Michelle Lucas CD(DONA) Photo

Michelle Lucas CD(DONA)

My Family Doula, Photography & Childbirth Ed

Caldwell, ID Service range 25 miles With Virtual Support, I am available to clients all over the country.

http://www.myfamilydoula.com

Birth Fee

$600 to $1200

Birth Fee

$600 to $1200


Birth Doula Experience

4 years


Birth Doula Certifications

  • DONA International - Certified Birth Doula

Doula Training

  • DONA International-Approved Workshop, November 2018
  • International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA), November 2019

Type of practice: Solo practice

Clients per month: 1 to 3

Attends hospital births? All Hospitals
Hospital births can be a positive, birth experience. I support you and advocate for your birth plan. There are many options available at hospitals today, I will help you navigate those choices to help you make informed decisions throughout your birthing experience.

Attends birth center births? All Birth Centers
There are several wonderful birth centers available in the Treasure Valley. Working with midwives in a birth center environment is the closest thing to home for a more natural birth experience. Each birth center has a different vibe and their own processes and protocols. I always recommend visiting and interviewing several birth centers to find the one that best fits your needs and birth goals. As your Doula, I’m happy to attend one of your prenatal appt with your midwife caregiver.

Attends home births? Some Home Births
I am open to supporting home births attended by a midwife. I do not provide free-birth support.


College Education

AA/AS

BA/BS


Special Services Offered

  • Bereavement doula (pregnancy & infant loss)
  • Childbirth education services
  • Military families support
  • Miscarriage support
  • Mother blessing celebrations
  • Photography - Birth
  • Reduced rates for women considering adoption
  • Satellite doula (for remote and rural clients)
  • Surrogates and intended parents
  • Virtual and remote doula support

Relevant volunteer or advocacy work

Treasure Valley Doulas Board Member: Secretary 2021 Board Member: Membership Director 2022- 2025

Fee Details

Equipping you and your partner to feel confident and ready. * (In-person) Birth Doula & Photography: $1,200 Includes (up to) 3 Prenatal & 1 postpartum in-person visits. Birth Doula support and professional photography during labor & birth. * Additional Prenatal/Postpartum visits $40. * Virtual Birth Doula Support: $900 Includes 3 (yes three) prenatal & 2 postpartum Zoom/FaceTime meetings - labor and delivery support via text, phone, Zoom/FaceTime. *In Person & Online Classes also available. * Birth Photographer ONLY: $600 - available if you already have a Birth Doula -- $100 OFF Fees for single-moms, surrogate & military families —

Service Area

Caldwell, ID Service range 25 miles With Virtual Support, I am available to clients all over the country.

Certifications for Michelle Lucas CD(DONA)

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Certification

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Client Testimonials for Michelle Lucas CD(DONA)

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Sienna

9/24/2022

We are so thankful for having Michelle for our birth experience. Not only did having a doula provide us with the confidence knowing we had support, but Michelle's calming and strong presence gave us peace of mind leading up to and during the birth process. I had a lot of fears that I needed to move past from my previous emergency C-Section. She talked with me and helped me lay out a plan for a hopeful unmedicated VBAC. Fast forward to our labor.... I had a VERY unexpected & quick labor after my waters broke. I texted Michelle as soon as that happened and she put my mind at ease to just relax and rest and that she was there when we needed her. It was SO nice to know that we had her as a birth doula professional to help us through anything. After 2 hours of laboring at home, I suddenly get the undeniable urge to push and couldn't walk so we had to call paramedics to our house thinking we may not make it to tue hospital in time to deliver the baby! I felt it was important to get to the hospital due to my complicated and traumatic precious c-section so we tried to make sure we made it there in time. Michelle was able to respond quickly to our emergency call. She was able to get to our house quickly and right before we left our home. As I was getting into the ambulance, she was able to pray with me before I was rushed to the hospital and she followed behind the ambulance. Once we were at the hospital, she was such a crucial part of our birth team. She helped guide breathing and provided a familiar face and support system to know that things were going to be okay. She checked up on us countless times during the postpartum period and made sure we knew that she was there if we needed anything. Thank you to Michelle for being such a sweet member of our birth team for our beautiful redemptive VBAC birth!  

Vetta

2/4/2022

Michelle was such a blessing to have as part of my birth team! From our first intro call with her, my husband and i both felt perfectly at ease and knew we wanted her alongside us on the biggest day of our lives.

