Welcome to Philomena Birth!

Your doula team is excited to support you as you prepare for birth and welcome your baby.

Your next steps are: Register for your classes and schedule your prenatal meetings.

Philomena BirthRed Bank · Monmouth County, NJ

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Class Registration

Enter promo code CLASSPASS when registering for classes.

01 / CHILDBIRTH

Stages & Phases

Build a shared understanding of labor, birth, and your support team's role.

Questions to bring to class

How do the stages of labor differ?
When should we call our doula and our care team?
What can my support person do during each stage?

Schedule this class

Class handoutStages of Labor Handout 2024

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02 / CHILDBIRTH

Medical Interventions

Prepare for conversations about your options and preferences with your care team.

Questions to bring to class

How can we discuss benefits, risks, and alternatives?
What should we ask about induction and pain relief?
How might our preferences adapt if plans change?

Schedule this class

Class handoutThe Key to an Empowered Induction

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Class handoutEpidural

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03 / CHILDBIRTH

Natural Pain Management

Explore comfort techniques and ways your partner can support you during labor.

Questions to bring to class

Which comfort techniques can we practice together?
How can movement and positioning support comfort?
What supplies should we bring to our birth space?

Schedule this class

Class handoutNatural Pain Management

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04 / EARLY PARENTHOOD

Newborn Care

Make space for the everyday questions that come with welcoming a baby.

Questions to bring to class

What should we practice before baby arrives?
Where can we find current safe sleep guidance?
Who should we contact with newborn health concerns?

Schedule this class

05 / FEEDING

Breastfeeding

Prepare for feeding conversations and identify the support you may want after birth.

Questions to bring to class

What feeding support is available after birth?
What questions should we ask about latch and positioning?
Who can help us build a feeding plan for our family?

Schedule this class

Class handoutBenefits of Breastfeeding

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Schedule Prenatal Meetings

Two meetings · About one hour each · Red Bank office

FIRST MEETING

Prenatal 1: Getting to know you

Our first prenatal meeting is an opportunity to get to know each other, answer your questions, hear how your midwife or OB-GYN appointments have been going, and make sure you have registered for all our classes.

When to schedule: Schedule Prenatal 1 between 22–30 weeks of pregnancy.

Meetings last about one hour and are held at our Red Bank office.

Schedule Prenatal 1

SECOND MEETING

Prenatal 2: Your birth plan

This is our second of two prenatal meetings. We will focus on reviewing your birth plan together. It is important that your partner is also present.

When to schedule: Schedule Prenatal 2 between 32–36 weeks of pregnancy. Allow time to complete your Birth Planning Workbook and draft your birth plan before the meeting.

Before your meeting: Complete your Birth Planning Workbook and email it to us. Create a tentative birth plan for us to review together.

What we will cover

Your birth plan and preferences
Our on-call schedule
Preparing for labor during the last month of pregnancy
How to contact us when you are in labor
Updates from your midwife or OB-GYN appointments
Any last-minute questions

Meetings last about one hour and are held at our Red Bank office.

Schedule Prenatal 2

What do you need to prepare?

Complete both forms and draft a tentative birth plan before our meeting. Tap + to open each form.

Birth Planning Workbook

Write openly about your hopes, questions, and preferences. You may skip any question or discuss it privately at your meeting. Reflection answers are for your conversation with your doula; they do not all need to go into your birth plan.

Sign in to save your answers privately and return to them later. You can download a PDF to email before your meeting. Email your completed workbook to philomenabirth@gmail.com before Prenatal 2.

View the original workbook PDF

Checking for your saved workbook…

Reflection

What makes you most excited about giving birth? Which aspect of birth makes you feel most confident?

Are you comfortable asking for help when you need it?

Do you feel comfortable asking your doctors questions? What do you think could help improve your relationship with your doctors?

How have you and your partner worked through difficult moments as a team? How does your partner best support you?

What helps you feel safe? Think about a moment when you felt safest and most supported. Please describe that moment.

Think of a difficult moment you overcame in your life. What helped you get through it?

Think of a moment in your life where you felt strongest. Please describe that moment.

What brings you the most comfort or pleasure?

Can you visualize birth without visualizing pain?

What number are you on the pain medication scale (please see attached)?

The scale referenced in the workbook is not included in this PDF. Ask your doula for it, or describe your preferences in your own words.

Are you planning on using pain medication? Please explain why or why not.

What part of the birthing process do you think you understand the least?

What kind of stories have you been told about birth? What is the vision of birth that you carry with you?

What makes you most scared about giving birth? Would you say you fear birth?

Have you experienced any trauma, sexual or otherwise, that you are worried may impact your birth? What can your support team do to help with this?

If you could choose your dilation upon hospital admission, what would it be (e.g. between X cm - X cm)?

