Gabrielle Elkaim - Baltimore Birth Doula

Gabrielle Elkaim - Baltimore Birth Doula Labor and birth support services in Baltimore, Maryland, and the surrounding communities. Thereafter, I am with you to support you and do whatever needs doing.

I believe that a wonderful and empowering birthing experience is best achieved through preparation. I support my clients by providing educational resources and information about childbirth. I see myself as a sounding board that gives parents the opportunity to ask questions and talk through any concerns in order to make informed choices and design a personal birth plan. In my opinion, the more information you have, and the clearer you are about the various alternatives you can choose regarding birth, and what your rights are, the more positive a birthing experience you are likely to have. Prior to the birth, I always meet my parents-to-be in person at least once. Thereafter, I am happy to meet again as requested, and am always available via phone and e-mail. I will also provide you with my comprehensive doula list which contains a checklist of items you might wish to have on hand at the birth (everything from socks to snacks for your partner). I am 'on call' for two weeks before and two weeks after the due date, and will be there to support you at whatever time of the day or night the birth occurs. When the time comes for you to go into labour, I will either meet you at your home or at the hospital, your choice. This includes the small things, such as running down the hall to get ice chips (something that can be very frustrating if your mouth is dry and you have to wait ten minutes for a nurse to attend to you), as well as being your advocate in expressing your wants to the medical staff, assisting you with breathing exercises, doing massage, and if needed, assisting your partner to ensure that he/she is involved and able to participate in the birthing process. Part of my role is also to know when to step back if your partner/mother/sister/friend is providing you with the support you need, to know when to leave the room, and most importantly to never take anything personally and create a space of security and non-judgment for you. After the baby has been delivered, I will remain by your side through the delivery of the after-birth and through any other procedures that you may require. It is important for me to state this because it is essential that you feel supported from beginning to end, and often times after delivery, the family support is busy attending to the newborn. Once your baby is in your arms and is latching on to breast-feed, I will prepare to leave. I am mindful of giving you time to be with your new baby and have bonding time with your family. However, if for any reason you need me to stay a while longer, please don't hesitate to ask. In the weeks after your baby is born, I will reach out to you to see how you are doing, and to ask if you need any additional support. Please do not feel like you need to return my calls or respond to my messages if you do not have the time, or are feeling overwhelmed. This is typically a very busy time. Your body will still be healing, you will be caring for your new baby, and you will likely be inundated with visitors. If I don't hear from you, I will follow up with you a week or so later. I generally charge $800 for a first time client, $550 for a return client, and $450 to women who really want a doula but find the cost prohibitive. I strongly believe that every woman who wants a doula should have access to one, so should you decide that I am the right doula for you, I will do my best to work with you to prevent any financial duress.

08/15/2019
08/07/2019

Toni Morrison’s words are so heavy with truth that one sentence can bring you to your knees or set you free. Her writing challenged me, taught me, and nurtured me. And, Toni Morrison changed the way I’m raising my children.

07/15/2019

My cleaner who is the absolute best is looking to pick up some extra summer cleaning jobs. She is available now through October. She also does amazing closet organization. I can’t recommend her enough! She is beyond thorough and uses her time very efficiently. Everyone I've ever referred her to has absolutely loved her!

She charges $20 per hour for a minimum of 3 hours (it takes her about 6 hours to clean a decent size house, depending on what needs doing... a deep cleaning might take 2 visits).

Please private message me if you’d like additional info.

Thanks!

05/28/2019

We may know Erykah Badu for her soulful and soothing vocals, but it seems as though she has a few other hidden talents up her sleeve.

Progress!
05/28/2019

Progress!

It's about time.

05/09/2019

What an amazing visual! Please reach out to us in our groups or to the page if you need help connecting to resources. TBC also has a mental health support group the last Saturday morning of every month led by an amazing therapist (link in comments).
You’re not alone. This is hard, and there’s also support available. ❤️❤️

04/29/2019

There's something about the word 'dilation' that makes me irrationally uncomfortable; it suggests a widening, a swelling, an engorging of bodily fluids to facilitate the smooth passage of something into, or out of, the human body.

03/12/2019

Presence is the present!

02/09/2019

Science is finally coming around to the fact that being of advanced maternal age isn't necessarily a hindrance.

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Baltimore, MD
21201

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