From her sweet, calming demeanor to her ability to anticipate what I needed in labor at any given moment and make suggestions for how my husband could support me, my labor day went much smoother than I could have imagined. She arrived at my house at 4:30 a.m. when my contractions were 5 minutes apart. Shortly thereafter, she suggested we start heading to the birthing center. Michelle was a godsend with her massage and comfort techniques. She really enabled my husband to shine in his support role by suggesting tools and techniques he could use to aid in my comfort, helping him feel calmer by being able to assist in practical ways.

I felt fully supported and loved on by Michelle and my husband as I made the transitionary journey to motherhood. In the moments when I felt anxious or like I couldn’t do it anymore, Michelle was ready with a hug of encouragement and comfort, and a prayer for peace and calm. She kept reminding me to eat and drink to maintain strength and energy. She also captured some beautiful photos of touching moments to remember the day by!

Though I ended up transferring from the birthing center to the hospital for an epidural and some rest from the intense back labor, Michelle was alongside us until we were checked in and ready to call it a night, at which point she went home with the intent to come back once we all had rested and were ready to continue laboring. Sadly, the hospital didn't allow her to come back, since I tested positive for Covid while there. But she continued to provide support, encouragement and prayers from afar, which was much appreciated. We were so happy to have Michelle as part of our birthing team!

Breanna Bix

12/23/2021

My husband and I were preparing to have our first baby, a little boy. We decided we were going to hire midwives and attempt to have a home water birth.  I was very excited and wanted to build my team of supporters. Well, that included a doula! My husband was not on board, and he was very against someone coming in a taking "his place." Ultimately, there's no arguing with a pregnant hormonal woman, so we hired her! Michelle has a very calm and comforting demeanor about her, and what I loved most was when she prayed for us. For my last pre-nantal appointment with her I was slowly transitioning into active labor (I was 37 weeks). She could tell I was having contractions. I remember looking at the clock and it was 4pm. She had a feeling she'd be back later that night. My contractions were getting stronger and they would get worse when I tried to sleep. She came back to my house at midnight. Let me also point out that I called my midwives four times and they didn't believe I was in labor. Michelle had to call them and then they came over. I was in active labor for a good 12 hours when my midwives decided to leave me. I felt abandoned by them and I was shaking uncontrollably from adraneline and lack of sleep. Michelle stayed by my side and helped me get transferred to the hospital. She stayed with me all day and right before midnight, I gave birth.  The entire time I was in labor, she comforted me, encouraged me to eat and drink, walk, take a shower, you name it. She also helped my husband know how to comfort me. When we got to the hospital, she spoke to the doctor on our behalf, she also had my birth plan and made sure it was to be followed. She was everything we didn't realize we needed. Oh, and my husband was so happy we hired her!  Although I'm not happy with the birth center I was with, Michelle was the exact person we needed and I don't think I could've done it without her. She will definitely be with us for furture births!

Shea Barnes

4/27/2021

Michelle was everything we could have hoped for in a support person. From the moment we reached out to her she gave so much love, encouragement, assurance . This is exactly what we were looking for our birth team . During the prenatal appointments, Michelle gave us such a relaxed feeling and confidence we needed. The day of our sons birth was very emotional and excitement filled . Michelle assured me and stood by us with just the perfect amount of attention . She knew when to step in and when to just let me do what my body was telling me . She helps my husband feel at ease , allowing him to support how he felt comfortable  and also leading him in times he needed the direction . We couldn't have asked for a better team mate on our special day . We have grown to have a special love for you Michelle ! Thank you for your presence on our day . You have become a sincere friend as well ! 

Ashley Loos

4/8/2021

Michelle was absolutely incredible through our whole pregnancy and birthing experience! In our post-delivery meetings, she was thorough and informative with everything we needed to know ahead of time!

As this was my first child and first birthing experience, much of how I would handle the pain was unknown to me. Michelle was so intuitive to my needs, even when I didn’t know what I needed. In the midst of painful contractions, Michelle asked the room for some quiet so that I could focus and concentrate. This is exactly what I needed in the moment... and I didn't even know that I needed it. So thankful she was in tune to me, my body and my needs. 

We had a beautiful birth experience and I am so grateful and blessed for our story... with Michelle apart of that story as well! AND our pictures are beautiful! What an incredible photo album to have of an amazing experience!! ??

