Common Questions About Doula Services
Maternal Moments Doula Services
Whether you're preparing for birth, navigating postpartum life, or seeking support for feeding and sleep, we’re here to guide you every step of the way. Our FAQ section covers the most common questions about our services, including Birth Doula support, Postpartum care, Placenta Encapsulation, Lactation and Childbirth Education, and Pediatric Sleep Consulting. Explore the answers below to feel more informed, confident, and supported throughout your parenting journey.
Birth Doula
What exactly does a birth doula do?
A birth doula provides emotional, physical, and informational support before, during, and after labor. We help you feel empowered, confident, and cared for throughout your birth journey.
Do you support births in hospitals, homes, and birthing centers?
Yes! We support hospital births and home births across Central Arkansas and beyond. While Arkansas does not currently have any freestanding birth centers, we’re here to support you wherever you choose to give birth.
How is a doula different from a midwife?
Doulas offer non-medical support, while midwives provide clinical care. We work alongside your medical team to ensure you feel heard, supported, and informed every step of the way.
Will you be on-call when I go into labor?
Absolutely. Your doula will be on-call starting at 36 weeks and ready to support you day or night when labor begins.
When should I hire a doula during my pregnancy?
We recommend hiring a doula by the start of your second trimester to ensure availability and build a strong connection before birth.
Do you support medicated and unmedicated births?
Yes! We support all birth choices—epidurals, unmedicated, inductions, and everything in between. Your birth, your way.
Postpartum Support
What does a postpartum doula do?
A postpartum doula supports families in the early weeks after birth with newborn care, emotional support, feeding help, light household tasks, and guidance during recovery.
Can you help with overnight support?
Yes! We offer overnight postpartum doula support to help you rest, recover, and get more sleep while we care for your baby through the night.
How soon after birth can postpartum support begin?
Support can begin as early as the day you come home from the hospital. We tailor our care to your family's needs from the start.
Do you offer lactation or feeding guidance as part of this service?
Absolutely. Our doulas offer breastfeeding support, bottle-feeding tips, and help with pumping or combo feeding to support your unique feeding journey.
How is postpartum support different from a nanny or babysitter?
Unlike a nanny or babysitter, a postpartum doula is trained to care for the whole family, offering newborn expertise, emotional support, and recovery guidance for new parents.
Is postpartum support suitable for parents who’ve had a C-section?
Yes! Postpartum doulas are especially helpful after a C-section, assisting with recovery, mobility, and newborn care so you can heal with confidence.
Placenta Encapsulation
What are the benefits of placenta encapsulation?
Many parents report increased energy, balanced mood, and improved milk supply after taking placenta capsules. While benefits vary, it's a natural way to support postpartum recovery.
How soon after birth do you start the encapsulation process?
We begin the encapsulation process within 24–48 hours of birth to ensure freshness and effectiveness.
Is it safe? How do you ensure sanitation?
Yes, safety is our top priority. We follow strict food safety and sanitation protocols using disinfected equipment in a controlled environment to meet industry standards.
What method of encapsulation do you use (e.g., TCM, raw)?
We use the raw method, which skips steaming and preserves more nutrients—ideal for parents looking for maximum hormone support.
How do I store and transport my placenta after birth?
We make it easy—we’ll pick up your placenta directly from your place of birth. Simply store it in a double-bagged container on ice or a cooler until we arrive.
Do hospitals allow placenta release?
Most hospitals in Arkansas do allow placenta release, but you may need to sign a release form. We recommend notifying your provider and including your request in your birth plan.
Pediatric Sleep Consultation
What age ranges do you work with for sleep consulting?
We support families with babies, toddlers, and young children, typically from 4 months to 5 years old.
Can you help with naps, bedtime routines, and night wakings?
Yes! We create personalized plans to improve naps, bedtime routines, night wakings, and early morning wakeups.
Do you use cry-it-out or more gentle sleep methods?
We offer gentle, evidence-based approaches tailored to your parenting style. No “one-size-fits-all” and no forced cry-it-out unless it aligns with your goals.
Do you offer virtual consultations or in-person visits?
We offer both! Virtual sleep coaching is available anywhere, and in-person visits are offered throughout Central Arkansas when available.
How long does it take to see results?
Most families see improvement within 3–7 days with consistency and support, though every child is unique.
What if we’ve tried other sleep training methods without success?
That’s okay! We specialize in customizing plans that work for your child and family—even if past methods didn’t. We meet you where you are.
Childbirth Education
What will I learn in your childbirth education class?
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Do you cover both natural and medicated birth options?
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
When should I take the class during pregnancy?
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Are your classes in-person or virtual?
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Is this class appropriate for first-time parents and repeat parents?
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Are your classes LGBTQ+ and single-parent friendly?
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Lactation Education
When should I start learning about breastfeeding?
The best time to start is during pregnancy—ideally in the third trimester—so you feel prepared and confident before baby arrives.
Do you provide virtual or in-home consultations?
Yes! We offer both virtual and in-home lactation support for families in Central Arkansas, giving you flexible and personalized care.
Do you offer support for both breastfeeding and pumping?
Absolutely. We support all feeding journeys—whether you're nursing at the breast, exclusively pumping, or doing a combination.
Is this education helpful even if I plan to formula feed?
Yes! Our goal is to help you make informed decisions. We provide feeding education that supports all choices—breast, bottle, or both.
Can you help with latch issues or pain during nursing?
Yes! We specialize in helping with latching challenges, nipple pain, and other common breastfeeding concerns to make nursing more comfortable.
Will I learn how to build a milk stash for returning to work?
Definitely. We’ll guide you on when and how to start pumping, how to store milk safely, and how to create a plan for a smooth return to work.