Frequently Asked Questions

General

  • Doulas have been serving new mothers since the beginning of time—but today, a doula is so much more. At Sweet Bee Services, our doulas are trained professionals who provide grounding, compassionate coaching through the most transformative experiences of your life: having a baby.

    Your doula isn’t just a guide—they’re your calm in the chaos, your voice when you feel uncertain, and your strength when you need to tap into your own.

    With our support, clients often say they feel:

    • Confident instead of overwhelmed

    • Heard instead of dismissed

    • Held, seen, and celebrated—not just medically managed

    Our role is to support your entire being—body, mind, and soul—so you emerge from birth feeling empowered, supported, and transformed.

  • OB/GYNs are medical physicians who support people with a uterus.

    Midwives are nurses who provide healthcare to people with a uterus.

    Doulas are trained healthcare professionals who support individuals and families as they navigate decisions around having babies and preparing to parent those babies. We offer emotional, informational, and non-medical physical support.

  • Fertility doulas support people as they are trying to conceive.

    Birth doulas support pregnant people and their families as they prepare for birth and then during the labor experience.

    Postpartum doulas provide support once baby has arrived and the family is home.

    At Sweet Bee Services, several of our team members are full-spectrum, meaning they can provide support for both birth and postpartum experiences.

  • Postpartum doulas support the birthing person and/or new parent(s) as they navigate life with a newborn. Our team is prepared to ease your stressors by handling the little things like washing dishes or organizing baby items, to the big things like providing overnight infant care and proactively intervening at the first signs of postpartum depression or anxiety.

  • We recommend booking no later than 20 weeks into your pregnancy.

    Why? Because we’re a boutique, high-demand agency with a limited number of openings each month—and spots fill fast. We only take 10 clients max per month, and each doula is committed to just one primary birth to ensure the highest level of personalized care.

    Many families join our waitlist early in the first trimester, and by the halfway point of pregnancy, most months are close to full.

    Booking early guarantees:

    • Your spot on our calendar

    • First access to our doula match consultations

    • A smoother onboarding and prep experience

    • Peace of mind knowing your team is secured

    Don't wait—your ideal doula match is ready for you!

  • We only take 10 clients max per month, and each doula is committed to just one primary birth to ensure the highest level of personalized care.

    We recommend booking no later than 20 weeks into your pregnancy. Many families join our waitlist early in the first trimester.

  • At our concierge doula agency, you’ll always have two doulas:

    ✨ One primary: your anchor and lead support
    ✨ One on-call: available throughout your birth month for seamless backup

    We believe this two-doula model isn’t just smart—it’s essential for peace of mind and uninterrupted support.

    When you hire Sweet Bee Services, you’ll be carefully matched with two doulas and invited to meet them in a relaxed 15-20 minute vibe check. It’s not an interview—it's a connection assessment. Do you feel safe, heard, and aligned? Could you imagine this person holding space for one of the most transformative days of your life?

    We’re not here to just “assign” you a doula. We’re here to help you feel the fit.

    Why two doulas?

    Life is unpredictable. By building a relationship with both your primary and your on-call doula, you’re never left with a stranger. You’re supported by a cohesive team, trained together, and aligned on your birth vision.

    When the connection clicks, we’ll lock in your team and take care of the rest—so you can focus on preparing for a birth experience that feels empowering, supported, and uniquely yours.

  • Life happens—but you’ll never face it alone. With Sweet Bee, you’re matched from the start with doulas who know your story, your preferences, and your vision.

    If your primary doula is unavailable, your on-call doula is ready—briefed and connected—so there’s no awkward handoff, no gaps in care, and no surprises.

    This model is why our clients say they felt:

    • Safe, not scattered

    • Known, not rushed

    • Fully supported, even when plans shifted

  • Yes—because support shouldn’t stop at labor.

    We offer (or coordinate) a full suite of transformational add-ons, including:

    • Childbirth classes that empower you with applicable knowledge

    • Lactation guidance that reduces stress and builds confidence

    • Placenta encapsulation 

    • Postpartum care that helps you heal, rest, and feel whole

    • Bengkung Bellybinding that supports faster postpartum healing

    These offerings are here to help you feel connected, nurtured, and transformed—long after the baby arrives.

  • We go to every birthing hospital in the DMV. Past patients have delivered at:

Financial

  • We believe every family deserves exceptional support—regardless of budget. That’s why we offer access to our Benefits Navigator, a dedicated expert who provides a complimentary call to help you explore:

    • Eligible insurance reimbursements

    • HSA/FSA payment options

    • Local and state funding programs

    • Employer benefits

    • Creative financing solutions

    Whether you're navigating Medicaid, military coverage, or out-of-pocket planning, our Benefits Navigator will walk you through it—all tailored to your unique situation.

    We're here to help you build your birth team without financial overwhelm.

  • That’s great news—and we’re here to help you make the most of it.

    During your intake consultation, be sure to let our Client Care Team Lead know that your insurance offers doula coverage. From there, we’ll assess whether:

    • We can bill your insurer directly, or

    • We’ll provide a superbill to support your reimbursement process

    Either way, we’ll guide you step-by-step so your benefits are maximized and the paperwork is stress-free.

  • Absolutely. We’ll help you apply your HSA or FSA funds toward doula care, which many families use to make high-touch support more accessible.

    But this isn’t just a billing option—it’s a way to invest in a birth experience that supports your emotional and physical well-being, not just your clinical outcome.

    Our Benefits Navigator will walk you through every step, so money never becomes a barrier to feeling truly held.

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