A doula and a midwife are very different. As a doula, I am a non-medical provider that focuses on providing emotional and physical support to birthing people before, during and after labor. As a doula, I help guide your labor by offering suggestions for comfort measures, positioning and pain relief techniques. A Midwife is a medical provider who focuses on the health and safety of you and your baby. Your midwife might also do some of the same things that a doula does but a doula does not assist with any medical procedures, including delivering babies. As your doula, I am a consistent support provider. I don’t have any other laboring people to monitor, unlike your medical provider or nurse. Continuous support during labor is one of the best ways to improve your birth experience.

I am a DONA (Doulas of North America) trained and certified doula. I am a Spinning Babies Parent Educator. I am a Certified Childbirth Educator with the Academy of Certified Birth Educators and am a participating member of Evidence Based Birth Academy. I am a CPST (Child Passenger Safety Technician) through Safe Kids Worldwide. I am CPR and first aid certified. I am also a Licensed Master Social Worker in Kansas and Missouri.

Birth doulas are statistically proven to improve outcomes*: 39% decrease in the risk of C-section 15% increase in the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth 10% decrease in the use of any medications for pain relief 38% decrease in low APGAR scores for the newborn 31% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience Additionally, birth doulas: Decrease in the use of Pitocin for labor induction/augmentation Increase the partner's positive experience of the labor Shorten overall labor time * https://evidencebasedbirth.com/the-evidence-for-doulas/

As a doula, my job is not to replace your partner. I want to work in conjunction with your partner to make your birth the best it can be. Birth can be very intimate and I don’t want to get in the way of these special moments. My job is to help facilitate a birthing environment that allows you both to have a memorable experience . Your partner knows you best. I work with your partner to support you and I support your partner. They also need to be reminded to rest, hydrate and breathe.

Yes! I support all types of birth. Even if you are having a scheduled c-section or are interested in an epidural, a doula can be an invaluable resource. I can still provide emotional and physical support during birth regardless of how the birth is happening. I can provide education on what to expect and I can provide support to partners and family who are waiting for you to come out of surgery. There as so many things to decide on, regardless of how you birth. I truly believe that every birthing person who wants a doula, should have one.

Anytime. Doulas provide a variety of services for pregnant folks, folks looking to get pregnant and folks who have recently, or not, given birth. I provide a range of services for pregnant and birthing people. You can hire me as soon as you get a positive pregnancy test or as late as 40+ weeks pregnant. I only take a small number of clients every month, so the sooner you book the better.

I only take a small number of clients every month, so the sooner you book the better. You can check my availability on my Doula Match page. https://doulamatch.net/profile/17947/ashley-haden-peaches-cd-dona-ibclc-lmsw

It varies widely from state to state and plan to plan. If your insurance does not cover doula services, I can create a superbill for you to submit to your insurance for reimbursement. You can also use your FSA or HSA to cover birth doula services. If you have Tricare, I am an In Network provider and your doula services may be covered. If you have a Ks Medicaid plan, your doula services may be covered. If you have a Mo Medicaid plan, your doula services may be covered. You can also create a registry on BeHerVillage to help get your doula services covered. Add doula support, lactation support or childbirth education from Peachy Births: Doula and Lactation Services by clicking here: https://behervillage.com/partners/peachybirthsdoulaandlactationservicesllc If you have Medicaid or are on food stamps, ask me about a sliding scale payment option.

For self pay clients: I charge one flat fee of $1100 that covers 3 prenatal sessions, childbirth education, unlimited time for your labor and delivery and 1 postpartum visit with lactation support. You can also get a discount on your doula package if your insurance covers lactation services. A deposit of $200 is needed to secure your spot on my calendar. Ask me about a payment plan. If you are on Medicaid or food stamps, ask me about a sliding scale payment option.

Birth can be very expensive. I know that trying to cover all the costs is stressful. Talk to me about a payment plan that suits your needs. You can also create a registry on BeHerVillage to get your doula services funded. Add doula support, lactation support or childbirth education from Peachy Births to your registry by clicking here: https://behervillage.com/partners/peachybirthsdoulaandlactationservicesllc If you have Medicaid or food stamps, ask me about a sliding scale payment option.

To be eligible for the sliding scale consider how accessible money is to your family. The minimum payment for doula services is $200. If you can afford to pay a little more than the minimum but not the full price, please reach out. We will come to an agreement that feels comfortable for us all. You may be eligible if your family: •Has significant debt •Receives public assistance •Has immigration-related expenses You might consider making a donation to the community fund if your family: •Owns the home you live in •Has investments or retirement accounts •Travels recreationally •Has access to money and resources in times of need •Has a relatively high degree of earning power due to level of education or gender and racial privilege, class background, etc. While we ask you to take these factors into consideration, please don’t stress about it. We will come to an agreement that feels comfortable for us all. You can access the application for sliding scale here: https://intakeq.com/new/goqsbr The sliding scale recommendations are based on the following blog post by Hadassah Damien: https://www.ridefreefearlessmoney.com/blog/2016/05/sliding-scale-1/

For prenatal doula appointments: If you live outside of the identified "no travel fee" radius, a travel fee of $30 will be charged for each prenatal appointment. There will be no travel fee for the birth or postpartum appointment (unless you live outside of the birth travel area). This helps to account for the mileage and time that it takes to travel to your home. This will be charged to the card that is on file. If you have insurance covered services, the travel fee will not be covered by insurance and will be charged to the card on file. Prenatal appointments can be scheduled at Northland Wellness Collective with no additional travel fees. For births: If you are delivering outside of the "no travel fee" radius, a travel fee of $45 will be charged. This one time fee will cover the birth and postpartum appointment. This will be charged to the card that is on file. If you have insurance covered services, the travel fee will not be covered by insurance and will be charged to the card on file.

