Find a Doula in Lincoln Nebraska

Vanessa Pruitt

Status

Becoming Active in 2/11

Level

In Training

(less than 10 births)

"I strongly believe in a natural and holistic approach to pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum.”

The following information was provided by Vanessa to help her couples learn more about what types of support she can provide. Please be sure to email or call with any additional questions you may have.

*General Information*
Name:	Vanessa Pruitt			Primary & Secondary Languages:		English
Email address:	peetred@hotmail.com			Website:		N/A
Where are you located?	Hastings, NE			How many miles are you willing to travel for a birth?		60 miles
Phone number for initial contact?	402-984-5467			Best hours to reach you for the client's initial contact:		Anytime
How many years have you been providing labor support services?	N/A			How many births have you attended as of June 2010?		0
Will you attend home labors/births as well as hospital labors/births? Please explain your comfort level...	I am willing to attend both home and hospital births. I prefer home births or hospital births with a midwife and/or family physician attending.			What is the max number of births you feel comfortable handling each month?		1-2
*Training & Credentials*
What are your current credentials & individual experiences with doula care & labor support?			I attended the toLabor doula certification training in July of 2010
Do you have any current plans for additional training?			Currently seeking toLabor Doula certification
Do you provide breastfeeding support & what is your basic theory of breastfeeding?			Yes, I provide breastfeeding support. I breastfed by two oldest sons beyond 1 year. My theory is that breastfeeding is most often the best choice for you and your baby and is very important to bonding and health. It's also my philosophy that babies and toddlers benefit from breast milk for however long they receive it. I promote extended breastfeeding and child-led weaning.
Do you typically provide postpartum support to your clients?			Yes
If yes to the previous question; for how long & what do you feel are your strong points in this area?			My goal in postpartum care is to make each mother's transition from pregnancy to postpartum as smooth as possible, as well as facilitate bonding between mother and baby. My focus is on the mother and baby's needs after labor and birth and encourage those around them to also focus on their needs during this important time.
*Fees & Payment Plans*
What is your typical fee schedule for attending births?		I charge $50 to retain my services once you have interviewed me and hired me. This fee covers 2 prenatal visits and one postpartum visit. I then charge $350 for in-labor support. In-Labor support fee is due at the first postpartum visit.
Do you require a down payment?		I charge a "retainer fee" of $50			Are you willing to be on a call list for "free" services when low income families contact our website?		Yes
How much do you charge for postpartum doula care?		I currently provide postpartum care for my birth clients only at $20 per hour. My birth clients can discuss with me if they feel they will need postpartum support.			Do you send a detailed bill to your couples & when is their payment due?		Yes
Do you charge additional mileage when you have to travel outside of your hometown?		Negotiable			Do you charge "cost" for labor supplies used during a birth?		Not at this time
Will you provide a sliding fee for lower income couples?		YES			Are you open to trading or bartering for services		YES
*Miscellaneous Information*
How many times do you typically meet with couples prior to attending their birth?		2			Do you provide a "whole house labor rehearsal" for your couples?		Answers coming soon
Do you guarantee backup services in case you are unable to attend due to illness or sudden conflicts? If not, would you encourage your couple to find a 2nd choice doula for backup?		I know several doulas who are willing to attend births in the area. I would encourage each couple to pick a backup doula that they feel comfortable with.			If it felt "right" to you & your client, would you ever consider working as a team with another beginning doula to help her gain experience?		YES
Is it ok for other doulas to contact you to help secure their own reliable backup?		Yes.			How do you honestly feel about attending a birth for a couple you have never met either as a last minute doula or backup doula?		I would prefer that the couple contact me before the birth so that we may go over their wishes and preferences.
How do you describe yourself religiously?		Christian			How does your religion effect how you work with clients?		My philosophy of birth is obviously Christian, but I am able to work with clients of different faiths.
Do you provide a doula contract for detailed expectations of your care to be signed by all parties?		N/A			Have you ever worked with same sex couples?		I am not comfortable working with same sex couples.

Final Words From Vanessa

As a mother of 3, my goal is to provide the support, encouragement, and knowledge that I wish I'd had during my first two pregnancies and births. I hope to prevent other mothers from having the frustrating experiences that I encountered before coming to a philosophy of natural childbirth.

It is not my job to make decisions for you during your birth, but rather to discuss choices about your birth and your baby beforehand, supporting and advocating for you and your decisions at a time when both you and your partner are distracted and vulnerable. I will encourage you to be proactive about your health and make choices about your care that take into account the emotional and physical well-being of both you and your baby. I will also encourage you to do your own research on the risks and benefits of practices and procedures you may encounter during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

A bit more about my philosophy of birth:

- I strongly believe in a natural and holistic approach to pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum.

- Every practice or procedure that is performed or carried out on either mother or baby has the potential for very positive or very negative results.

- Any and all interventions should be avoided unless medically necessary.

- Every decision should be made in light of its' consequences upon the mother and baby's physical and emotional experience during the pregnancy, the birth, and the postpartum period. This includes how it affects each aspect of the natural birth process, including postpartum healing and bonding.

Client Testimonials for Vanessa

Vanessa would love to have your testimonial here!