Certified Postpartum Doula, Erin Barnes, with postpartum mother and baby in Southeast Michigan home
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BIRTH & POSTPARTUM doula SERVICES

SEM Premier Doulas is a team of experienced and passionate birth and postpartum doulas in South East Michigan. We believe in helping families discover their strengths and find their own unique way through pregnancy, birth, and parenting.

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SEM Premier Doulas on and around couch holding two babies in Michigan

Community Meetings

All families are welcome to join us at our monthly Community Meetings. Families will have a chance to get to know all the doulas and ask any questions they might have. Families will also have the opportunity to meet other new and expecting families. The doulas will lead a discussion of a specific topic related to pregnancy, birth, or parenting. Guest speakers may be invited to present about their expertise. Families are invited to attend as many Community Meetings as they’d like!

Contact us to find out when and where our next Community Meeting is!

Certified Birth Doula supporting birthing parent at home in birth tub

Birth Services

Whether this is your first birth or your tenth, this is your birth. Our experienced birth doulas are with you from the moment you hire us, to support you and answer your questions. We love helping you discover what is most important to you for your birth… and then we love helping you achieve it! We can talk through all your options, the research, and your feelings, and then we will support whatever you choose is best for your family.

Because this is your birth, your baby, your family.

  • Our small team approach to birth means that you will always know the doula who will be at your birth and she will always be rested and ready. You’ll also have access to our whole team’s knowledge and resources. You get a close, personal relationship with your birth doulas and the experience of a whole team of doulas!

    When your labor begins, the birth doula available for you will bring her calm presence and experience to your birth, helping you to feel safe and confident. We are comfortable at all our local hospitals and birth centers and love attending home births too.

    Birth doula services include two prenatal visits, continuous support at your birth, and a follow-up visit to discuss the details of your birth. Community Meetings allow you to spend extra time with your birth doulas too.

Erin Barnes, Certified Postpartum Doula, playing with baby on bed in Southeast Michigan

postpartum support

SEM Premier Doulas know that sometimes the most challenging part of your birthing experience comes after your baby arrives. Even if you’ve read all the books and done all the research, or even if this isn’t your first baby, the time with a new baby can be challenging.

SEM Premier Doulas are committed to gentle and nonjudgemental support as you welcome your new baby into your family. We can help to make this time easier and more enjoyable!

  • Daytime support includes private education, hands-on practical support, and emotional support for the whole family. At the beginning of each visit, we’ll ask what your goals are for our time together. Sometimes a shower and a nap might be at the top of your list. Other times, you might want us to accompany you and the baby on some errands to practice being out alone with your baby. Or you might want to snuggle with your baby on the couch and binge your favorite show while we wash bottles, bring you lunch, and tidy the kitchen. All of these are great ways to spend our time together!

    Our daytime visits are usually four to six hours.

  • Overnight support is focused on getting everyone as much sleep as possible, while laying the foundation for good sleep habits for the baby. Although postpartum doulas do not sleep train, we are experienced in infant sleep. We are knowledgeable about current safe sleep recommendations for infants and will help you make the best choices for your own family. We can help you to learn your baby’s nighttime sleep noises and how they differ from their waking noises. We’ll help you to sort through the vast amount of sleep advice out there and, without judgment, find the pieces that work best for you.

    Nighttime visits are quieter than daytime visits, but we’re also happy to do quiet chores overnight, like folding laundry and washing bottles and pump parts.

    Our overnight visits are usually a minimum of 10 hours.

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Encapsulated placenta in hand of postpartum mother in Michigan home

placenta encapsulation

The placenta is an amazing organ! It protects and nourishes the baby before birth… and can nourish the birthing person after birth. Consuming the placenta after birth can offer many great benefits for a postpartum person and has been practiced for thousands of years. Today, the most appealing way of consuming the placenta after birth is to have it dehydrated and encapsulated.

    • Balanced postpartum hormones and improved mood

    • Increased milk supply

    • Less postpartum bleeding

    • Increased energy

  • Are you wondering if placenta encapsulation is right for you? You can find more research here.

    Placenta encapsulation services include a free phone consultation, picking up your placenta from you after birth, processing it, and returning the resulting capsules to you at your home.

Postpartum meal prepared by postpartum chef in Southeast Michigan
meal prepared by postpartum meal prep doula in Michigan home

meal prep and cooking services

Good nutrition and sleep are two of the most important factors in your postpartum recovery. Let your postpartum doulas help you get good rest while we stock your fridge with healthy, delicious meals!

