What is a Doula?

The word Doula comes from the Greek language meaning “woman servant.” Today we use the name Doula as a “woman caregiver.” A Doula provides continuous support to the laboring woman and her partner.

Before labor, the Doula will meet with the mother and partner to help write a birth plan, discuss birth wishes, and answer any questions they may have about the birth. Once in labor the doula can discuss medical recommendations with you and offer options, support you in your choices and act as an advocate for your decisions. Your doula will encourage relaxation, position changes, pain management and comfort measures to decrease the discomforts of labor where possible.

Most Doulas offer a postpartum visit, at which point they discuss physical and emotional healing, assess and offer help with breastfeeding and newborn care.

My Mission

My doula passion was ignited in 2010 and is to equip and empower women to achieve the pregnancy, birth experience and postpartum recovery of each client's dream, through endorsement of an individualized care plan approach. I serve the Northern Virginia & the D.C. Metro area and tailor care that promotes the well being of the mother, baby, and birth partner throughout the birthing process by providing perspective and encouragement before, during, and after birth.

My goal as your doula is to encourage you; to remind you that your body was made to give birth and that you are capable of it; to lift your spirits up when you're feeling overwhelmed; to encourage movement and position changes to help labor progress and help it be less painful; to answer any questions you have about procedures or medications; but most of all, to allow you every opportunity to achieve the birth you've dreamed of.

My Services Include

  1. A free consultation to go over my contract and get to know each other.

  2. A prenatal visit to go over birth wishes.

  3. An assigned back-up doula whom you can do a phone or video consult with.

  4. Unlimited text/phone/email support throughout pregnancy.

  5. Continuous support at birth.

  6. A postpartum visit to go over your birth, help with any newborn questions or problems you're having and give breastfeeding support.

I can discuss medical recommendations with you to offer options and support in your choices, as well as acting as an advocate for your decisions. I will also encourage relaxation, position changes, pain management and comfort measures to decrease the discomforts of labor where possible. The fee for doula support is $1200 and can be paid in installments or in full via cash, check or credit card.  An insurance receipt is given to all clients at their postpartum visit along with birth notes.

For experienced parents or mother's actively in labor looking for birth support only my fee is $950.

Jennifer Monaghan
“My mission is to equip and empower women to achieve their dream pregnancy, birth & recovery through their personalized care plan.”
— Jennifer Monaghan

See into my life on Instgram!

This is why I need an assistant. Here I am working on marketing all while burning my treat 🤦‍♀️ #killingit #literally
My face when my child is trying to explain how to solve the Rubik’s cube. #mybraincantcompute #letsjusttalkbabiesandbirth
Taking it back now...gotta have good jams when you’re on your way to a birth!
That overwhelming joy you feel for a client about to bring their baby earthside 💗 #ilovemyjob It’s a rarity as a #doula that I get to work with a birth photographer AND to have clients post pictures with me in them 😍 I can’t wait to see what else the amazing @emilygeraldphotography captured.
Third times a charm! After 15 days past her due date we finally welcomed baby D last night in such a beautiful hypnobirth! Her control was amazing and surprised her birth team 😍#hypnobirthing #hypnobabies #doula #birth
Because what else are you going to be doing during the storm?? 🤣
@jackiedixonvlx - can I get an AMEN? 🤣🤣 sometime soon, right????
This morning, like many mornings at the gym, I see the the set up and think “I can’t do this” or “this is going to be too hard for me to complete.” Mentally, I give up before I ever try. And then when I get to that place where I didn’t think I could do it/go on and I tell myself “Okay, I’ll just try.” Somewhere in that try I end up conquering those voices in my head and going beyond where I ever thought possible. . This morning was one of those mornings. I got to this sled push and mentally told myself I couldn’t do it. Moments later I thought of all my clients in labor that get to those same spots. The voices in our heads that tell us we can’t do on, that we aren’t strong enough for this. . Ladies, ITS A LIE. Remember that saying you can do anything you put your mind to? It’s the truth. Now, you may not want to go on the way life is/labor is but it isn’t because you can’t do it it’s because you’re making a choice not to do it. There is NOTHING wrong with making a choice not to move on but there is a problem when we tell ourselves we “can’t do this anymore” because we can. Typically these situations aren’t ones that will literally take our lives! . I made a choice this morning to push past my comfort zone right down the turf and you know what? It wasn’t that bad! It was hard but totally do able! . What are you telling yourself today you “can’t do” when in reality it’s just something that’s pushing you way outside your comfort zone? #doula #comfortzone #gymrat

Testimonials

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"Jennifer was instrumental in helping me have the birth experience that I wanted to have."

- Jennifer K.

"Jennifer was a Godsend for my family."

"Originally we had not planned on using a doula, but I am so glad we did. Jennifer was kind and competent. She saved me from back labor by directing me in movements to help flip our baby. She compassionately directed my husband in comforting me during my contractions. She constantly stayed by our side to monitor our baby's stubbornly dipping heart rate (the nurses and midwives aren't always in the room). She even helped us get our son's days and nights regulated! Hiring Jennifer was worth every cent. We are incredibly grateful for her guidance and support before, during, and after labor."

— Jessica Swope

2018 Doula Babies

Baby Boy A - September 16 // Baby Boy D - September 14 // Baby Girl E - September 6 // Baby Girl M - August 27 // Baby Girl A - August 22 // Baby Girl E - August 13 // Baby Girl G - August 9 // Baby Boy C - August 2 // Baby Girl H - August 1 // Baby Boy A - June 5 // Baby Boy D - June 3 // Baby Boy A - May 28 // Baby Girl L - May 21 // Baby Boy S - May 16 // Baby Boy W - May 12 // Baby Girl A - May 11 // Baby Girl L - May 10 // Baby Boy S- May 9 // Baby Boy D - April 27 // Baby Girl N - April 15 // Baby Girl A - April 14 // Baby Girl V - April 10 // Baby Girl C - April 8 // Baby Girl A - April 6 // Baby Girl L - March 26 // Baby Girl Q - March 24 // Baby Boy E - March 21 // Baby Boy J - March 19 // Baby Boy J - March 15 // Baby Girl T - March 15 // Baby Girl A - March 5 // Baby Boy Z - February 27 // Baby Girl M -  February 17 // Baby Girl M - February 11 // Baby Boy R- February 5 // Baby Girl T -  January 26 // Baby Boy S - January 22 // Baby Girl H - January 10 // Baby Boy C - January 2

Gallery

Areas Served

Serving Washington, D.C. and the Northern Virginia area, including the cities and communities of Adams Morgan | Alexandria | Arlington | Ashburn | Annandale | Bristow | Burke | Capitol Hill | Centreville | Chantilly | Columbia Heights | Dale City | Fairfax | Falls Church | Foggy Bottom | Gainesville | Georgetown | Herndon | Lansdowne | Leesburg | Lorton | Manassas | McLean | Oakton | Reston | Springfield | South Riding | Sterling | Tysons Corner | Vienna | Woodbridge and more.


Attending hospital births, birth center births, and home births including births at Birth Care | The Birthing Inn at INOVA Loudoun | Ft. Belvoir Community Hospital | George Washington University Hospital | Haymarket Medical Center | INOVA Alexandria | INOVA Fairfax | INOVA Fair Oaks | INOVA Woman's Hospital | Natural Birth Center | INOVA Loudoun | Novant Prince William Medical Center | Premier Birth Center | Reston Hospital | Sibley Memorial Hospital | StoneSprings Hospital Center | Virginia Hospital Center | Washington Hospital Center and more.

Book a consultation with Jenn today!