Fertility Doula: The Doula You Didn’t Know You Need Right Now
Last Updated on January 12, 2024 by Avi Steen
If you’re considering fertility coaching, you probably have many questions. What is a fertility doula, and what can they do for me? How much does it cost? What should I expect during coaching sessions?
In this blog post, we will answer all of your questions and give you a better understanding of what to expect when working with a fertility doula.
Keep reading to learn more!
Fertility Coaching
Thereโs a misconception that thereโs only one type of doula service, birth doulas, when in reality, there are so many. One of those is Fertility Doulas, also known as fertility coaches or preconception doulas.
In short, a Fertility Doula supports a couple through their fertility journey by providing emotional and informational support. A Fertility Doula is specifically certified to also provide information on natural measures to help cleanse, prepare, and support the body in preparation for conception.
My Journey Toward Fertility Coaching
In 2018, I had two back-to-back miscarriages, one lasting 45 days.
I wanted to become a mother so bad.
I remembered days as a child when Iโd even dream of the moments, but because of my hormonal imbalances and the overwhelming feeling of not knowing when it would happen, I couldnโt have a successful pregnancy.
When I went through my miscarriage, I began to lean into my quiet time with the Lord and listen to His voice.
Through daily devotion and prayer, He guided me to figure out the solution to my problem. I was not fueling my body with the right foods, which was causing irregularities in my cycle.
TTC Attempts
First, I tried to get pregnant by just using OPKs and hoping for the best, but the problem was I was ovulating, but my fertility and body werenโt optimal to conceive and /or keep the baby.
After that didnโt work, I had my first chemical pregnancy, and at the same time, I learned that my teenage cousin had committed suicide. I fell into a slump in grieving 2 family members. I fell off track with God and wasnโt giving my faith journey any attention.
Motivation to Help Others
Finally, I realized, with the help of God, that I needed to balance my hormones by healing my gut issues, changing my lifestyle habits, and growing my relationship with the Lord.
He showed me step by step what my life would start to look like. When I started changing my lifestyle from the inside out, I was able to conceive my rainbow baby.
Thatโs why I became a certified natural fertility doula.
I created the Fertility Mindset Membership, a fertility group that empowers women of God who are trying to get pregnant naturally to overcome negative thoughts and balance their hormones so they no longer have to be overwhelmed and consumed by their fertility journey.
What is a Fertility Doula?
A Fertility Doula, also known as a Preconception or Fertility Doula, is often included in a Full Spectrum Doula certification but has been increasingly rising as an individual certification in recent years.
Full-spectrum doulas provide services from preconception through birth and postpartum.
On the other hand, fertility doulas provide support before pregnancy for women who are beginning their fertility journeys or dealing with infertility.
What Does a Fertility Doula Do?
A fertility coach is professionally trained to support couples during preconception to help them prepare emotionally and physically for pregnancy.
Emotional preparation may include ways to combat the stress of infertility and cope with waiting. Physically, fertility doula support might include reviewing fertility charts to better assist and optimize fertility clients’ pregnancy success.
Please note if a fertility coach guarantees pregnancy, steer clear. Fertility coaches cannot guarantee an outcome of conception.
Spiritual preparation is included in the Fertility Doula services I offer here at Mother Mindset. I believe that faith and conception are directly correlated. I help my clients increase their faith while on their journey to conceive as a way to effectively cope with the process of conception.
Fertility Doulas are trained to identify different factors related to fertility to help optimize chances for conception. They often provide individual support to a woman who is trying to conceive but also may have various virtual courses, like the Healthy Fertility course, to assist in helping women on their fertility journeys.
When Should You Contact a Fertility Doula?
For couples in the beginning stages of trying to conceive, a fertility coach can be helpful in providing information on tracking your cycle and optimizing your fertile window.
The beginning of a trying to conceive journey can be quite overwhelming and sometimes all-consuming. A fertility coach can help clients navigate the first steps in the conception process to better create strategies in their own journey to cope and pursue conception.
For couples who have been trying to get pregnant for 6-12 months or more, a fertility coach can help navigate the next steps and offer emotional support to assist in optimizing a sound mind and body for the journey.
For those experiencing infertility, fertility coaches can help identify and provide informational resources for options outside of natural conception.
Fertility Doula Support
As a Fertility Doula who incorporates a faith-based approach, I help clients in multiple areas of their journey, including nutrition, stress factors, ovulation, spousal support, trauma, and prayer. Finding a doula who supports you in multiple ways and in your own individual beliefs is important.
Your coach is there to provide you with support and advocate for your wants and needs. They can be a support resource before or during fertility appointments to help you understand various procedures and terminology.
A community of supporters is so powerful for women who are trying to get pregnant. A fertility doula can be an essential part of that community.
Fertility Doula Pricing – How much?
It depends. Some doulas charge by the hour, while others charge a flat fee or packaged service price. Depending on the individual doula, Fertility Doula support services range from as low as $60 for an hour consultation to $5000 or more for a package of various services over multiple weeks or months.
One-hour consultations are ideal for specific questions or quick cycle reviews to see where fertility clients can make key changes in their conception plans for the following month.
Packaged services are for the woman who may require a more in-depth look at her trying to conceive journey emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
Fertility Doula Packages
For additional fertility doula support, many will offer packages to help you over a period of time that include multiple services that are beneficial to your fertility journey. The main package I offer as a Fertility Doula includes the following:
- Private Voxer access forย text and audio messagingย
- โStep-by-step guidance
- โSessions through Zoom to go through aย personalized fertility game plan and provide emotional supportย
Personalized Sessions
Some fertility doulas only offer individualized sessions, either as a stand-alone session or in a discounted package. These sessions are perfect for women with specific questions about their reproductive health or immediate emotional support on their journey.
I offer a one-hour session to discuss your questions and provide emotional and informational support on your natural fertility journey.
Support Groups and Digital Products
Also, fertility doulas often offer fertility support groups and digital products you can use for your journey. Mother Mindset has faith-based fertility courses, devotionals, guides, and a fertility membership focusing on getting pregnant without sacrificing your peace.
I also just released my latest fertility-based devotional: The Complete Implantation Guide: A 28-Day Devotional. Itโs a fertility guide that teaches you how to boost your chances of implantation and increase your faith in 4 weeks. Grab your copy here.
Should I Invest in a fertility coach?
To be honest, I wish I had made the investment in a Fertility Coach when I started my trying to conceive journey. Six months after marrying my husband, we were hit with baby fever.
We had discussed kids and the desire to wait 2 years before actively trying, but after marriage comes a baby carriage, right?
I started diving deeper into knowing the general day that I ovulated and researching the proper trying to conceive terms. But still, I had a lot to learn back then.
So, is getting a fertility doula worth it? Iโd say yes, especially if itโs a coach who has similar beliefs as you do.
A coach who has been through some of the same experiences as you can be a great support system, especially during such a trying time as trying to conceive.
Wrapping Up
Although there are many different types of doulas, fertility doula support is where it begins. Whether you are just beginning your journey or months into trying to conceive, ongoing support from a fertility doula can be helpful.
Coaches can help support you and your spouse in your journey to get pregnant and hold a precious baby in your arms.
Octavia Steen is an NBDA certified fertility doula, health coach, certified fitness nutrition specialist, aspiring missionary with the COGIC, and owner of Mother Mindset. She helps future and current mamas become more consistent in faith + fitness and grow closer to God so they can create a healthier lifestyle from the inside out!