Whether as a monitrice, or in a doula role, Marli's goal is to help parents to advocate for themselves, to support them in their choices, and to encourage them to connect within their (chosen or given) family through this experience. Marli has been doing doula work since 2012 in hospitals, birth centers, and for homebirths and has been a monitrice since she got licensed as a midwife.

Monitrice Care Includes:

Four prenatal appointments to better understand parents' needs and goals for their birth as well as to offer body balancing. These appointments also include:
- Counseling on optimal maternal positioning, unexpected circumstances, and self-advocacy for pregnancy and birth.
- Review of client's records to ensure that Marli can provide the best possible care for laboring at home before heading to the place of birth.
Being on call for clients from 37 weeks until the end of their pregnancy
Counseling and advice over the phone or email throughout the pregnancy as needed
Attending clients during labor, in their home before they travel to their place of birth, providing intermittent fetal monitoring, monitoring vitals, and providing cervical checks if desired
Emotional and physical support during labor and birth including massage and help with positioning through Spinning Babies® techniques
Assistance for partners in their support of the birthing person
Support for self-advocacy and decision-making
Lactation and immediate postpartum support for 2-3 hours after the birth
One postpartum appointment to discuss the birth, assist in the emotional and physical transition into parenthood, as well as to offer belly binding and lactation support if desired

A Note on Covid-19

Barbora H Photography

Doula Care includes:

Two prenatal appointments to better understand parents' needs and goals for their birth as well as to offer body balancing.
Counseling during these appointments on optimal maternal positioning, unexpected circumstances, and self-advocacy for pregnancy and birth.
Being on call for clients from 37 weeks until the end of their pregnancy.
Attending clients during labor, in their home, before they travel to their place of birth, or at their place of birth, as they choose
Emotional and physical support during labor and birth
Assistance for partners in their support of the birthing person
Support for self-advocacy and for decision-making
Lactation and immediate postpartum support for 2-3 hours after the birth
One postpartum appointment to discuss the birth, assist in the emotional and physical transition into parenthood, as well as to offer belly binding and lactation support if desired

In the home birth setting, Marli's role can be much more varied to include other tasks that may be needed.