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Fort Collins, Loveland, Windsor, Timnath, Greeley, Johnstown, Berthoud, Longmont and surrounding Northern Colorado areas.
hello@nocodoulacollective.com
Labor & Birth Doula
You don’t have to go it alone – get loving, professional support no matter where you are.
HOME /Professional Labor & Birth Doula Support
Working with us starts with your free consultation...
Noco Doula Collective provides respectful, compassionate, evidence-based birth doula support for families throughout Northern Colorado, including Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley and surrounding communities.
We are here to offer personalized support for pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. We’ve mastered a whole new way of doing business that leaves you empowered and supported no matter how your baby gets here.
Working with us starts with a complimentary Zoom chat to make sure your potential doula is a good fit. We will talk through your birth birth needs, your support system, and any concerns that may be on your mind. We will listen to you and match you with a doula based on your preferences who will become an important part of your birth team. The zoom call is a great time for you to ask any and all questions you have about doulas and our company.
Once you decide to book, your support begins! Yep, you have your doula as your pregnancy and birth wingwoman long before labor kicks in. And after your birth our team is here to support you postpartum too.
You can count on non-judgemental support, nurturing, kindness, humor, honesty, encouragement and dedication in guiding you and your partner through your birth. All with a well respected and experienced team. Every doula on our team is certified through an accredited doula training program. We pride ourself in our professionalism, respectful care, evidenced based support, and trauma informed support.
We offer packages to fit every budget.
Each package includes at least the following non-medical aspects of care:
One virtual consultation session, FREE of charge.
1 virtual prenatal and 1 in-person prenatal appointment prior to childbirth
Virtual educational workshops, offered twice monthly
Emotional and physical support from active labor through 1-2 hours after the birth of your baby
Pregnancy and new baby information is delivered to your inbox from pregnancy through the first year. Expect tips, jokes, education, hints, and best practices from your doulas (and BFF's)!
Availability to you and your partner by phone, text, and email throughout your pregnancy
24×7 On-call labor support starting at 38 weeks gestation until your baby is born
Cell phone photography during labor and birth is included with every package at no extra charge. (Or you can add on professional photography to any birth or postpartum package)
Evidence-based education for you/your partner on pregnancy, labor options, and all things newborn
Partners, we're here to make you look good by helping you know exactly what to be doing during the birth process and how to be the best support to your laboring person
Together, we become the support team you need to feel calm, confident and supported
One or more postpartum visits with every birth package. (Number of visits dependent on the package you purchase)
Written birth notes provided to you after baby is born
We are out of network for most insurances including Tricare. Please check with your insurance company about reimbursement for doula support. Most private insurance companies are now offering some doula benefits. We do accept HSA/FSA/Carrot/WIN/Maven
Julianne made all the difference in the birth of our first child this past March! She was supportive, knowledgeable, kind and professional.
With her encouragement and pain management techniques during labor I was able to have the labor/delivery I was hoping for.
Another great aspect of working with Julianne was the way in which she helped my husband to support me during labor: she showed him ways that he could make a huge difference in helping reduce my pain, and that allowed him to play an active role during the whole labor/delivery process, which he and I really appreciated.
We would highly recommend Julianne as a doula!
- Rachel S.
Do I really need a birth doula?
Numerous studies have documented huge benefits of having an experienced doula attend births. A doula understands the physical and emotional needs of a laboring person and will assist a mother and her partner to prepare for childbirth and have a more positive birth experience.
With the support of a doula:
Cesarean rates are reduced by 53%
Length of labor is reduced by 25%
Use of Pitocin is reduced by 40%
Need for pain medication is reduced by 30%
Requests for epidural pain management is reduced by 60 %
Mom’s self image is increased
Satisfaction in the overall birth experience is increased
Relationship between mom and partner improved
More likely to have higher APGAR scores
Less likely to be admitted to special care units.(Information provided by Mothering the Mother, Klaus, Klaus, and Kennel
EvidenceBasedBirth.com has more info showing the benefits of having a doula. Read more on the research here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Birth Doula Support FAQ's
What does a professional birth doula do during labor?
