Both. 

That said, the vast majority of my clients give birth at the hospital. 

Yes. 

Even if we already took a class with someone else?  Yes. 

Why? Because after years of supporting birth doula clients who had the option to study with me or prepare on their own it became heart-achingly clear: those who studied with me had tools and capacities for resilience that those who didn’t lacked.  

Those who study with report being able to: 

• approach their experience awareness & curiosity (rather than fear and the desire to control it all), 
• take the right proactive steps prenatally to stack the deck in their favor so they can rest assured that they did control everything that could be controlled and are now prepared to flex and flow with their birth as it unfolds
• face the inevitable intensities and challenges of their baby’s birth with skill, understanding, and resilience 
• ask for the kind of support that results in less trauma and more empowerment, 
• partner with their care provider/s throughout their prenatal and birthing time rather than simply feeling like participants in a system

No. But neither will you pay extra if your birth goes long. 

It’s also worth noting here that doula support is an ongoing benefit. It doesn’t just kick in during labor nor does it end the moment your baby is born. My enthusiastic & knowledgeable support for you starts during pregnancy (usually in the second trimester) and ends postpartum, all of which is included.