Giving birth in Belgium? Get the birth support you deserve!

The word "doula" comes from Greek and means "a woman who serves." Doulas provide continuous, non-medical support during the birthing journey, effectively contributing to a positive birth experience.

Yes, doula service is fully covered by TRICARE and since I am an approved provider, I invoice TRICARE directly, without you making direct payments towards me.

Unlike hospital staff, I will be with you continuously throughout the entire birthing process, providing emotional support, applying comfort measures, and ensuring your comfort to help you feel at ease.

No, not at all! I believe a doula is even more beneficial during a hospital birth. Typically, during a homebirth, midwives can provide tailor-made one-on-one care, which is rarely possible in a hospital setting. However, a doula can also provide additional support during a home birth, including during early labor if that is the parents' wish.

No. Birth, in our culture, is an unknown territory—regardless of whether it is a natural birth, a birth with interventions, or even a surgical birth. As a doula, I can provide you with reassurance and comfort in this unknown territory.

Research has shown that the support provided by a trained doula increases the chances of a spontaneous vaginal birth and reduces the risks of interventions, assisted delivery, and C-sections. It is also proven by research that women who give birth with a doula are less likely to require pain medication and are more likely to have a positive birth experience. The cherry on the cake: even breastfeeding is longer and more successful if a doula is present during birth!

A midwife holds medical responsibility during your birth. However, midwives are not continuously present during labor; they may have simultaneous commitments to other births and work in shifts. On the other hand, a doula remains by your side from the beginning to the end, providing consistent support and full attention, regardless of the length of labor.

A doula complements the role of your partner, making him/her feel more at ease as well. In my experience, fathers-to-be and partners are more active and involved in the birth process, as they do not have the weight of being the sole support on their shoulders!

No. The decisions are always yours to make! However, I can help you make informed decisions by presenting a full picture, explaining the risks, benefits, and possible alternatives.

A midwife is a medically trained professional caregiver with a medical focus during your care. A midwife checks your blood pressure, dilation, and monitors your baby’s well-being. However, midwives sometimes manage several births in parallel and work in shifts, making it impossible to provide continuous one-on-one support. A doula provides exactly that, with her sole focus being your well-being and comfort!

Yes, some insurers in Belgium do reimburse some of the doula costs based on the invoice. It's best to check with your insurer, and if you have extra hospitalization insurance, please check with them as well.

A birth doula provides support during pregnancy, labor, and birth. A postpartum doula focuses on the weeks and months after the baby is born. They assist with recovery, newborn care, breastfeeding, and household chores. Their role is to ease the transition into parenthood.

A rebozo massage is a traditional Mexican technique using a long woven scarf called a "rebozo." This gentle, rhythmic massage is often used during pregnancy to relax muscles, relieve tension, and help with optimal baby positioning. The rebozo can be used in various ways to provide comfort during labor.

A closing ritual is a traditional postpartum ceremony practiced in various cultures to support physical and emotional recovery after childbirth. One well-known version is the Mexican "closing the bones" ritual, which involves wrapping the mother's body with a rebozo to provide a sense of closure, grounding, and comfort.

The ritual typically includes massage, warmth, and gentle movements to help the body realign, release tension, and honor the transformative journey of birth.

For a comprehensive answer please see at the top of this page the BodyReadyMethod® section.