1 Wear flat shoes or shoes with low heels (1 inch or lower). 2  Lift with your knees, not your back!  Use sturdy shoes with a good tread. All the weight will be on your legs, which are strong muscles, and by extension on your feet. Good shoes will help to prevent accidents.
A birth doula is a trained labor coach who assists you during labor and delivery. She provides you with continuous emotional support, as well as assistance with other non-medical aspects of your care. Doulas charge several hundred to a thousand dollars for their services, which are seldom covered by health insurance.
The doula determines, for example, how many prenatal and postpartum appointments to have with clients, and at what point in their labor to will join them. Many doulas in the Pioneer Valley area work on a sliding scale basis. Fees in metropolitan areas often run in the range of $2000-$2500 per birth. Midwives who also work as doulas usually earn $1000- $1200+ in Western Mass. Postpartum doulas in the Amherst/Northampton area earn between $15-$35 an hour, with $20 an hour being typical.