Rebecca

8/6/2020

Michelle was an awesome addition to our “Team Baby-Arrival.” She is patient, kind and encouraging. She calmly and effectively communicated not only what to expect before, during and after the birth, but also ways to effectively navigate each stage. She gave my husband and I exercises to use to help our breech baby move into position and then, during the birth, to relieve some of the pain of labor. And when my induced labor became too painful and the unexpected happened, she was calming and assuring the whole time. Thanks to her help, my husband and I were able to be level-headed the whole time. Even after the C-section and we arrived home, she stayed in contact to make sure we were adjusting well and I was healing well. I would definitely recommend Michelle Lucas as a great family doula for any of my friends or family.

Lance

7/22/2020

Michelle was an amazing blessing to have walk alongside of us during our pregnancy.

She spelled everything out, let us know what options we had (far beyond what the hospital wanted us to know our rights were).
She had great tips and tricks. Kept returning us to calm and "this is expected".

And she was the calm in the storm when things went sideways and conditions forced a C Section.

And the best part, she did it all remote!
We used cell phones (and all options they bring with them), Zoom, etc

We highly recommend Michelle to everyone!
God bless you.

Courtney Claypool

6/22/2020

Michelle was great to have as resource during my pregnancy for both my husband and I ! She was prompt, attentive, and compassionate in all of our visits. Our baby arrived a month early and she prioritized my husband and I despite the fact that she couldn’t attend the birth of our son due to St Lukes’s COVID visitor restrictions. We so appreciate Michelle and recommend her to first time expectant parents!

LaTasha

2/1/2020

This was my 3rd baby, I was very worried about howI just had my 3rd baby, first ours baby, and used Michelle as our doula. First ever experience with a doula and 10x better experience then either of my other births. I actually somehow reached my goal of a natural body
Birth. She always knew what I needed before I even knew. She made suggestions that I didn't even know where a thing, like an acupuncturist that seriously helped so much. My husband was 1000x more amazing than I ever expected, no idea if it was Michelle whispering in his ear or just him but seriously made me fall in love with him even more. I wish everyone had a person like Michelle to help them have the best experience possible. I can't thank her enough.

Paige Macdonald-Beltman

1/13/2020

Michelle was an amazing member of my birth team! She acted as photographer and supporting doula along with another doula. We were so lucky she was so willing to be apart of our team the night before she was about to leave for vacation. Our beautiful baby was born at 430am the day she was leaving town! She even stayed for another hour afterwards and captured the most amazing moments even in my very dark room. Her energy was very calming and her touch was just perfect, she had the confidence and  energy that kept me focused and not annoyed at all. In fact there were moments she backed off a little that I wished she hadn't but she respected everyone in the room and was very supportive of me when I needed it most. I cherish the pictures she took and have shared them with others who found them very intriguing. I will definitely ask her to be apart of my birth team if I am lucky enough to have a natural birth again. 

Jeanette Bradshaw

1/13/2019

I've known Michelle for most of my life and she's always had a calming loving spirit. When I gave birth to my first child I wanted memories of this moment in my life and wanted someone there to take pictures and video for me. Because of Michelle's beautiful spirit and talent I felt comfortable having her there capturing via camera this special moment in my life.

During the birth she was so much more than I originally planned. Along with my family in the room she helped coach and support me emotionally mentally and spiritually through the birth of our precious baby girl. She was praying over me the whole time and encouraging me. It was like having another mother there to love and nurture and support me in a time that I needed it most.

Michelle is amazing if you want someone that will love you through your pregnancy and birth process. Someone that will be that support when you need it. I love my husband and he was amazing but honestly he couldn't have done it alone. He was so appreciative of the help we had in the delivery room. And when Michelle wasn't all hands on deck she captured priceless moments. The most precious is a video of my husband singing to our baby girl when she arrived. Every year on my daughter's birthday I think if Michelle and wipe away tears as I look through the precious memories she captured for us!

Kevin Ekdahl

12/19/2018

Hi , Michelle has a warm and fun attitude. She worked with my wife and I to calm the birthing process. She did great as a doula! Michelle also doesn't get scared with the nitty gritty parts of labor and make the room feel uncomfortable. She is a great encourager and communicator. I would recommend her service!

Birth Availability for Michelle Lucas CD(DONA)

= Available. Calendar last updated: 03-19-2024