Lactation professionals hold a variety of different credentials, all with the goal of helping people who are interested in feeding their babies human milk. There are International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC), Certified Lactation Counselors (CLC), Certified Breastfeeding Specialists (CBS), Certified Breastfeeding Counselor (CBC), Breastfeeding Peer Counselors (with your local WIC office or La Leche League) and several others. Each type of professional has different education and training requirements. IBCLC is the hardest to obtain but that doesn’t always mean they are the most knowledgeable about your situation. However, IBCLCs are generally who you go to if you have a complex issue.

I am an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). This required college level biology, nutrition and child development classes, lactation specific training and 500 hours of clinical mentorship. I sat for and passed the IBCLC exam in Sept 2021. You can learn more about this certification here: https://ibclc-commission.org/how-to-become-an-ibclc/ I also hold certification as a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC). This required 45 hours of classroom instruction and passing the Healthy Children Project exam. You can learn more about that training here: https://centerforbreastfeeding.org/lactation-counselor-training-course/clc-certification/ Additionally, I have been trained in tongue ties, infant body movement for optimal latching, flange fitting and working with LGBTQ+ families.

Anytime, but the sooner the better. Establishing a relationship with a lactation professional during pregnancy is a good idea. You can take a lactation class as well get a general idea of what to expect in the early days of feeding your baby. If your baby is already born, reach out as soon as any issues arise. Don’t wait until you are feeling too overwhelmed to get help. Early support is important to securing a positive breast/chest feeding relationship.

Before your appointment, I’ll request that you complete a thorough (and I mean thorough) intake form so I can truly assess what your issues might be. You’ll also get plenty of instructions on what to do before we meet so that we can get the most out of the session. I’ll do a complete lactation assessment for you and your baby. I’ll watch you latch and nurse your baby (and/or pump) and I’ll offer suggestions on how to correct any problems. After our appointment, I’ll create a care plan with the details we discussed and next steps.

They are supposed to. However, not all insurances do and not all insurance covers all lactation professionals and their services. I am an In-Network provider with Aetna, United (Mo Medicaid and Commercial), Home State Health (Mo Medicaid) and Mo Health Net (Mo Medicaid). I am also In-Network for Tricare Prime and Tricare Select. I may also be able work with folks with other Mo Medicaid and Ks Medicaid plans. To verify your insurance with any of these plans, go to: https://tinyurl.com/PBinsuranceverification For other insurances (Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, Optum) you can verify your coverage through The Lactation Network, go to: https://go.lactationnetwork.com/PeachyBirthsDoulaAndLactationServicesLLC. If you are denied for coverage through your insurance, I am happy to create a superbill for you to submit to your insurance for reimbursement and I can work with you if you get a denial. You can also use your FSA or HSA to cover lactation services.

Yes! As a lactation professional, I want to help you be successful and reach your goals, whatever those are. If you want to provide human milk in a bottle only by pumping exclusively, great, let’s chat! If you want to nurse your baby for 3 months and switch to formula, great, let’s chat! If you want to provide human milk during the night and formula during the day, great, let’s chat. If you want to nurse for 2+ years, great, let’s chat! Whatever your goals are, I want to help you reach those.

Yes. Most lactation professionals, including myself, are versed in different feeding methods for infants. While it seems like formula feeding is the easier choice, there is a lot that goes into finding the right formula for your baby, preparing it and feeding it correctly. While I won't provide specific formula brand recommendations, I can help guide you in what to look for, and how to prepare and feed it to your baby, safely. INFORMED is best when it comes to feeding an infant.

There are a lot of factors that go into deciding if providing human milk for your baby is right for you. If you are on the fence, taking a prenatal lactation class can help you get a better idea of what to expect and if it's right for you. I offer private classes (or classes with a friend) so you can ask all the questions you need. This can be a hard decision but ultimately INFORMED is best when it comes to feeding a baby.

To be eligible for the sliding scale consider how accessible money is to your family. The minimum payment for lactation services is $35 (not including travel fees). If you can afford to pay a little more than the minimum but not the full price, please reach out. We will come to an agreement that feels comfortable for us all. You may be eligible if your family: •Has significant debt •Receives public assistance •Has immigration-related expenses You might consider making a donation to the community fund if your family: •Owns the home you live in •Has investments or retirement accounts •Travels recreationally •Has access to money and resources in times of need •Has a relatively high degree of earning power due to level of education or gender and racial privilege, class background, etc. While we ask you to take these factors into consideration, please don’t stress about it. We will come to an agreement that feels comfortable for us all. You can access the application for sliding scale here: https://intakeq.com/new/goqsbr The sliding scale recommendations are based on the following blog post by Hadassah Damien: https://www.ridefreefearlessmoney.com/blog/2016/05/sliding-scale-1/

For lactation services: If you live outside of the identified "no travel fee" radius, a travel fee of $30 will be charged for each appointment. This helps to account for the mileage and time that it takes to travel to your home. This will be charged to the card that is on file. If you have insurance covered services, the travel fee will not be covered by insurance and will be charged to the card on file the morning of the appointment. If you are utilizing the sliding scale, the travel fee will be added to your sliding scale fee level. Lactation appointments can be scheduled at Northland Wellness Collective with no additional travel fees.