A birth doula is a mother figure trained in birth. We provide continuous emotional, physical, advocacy, and informational support during labor and birth. Your doula may assist with comfort measures, labor positioning, breathing techniques, partner support, and evidence-based education.
Will my partner still have a role if I hire a doula?
Absolutely. A doula enhances partner support by helping partners feel more confident, informed, and involved during labor and birth. A doula does not replace your partner in any way. Often it's the partners after a birth that say, "we will never to that without a doula."
Does a birth doula replace my doctor or midwife?
No. A birth doula does not provide medical care or replace your doctor or midwife. Doulas work alongside your medical team to support your emotional well-being, comfort, and birth preferences. We focus on your head and heart and your medical provider focuses on everything below that!
Where do NoCo Doula Collective Birth Doulas attend births?
Noco Doula Collective supports families planning hospital births, home births, and birth center births throughout Northern Colorado. The only birth we are not able to attend is one that doesn't include a medical provider.
Will my partner still have a role if I hire a doula?
Absolutely. A doula enhances partner support by helping partners feel more confident, informed, and involved during labor and birth. A doula does not replace your partner in any way. Often it's the partners after a birth that say, "we will never to that without a doula."
What are the benefits of hiring a birth doula?
Research shows that continuous labor support may improve birth experiences, reduce stress during labor, and increase confidence during childbirth and postpartum recovery. Read more about the evidenced based benefits of working with a doula here.
Does a birth doula only support you at your birth?
No. You will meet with your doula prior to birth to build relationship and discuss birth preferences. All of our birth packages include at least one prenatal visit and one postpartum visit.
What hospitals do you attend births?
NoCo Doula Collective attends births at Poudre Valley Hospital, Medical Center of the Rockies, Banner Fort Collins, Northern Colorado Medical Center, Greeley UC Health, and Longs Peak. Please ask us about other locations should you be giving birth at a different hospital and want a birth doula from NoCo Doula Collective to attend.
What is the cost of a birth doula?
We offer a variety of packages for all budgets. We offer packages that include just birth support or birth support + postpartum doula support, lactation and more. We are considered out of network for most insurances and can give you a superbill for reimbursement. We also accept fertility benefits such as WIN, Carrot, Maven and etc. We can also accept HSA/FSA payments. We do have sliding scale options and can take a handful of Medicaid covered births per year. We are happy to discuss pricing during your free consultation. Book your consult here.
Real stories. Real support. Real families share their experiences working with Julianne as their doula.
Labor & Birth
Postpartum
Education
Lactation
Bereavement
Here's what others have to say about working with the NoCo Doula Collective:
"Julianne really is your doula for life. She's a great support and advocate during pregnancy, birth, and after."
- Rebecca
"Throughout the entire journey into parenthood Katie always encouraged my husband and I to follow our instincts, and I think that is what makes her unique."
- Riley
"Kyria brought a calm, grounded presence that helped me feel confident and informed throughout my pregnancy and birth. She was extremely friendly, communicative and offered guidance without ever making us feel pressured."
-Katherine
Birth Education
LOOKING FOR BIRTH EDUCATION THAT MEETS YOU WHERE YOU ARE?
Want to get more personalized birth and postpartum education? You're in the right spot. If you're a client, these workshops are included with your package. If you're not a client, we would love to have you join us!
*Please note that these classes are not meant to replace prenatal classes, but are built to enhance them.
Labor Prep &
Birth Support
In this workshop, we will cover writing your birth preferences (not a birth plan) preparing your body for birth, labor interventions, and support through both unmedicated and medically managed labors.
Feeding The Baby
In this workshop, we will cover best practices for feeding your newborn, addressing expectations and feeding challenges, and advocating for both you and baby in a hospital setting.
Planning The
4th Trimester
This workshop was designed to help you thrive in the early postpartum days and weeks after your baby is born. I'll cover how to best care for your postpartum body, tips for getting sleep, good nutrition, the transition back to work, childcare, and how to nurture your relationship with your partner.
