Help hire a birth doula for Ruby and Duncan!

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Hi, my name is Mira and I am a longtime friend of Ruby and Duncan's. I recently got trained as a birth doula and believe deeply in the importance of having a trained, loving support person to help ease the birth process for both the birthing person and her partner. For Ruby particularly, who has had negative medical experiences in the past, and is a tender and wonderfully sensitive person, having a doula can help make the birth process not just survivable, but an empowering and connective experience. There's nothing more I'd like to do than to personally support Ruby for her birth, but I unfortunately live and work out of state. So, I am starting and seeding this fundraiser with the hopes that others who love her and Duncan will join with me in helping them hire a birth doula.

What is a doula?

Doulas are trained to support people throughout the birthing process. A doula would help Ruby by:

do a few prenatal visits to get to know Ruby and Duncan and their hopes for the birth and baby
create a birth plan based on her empowered choices
join her once labor begins and stay with her throughout the birth
be a grounding presence who is dedicated only to Ruby, rather than helping several patients at a time
help with decision-making and advocating for Ruby's preferences to the medical team
offer massage, stress-relief, coaching, position changes, and other techniques to ease the birth process
provide care and support immediately after birth to help with comfort, lactation, and learning to take care of the baby

How will the funds be used?

In the Bay Area, even the cost for a sliding-scaled doula for low-income people runs $1300-2400. I want Ruby to have enough funds that she can choose a doula who she really "clicks" with and who she trusts to support her in the amazing and tender time of birth. Any excess that is raised can be used by Ruby and Duncan as they see fit -- whether for additional postpartum visits from the doula or for other supplies and expenses associated with giving birth and caring for a newborn.

Please join me in supporting these people who have given so many of us so much love, space-holding, tenderness, and support in growing and changing. Now they are in a time of growth and change and could use our support too.

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