In Tune Birthing - Frequently Asked Questions
What is a doula?
A doula is a non-medical professional who supports a pregnant woman through labor and childbirth. The word "doula" comes from the ancient Greek meaning "a woman who serves" and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after giving birth.
Research shows parents who receive support can:
Feel more secure and cared for
Are more successful in adapting to new family dynamics
Have greater success with breastfeeding
Have greater self-confidence
Have less postpartum depression
Have lower incidence of abuse
What is music therapy?
Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish non-musical goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional. A music therapist credentialed by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT) is designated by the initials MT-BC.
It is an established, research-based health service and consists of using music therapeutically to address physical, psychological, cognitive and/or social functioning for people of all ages and needs.
A Music Therapist provides opportunities for:
Expression of feelings
Anxiety and stress reduction
Alternative management of pain and discomfort
Positive changes in mood and emotional states
Active and positive participation in treatment
Decreased length of patient stay
Emotional intimacy with families and caregivers
Relaxation
Learning positive coping skills
Click here for an overview of the board certification process for music therapists, if interested.
What do you provide - doula services, or music therapy?
Both! Laura Pruett is a Perinatal Music Therapist. Thanks to her training with Sound Birthing, Laura combines music therapy and doula techniques to provide enhanced labor and birth support. Laura is certified by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT). She received her doula education and training through DONA and ProDoula. For more information about perinatal music therapy services, please click here.
Are you a medical assistant?
No. Laura is not medically trained, and as such, she is not qualified to provide the following:
Take blood pressure
Take temperature
Fetal heart checks
Vaginal exams
Catch the baby (this does not fall under the scope of practice as a doula or as a music therapist)
Any other medical task that is deemed necessary by your care provider
Do I need a doctor or midwife if I hire you?
Yes. Laura does not replace your care provider. Again, perinatal music therapists are not medically trained, and do not provide medical care for pregnancy and birth. Laura is there to enhance your pregnancy and birth experience and become part of your support team.
Can you help me make a birth plan?
Yes, by providing information about different aspects of labor and birth. Laura does not make decisions for you about your birth plan. Laura offers education, as well as emotional, mental and physical support in the decisions that you make for yourself and your family.
Do I have to have my baby at a hospital/birthing center/home to hire you?
Laura will go wherever you decide to have your birth experience - whether that is in a hospital, at a birthing center, or at home. You decide where you feel safest and most comfortable to birth your baby, and Laura will accompany you wherever that may be.
What if I need an emergency cesarean birth?
Emergencies sometimes happen. Laura can be a source of emotional support in a stressful time, and can still celebrate your birth experience with you. If hospital policies allow a support person in the operating room, Laura can continue to provide music, encouraging words, and information to you and/or your birth partner. If hospital policy does not allow a support person in the operating room (it varies from hospital to hospital), Laura can be there to provide support for the birth partner and/or other family. Once the baby is born, Laura will still provide immediate post-partum support. This can be done in a variety of ways, including (but not limited to) staying with the recovering mother while the birth partner accompanies the baby to intensive treatment (if needed), helping to initiate breastfeeding, and/or providing supportive music and encouraging words to aid in recovery.
What if I am planning a cesarean birth?
Laura can be of benefit in helping you prepare for and celebrate your birth experience with you. Some women who are planning a cesarean birth are able to labor for a period of time before the cesarean begins. Laura can be there to help you through your labor until the cesarean birth. If the cesarean happens before any labor is initiated, Laura can help you go through your options for different types of cesarean births. If hospital policies allow a support person in the operating room, Laura can continue to provide support through music, encouraging words, and information to you and/or your birth partner. If hospital policy does not allow a support person in the operating room (it varies from hospital to hospital), Laura can be there to provide support for the birth partner and/or other family. Once the baby is born, Laura will still provide immediate post-partum support. This can be done in a variety of ways, including (but not limited to) staying with the recovering mother while the birth partner accompanies the baby to intensive treatment (if needed), helping to initiate breastfeeding, and/or providing supportive music and encouraging words to aid in recovery.
What if I am planning a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean)?
Labor and birth support can be invaluable for a VBAC. Before going into labor, Laura will make sure to work with you (the mother and birth partner) to address any fears or concerns you may have about certain parts of labor and birth. Once labor has started, Laura will still provide all of the emotional and physical support needed during labor and birth.
What happens if Laura is not available when my labor starts?
In the rare case that Laura is unavailable, she always contracts with at least two other individuals to serve as back-up. If the two other perinatal music therapists in the Phoenix area are unavailable, then Laura contracts a local doula as back-up.