Not Your First Rodeo (Birth)
Not your first birth but feel like you could use a refresher? Wondering how this birth will be different from your last birth? Want to know how to prepare siblings for a baby? Then this group is for you.
Or maybe this is your first birth using a doula? In this workshop, I will help prepare you for all the things you need to know for a different birth from your first/last.
Our Media
How to Make Labor More Fun (Or At Least Manageable)
How to Make Labor More Fun (Or At Least Manageable) from Your Fort Collins Birth Doula
As a seasoned Fort Collins birth doula, I’ve been in a labor and delivery room a few times. Okay, a loooootttt of times. And I’ve noticed a thing or two about what makes some deliveries more fun… or at least, more tolerable than others. I’m going to talk about that today.
Having a baby is hard work… there’s no way around that. It’s going to be hard, and you’re going to be pushed to your limits, but I promise you, it doesn’t have to be awful. In fact, it can be so beautiful, fun, and empowering.
I know, I know. You’re probably reading this and think I’ve lost my mind using fun and birth in the same sentence, but I promise I haven’t. Aside from any major medical emergencies or extenuating circumstances, labor can actually be fun. And that’s what we all want right? A beautiful, fun, and sweet delivery.
If you don’t believe me yet, keep reading. I promise there’s a way to ease your mind in a way that will allow you to enjoy the experience. As a Fort Collins birth doula, here’s what I’ve noticed that makes labor go smoother:
Working to break free of fear… I know this sounds easier said than done, but what sometimes happens in birth is that you can’t enjoy the goodness of it all because you’re so focused on the fear of it all. This looks different for everyone, but breaking that fear cycle can free your mind. This will look different for everyone but before labor even starts, work to change your mindset, get your questions answered, address your fears, find what makes you feel the safest, assert control over the things you can have a say in, and work to reset your thoughts about the whole process. Pam England from Birthing From Within has a great fear clearing exercise I recommend everyone does before birth. You can find it here:
Practicing mindfulness – As you prepare for labor, mindfulness training is one of the best things you can do for yourself. You’ll learn how to be in the moment, how to meditate, and train for the delivery of your baby. This will give you the tools you need to make it more peaceful, and ultimately more enjoyable.
Packing your music! As a Fort Collins birth doula, I always recommend you pack a speaker or headphones in your hospital bag. That way you can sing, dance, and shake those hips during delivery. When you dance and sing, your body will naturally increase more endorphins that will help you feel better and be happier. And if you don’t feel up to DJ’ing your own birth playlist there are lots of already made playlists one many of the music stations.
Doing what feels good – Unless there is a medical reason not to, I always recommend my clients listen to their own bodies and change positions frequently. Using a good balance of rest, standing, squats, movement, walking, and stretching can not only shorten your labor but also make it more comfortable too. Honoring your body and its cravings will help you through your labor.
Repeating your mantras – As part of mindfulness training, I always recommend clients pick a few mantras that they repeat over and over to themselves during labor. They might be sayings like – this is temporary, or good things are coming, or my body was made for this. Whatever sayings feel right to you will help you get through labor.
Playing your favorite podcast, book, or album – Another thing you can do to make the time pass and to help take your mind off things is to listen to your favorite podcast, book, or album. These can all help center your mind and give you something else to think about. I particularly love the story “Wonder” that Matthew Mchonachy reads on the Calm app. His voice is like butter.
Relying on humor – As your Fort Collins birth doula, everyone knows I love humor. It’s a great way to lighten the mood and help everyone relax. Telling jokes, sharing funny stories, or quick quips during delivery can all help everyone enjoy the moment a bit more.
Labor is hard work, but it’s my sincerest hope that these few tips will make your birth just a bit more enjoyable.
And as a Fort Collins birth doula, I know the secret sauce to most happy births is parents who are willing to go with the flow and surrender to the process just a little bit.
Sending you all my love,
Julianne
If you have any questions or if there’s anything I can do to help, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Otherwise, I would love it if you followed me on Facebook and Instagram for more content (and jokes!).