Aside from a healthy baby and healthy mom, list your top 3 priorities for this birth.

What do you think is going to help you best prepare for giving birth?

Labor and birth preferences

Who will be in the room with you? Are you okay with residents and students being present for your labor?

Are you planning on using an epidural or any pain medication?

How would you like the birth room to feel? (Lights dimmed, your own music playing, birth affirmations hanging on the wall, wearing your own clothes.)

Do you plan on using natural pain management techniques like movement?

Would you prefer intermittent monitoring or wireless monitors?

Are there certain positions you would like to move into while pushing? Would you like to use any tools that the hospital has for pushing (i.e. mirror, squat bar)?

Would you like to do delayed cord clamping, or are you doing cord blood banking?

Are you planning on keeping your placenta, or would you like your midwife or doctor to show it to you?

After birth preferences

Do you plan to breastfeed?

Would you like to do immediate skin-to-skin contact?

Are you planning on rooming-in with baby?

Are you planning on doing all the newborn procedures?

When do you plan on doing the first bath?

Working Together Questionnaire

As your doulas, it is our honor to support you during your birth. This worksheet helps us understand your preferences and the support you and your partner would like. Describe which options appeal to you and which do not; you may skip any question.

Sign in to save your answers privately. Download your completed PDF and email it to philomenabirth@gmail.com before your meeting.

View the original questionnaire PDF

Checking for your saved answers…

Your birth and support preferences

Mother-to-be: What is your name?

Aside from a healthy baby, list your top 3 priorities for this birth.

If you could choose your dilation upon hospital admission, it would be between which numbers (cm)?

If you are less dilated than that, do you want the option of going back home?

Where should we meet during your labor? Options: at your home to labor for a while; at the hospital.

Presence of others (family/friends): Who will be at home?

For second-time or subsequent moms: What are your childcare arrangements?

Presence of others: Who will be at the hospital or in the waiting room?

Presence of others: Who will be in the labor/delivery room?

Comfort measures and coping

Which comfort measures appeal to you? Options: birth ball; shower/bath; walking.

Breathing: What do you see yourself doing? Options: slow abdominal breathing; patterned breathing; vocalization; other.

Guided imagery: Can you see yourself using visualization? Options: favorite place (nature, vacation, bedroom, etc.); abstract (colors, light, spirals, circles, etc.); visualizing the process (cervix opening, baby moving down, etc.).

Music: Would you like music during labor? Options: yours; doulas’ vocals, instrumentals, or nature sounds.

Massage: Do you like massage? Options: shoulders/neck; lower back; scalp; hands; feet.

Is there anywhere you do not like to be touched?

Pain medication preferences

What number best represents you on the Pain Medication Preference Scale?

Ask your doula for the scale, or describe your preferences in your own words.

Are you open to epidural anesthesia or narcotics (Stadol, Nubain, morphine)?

If your intention is to avoid pain medication, please list your reasons why.

When would you consider pain medication? Options: pain that cannot be adequately managed by other means; exhaustion/fatigue (include how many hours of labor); induction of labor/use of Pitocin; none of the above.

If you request pain medication, what would you like your support team to do? Options: suggest another coping technique for a certain time or number of contractions; offer affirmations or encouragement; remind you of your reasons for avoiding medication; use a predetermined password (include it); immediately inform the nurse of your decision.

Second stage and following birth

What level of pushing guidance would you prefer? Options: more—coach-directed pushing (counting/breath holding) with enthusiastic cheering; less—instinctive pushing (no counting) with quiet encouragement; open to either/whatever works.

Do you have pre-existing back or hip issues?

Do you wear contacts or glasses?

Which positions interest you? Options: tub/waterbirth; squat bar; side-lying; hands and knees; lithotomy (on back/classic position); no preference/open to trying anything.

What are your crowning preferences? Options: warm compresses on the perineum; touch baby’s head; use a mirror; reminders to open your eyes and see the birth.

What are your preferences following birth? Options: cord blood collection/banking; delayed cord clamping; placenta encapsulation; skin-to-skin contact; help positioning baby and latching onto the breast.

What still photos would you like? Options: during labor; crowning/birth; directly after birth; baby with Dad.

Other preferences: What else would you like us to know?

Partner: your role and preferences

Partner: What is your name?

Partner: Aside from a healthy baby, list your top 3 priorities for this birth.

Which physical support activities appeal to you, and which make you uncomfortable? Options: massaging her back; having her lean on you; breathing with her; wiping her brow/neck with a cool washcloth.

Which emotional support activities appeal to you, and which make you uncomfortable? Options: being affectionate; offering praise/encouragement; lightening the mood or making her smile; asking what is on her mind after a contraction.

