPERIENCE
what is your approach to being a doula?
I bring 14 years of birth work as well as my own experience as a home-birth mom into the birth space. Whether it's helping you craft your birth preferences, helping you choose positions in labor to aid baby in moving through the pelvis, supporting your partner, doing a mean double hip squeeze, or just letting you know that you are doing all the right things - I'm there for all of it.
You can expect to be seen and to be held — through everything you want to remember.
“Heidi is the friend who has journeyed with me through some of the most vulnerable and joyous moments of my life...
It wasn’t just about having the photos; it was also about the presence of a person who had become so much more than a photographer to me. She gifted me not only with beautiful photos and videos, but also invaluable encouragement and support for which I’m forever grateful.
— JULIE, LABOR AND DELIVERY NURSE, 5x repeat client
BEING A DOULA IS ABOUT
CREATING A STORY
together
that is both
a beautiful experience
a powerful memory
and
I believe that
your birth is yours and I am here to support and recognize your power .
I support all kinds of births. There is not one "right" way to give birth. Not to mention that even when we want things to go a certain way, birth has a way of surprising us. I support you finding your own intuition, your own power, your own strength and making your decisions from that place.
Frequently asked questions
Are you a certified doula?
Yes! I am trained and certified through Birth Becomes You and have also completed doula training with ToLabor. For families who want to protect the intimacy of their birth space and limit the number of people in the room, hiring just one person who can serve you in both roles is a great option!
How can you fulfill both roles?
I am extremely intentional with my camera - I don't need to be snapping the shutter every single moment, which frees me up to be able to offer physical and emotional support as needed throughout your birth journey. When hired for doula support, I may come a bit earlier on in the labor process, or just offer support over the phone - this is completely customizable to what you need and how your labor is progressing.
Do you offer doula support
without photography?
At this time, I only offer doula support in tandem with birth photography. I can't imagine being in the birth space without documenting the journey, and I deeply believe that the images and video that I create for my clients is a large part of the emotional support that I can uniquely offer as both a doula and photographer. The transformative experience of birth isn't just about making it through the delivery - it is also about how we think and feel about it in the days and months following. Often our memories are hazy, and that is where photo and video come in. These images help us to see the journey as it truly was, to make sense of how things went - especially those things that may have been unexpected. My doula packages are completely customizable and often include a postpartum debrief where we talk through how the birth went and how you're feeling about it - this process is aided by the photos and video I create for you.
What is the benefit to also hiring you as my doula in addition to photographer?
Recent legislation passed in Virginia
(Virginia Code § 32.1-137.011) specifically codifies the birthing person's right to doula support at their birth, and defines "birth" as inclusive of both vaginal and cesarean deliveries. This means that if you hire me as your doula, and if you end with a c-section, there is a much higher chance of my being with you in the OR versus if I am just your photographer.
what do you want from your birth experience?
walk away from this journey
in awe
If you'd like a partner in creating your birth experience, reach out today and let's talk.
of your
strength
* Most clients spend between $3500-6000
* I offer payment plans to make this investment accessible to as many families as possible - payment plans can extend beyond the birth date!
Things to know
Thank you for your inquiry!
I will return all inquiries as quickly as I am able, typically within 24 hours. If you don't hear back from me please email me directly at
heidi@dcbirthphotographer.com