Which practical support activities appeal to you, and which make you uncomfortable? Options: getting ice/water; being in charge of music; helping her out of the bath/shower; offering sips of water/juice.

How can we best serve you? Options: suggestions on how you can help; opportunities for rest/breaks; information or clarification on what is happening; other.

Have you met the doctors or midwives? How do you feel about them?

Can you see yourself asking them questions during labor or birth?

What are your feelings regarding pain medication?

If labor is long or active after midnight, how do you plan to manage your fatigue?

Are you comfortable taking a short nap while the doula is present?

Do any of these make you uncomfortable? Options: needles; blood; vomit; being present for vaginal exams.

Partner, the birth: Would you like to see baby crowning/being born, be at the head of the bed, or do you have no preference?

Partner, announcements: Would you like to announce the sex, or is this not applicable?

Partner, cutting the cord: Would you like to (with a reminder to you/medical staff), would you rather not, or are you fine either way?

Partner, first hour after birth: Are you very comfortable holding baby, would you rather be seated, or would you like skin-to-skin with baby?

Do you have pre-existing conditions we should be aware of? Options: anxiety; low blood sugar; headaches; other.

Resources

Recommendations from our welcome packet for pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

READ & PREPARE

Books We Recommend

The Birth PartnerPenny Simkin · View on Amazon
Natural Hospital Birth: The Best of Both WorldsCynthia Gabriel · View on Amazon
Ina May’s Guide to ChildbirthIna May Gaskin · View on Amazon
The First Forty DaysHeng Ou · View on Amazon
HypnoBirthing: The Mongan MethodMarie Mongan · View on Amazon
The Fourth TrimesterKimberly Ann Johnson · View on Amazon
The Nursing Mother’s CompanionKathleen Huggins · View on Amazon
Becoming Two & Keeping YouSamantha Breslin, Kimberly McLaughlin, and Katie Kline · View on Amazon
Expecting BetterEmily Oster · Find on Amazon
Like a MotherAngela Garbes · Find on Amazon

LOCAL SUPPORT

Local Pelvic Floor Therapists

Powerful Women’s HealthPelvic floor physical therapy and mental health counseling.
Mana Pelvic HealthEast Brunswick and Lake Como.
Built to Move Physical TherapyPelvic floor physical therapy, pregnancy care, and postpartum rehabilitation in Spring Lake, NJ.
Carry to Crawl Physical Therapy + WellnessPelvic health, prenatal, and postpartum physical therapy. Home visits in Monmouth and Ocean Counties, with an office in Point Pleasant.

FEEDING SUPPORT

Breastfeeding Resources

Flourish Feeding BabiesLactation and infant feeding support with Alicea, IBCLC.
Jersey Shore University Medical Center — Center for BreastfeedingOutpatient lactation support in Neptune.
Aeroflow BreastpumpsCheck breast pump options through your insurance.
Spectra Baby USABreast pumps and pumping supplies.
HaakaaBreastfeeding and pumping products.

EMOTIONAL WELLBEING

Mental Health Resources

Center for Perinatal Mood & Anxiety DisordersEatontown · 862-781-3755
Modern Wellness — Laine HappelPostpartum therapy · 908-386-5328
La Luna Counseling & Wellness732-943-6791
Powerful Women’s Health732-705-6226
Alexandra Howlett, LCSW, PMH-CTelehealth · 848-294-2687
Marisa Peterson, LPCTelehealth · 908-408-2166
Advanced Wellness Consultants, LLC — John MercurioMind-body wellness · 732-267-1635
Postpartum Support International (PSI)Call or text 1-800-944-4773
National Maternal Mental Health HotlineCall or text 1-833-852-6262 · Available 24/7
988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineCall or text 988 · Available 24/7

Read our full maternal mental health guide

NEARBY SERVICES

Additional Local Resources

Circle of Life ChiropracticChiropractic care · Point Pleasant and Avon-by-the-Sea.
Sea + Spine ChiropracticChiropractic care · Asbury Park.
Flow Point AcupunctureJaclyn Vanderbeken · Red Bank.
Jersey Shore AcupunctureAcupuncture services.
Your Body Your Birth Doula ServicesCarla Ward · Ask about infant CPR classes.

EXPLORE & LEARN

Websites & Podcasts

Evidence Based BirthBirth research, articles, and podcast.
Spinning BabiesPregnancy and birth education.
The Birth HourBirth story podcast.
ExpectfulPregnancy and parenthood resources.

Classes & prenatal meetings

Finding our Red Bank office

119 Maple Ave · Basement Suite
Red Bank, New Jersey

Enter through the side door under the carport and go down the stairs. There is plenty of parking in the lot behind the building and free on-street parking.

Arrival help

Running late or need directions?

If you have trouble finding us or are going to arrive late, please call Mary.

Call Mary: 201.245.8023