Pregnancy and birth take a lot out of you. Literally. Your body is left depleted of certain vitamins and minerals after months of pregnancy and the hard work of birth. We can create a menu specifically for you after birth, based on the events of your birth, how you’re feeding your baby, and what sounds tasty!

We are certified in food handling and food allergy safety. We are comfortable cooking for families with a variety of dietary needs and restrictions.

for families in all stages of life

pregnancy

Before your baby is born, to eat now or to freeze for after baby arrives

postpartum

Right after baby is born when you’re exhausted and your body most needs replenishing

newborn

When one parent returns to work and you need to ease that transition

childhood

When your kids have practice every night and your busy life doesn’t leave you time to cook

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    “When we brought our preemie twins home from the hospital, we were instantly exhausted and overwhelmed. Erin and her team’s expertise and calming presence were JUST what we needed to get us through those first months and set us up as confident parents. Trusting someone with your new babies is so hard, but very quickly we trusted Erin wholeheartedly. We love Erin so much, we brought her back when we welcomed our son two years later. My husband and I constantly say hiring Erin was some of the best money we’ve ever spent.”

    ~ Amanda in West Bloomfield

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    “My family used postpartum doula support services after the birth of my second child, largely to support nighttime feedings. It was a game changer for my mental and physical health. Allowing my body to rest, I physically healed so much faster than with my first, and I had the energy to engage with my three year old every day so he didn’t have to miss a beat with mom. Sleep and rest also mitigated the mental health challenges that come with being sleep deprived. The doulas were professional, helpful, and knowledgeable. I immediately felt comfortable welcoming them into my home and with the care of my newborn. 10 out of 10 recommend!”

    ~ LeeAnn in West Bloomfield

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    "We hired Erin and her team for overnight doula services for our second baby due to having experienced a lot of sleeping difficulty with our first child. We felt soo much better during the newborn period this time around because we had more rest and had help with household tasks and meals. It made the transition from one to two kids so much better than it would have been otherwise. Before we got started, Erin talked with us on the phone to explain the services offered. Throughout our time working together, Erin also regularly checked in with us to make sure everything was going well. Our doula LaTonya was very caring toward our infant and was also an excellent cook! We highly recommend Erin and her team!”

    ~ The Kim family in Rochester Hills"

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    “I was one of the last of my friends to have a baby so I got a lot of advice. One of the best pieces of advice was to hire a postpartum doula. I honestly don’t know how I would’ve gotten through the transition into motherhood without Erin. She helped me in so many ways, including emotionally by listening and offering a shoulder to cry on when things got hard. She helped with breastfeeding and with baby care (she helped me give baby her first bath and showed me how to baby wear!). Erin was amazing at doing all the household tasks like laundry, dishes, and making the beds. She always asked me what I needed and wanted at every visit, and encouraged me to do the things I expressed interest in wanting to do. “

    ~ Sarah H. in Farmington Hills

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    “I cannot overstate how immensely valuable their gentle and non-judgmental support proved to be. As first-time parents, Erin, Annie, and Heather provided us with an abundance of knowledge and resources that proved to be priceless. Their guidance encompassed various aspects, including breastfeeding support, local new mother groups, insights into developmental milestones, and more. Moreover, they went above and beyond by assisting with household tasks, which alleviated much of the stress during those early days.”

    ~ Jakub & Greer in Ypsilanti

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    “If you're a new parent navigating the whirlwind of postpartum life, I can't recommend hiring a postpartum doula highly enough. Erin was our postpartum doula for both of our babies (May 2022 & February/March 2024). From the moment our little ones entered the world, and even in the weeks leading up to both births, Erin was an invaluable source of support, guidance, and reassurance. She not only helped with practical tasks like feeding, changing, and soothing the baby, but she also provided emotional support for me during those challenging early weeks. Her wealth of knowledge about newborn care, breastfeeding, and postpartum recovery was truly a lifesaver. What sets her apart is her genuine care and compassion for both me and my babies, creating a nurturing environment where I felt empowered and supported in my new role as a parent and again as a parent of two.”

    ~ Chelsea and Carlos in Brighton

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    “We are so thankful for Erin and her team! We just had our first baby and have really enjoyed having Erin and Rachel in our home to help us and make this transition easier. They’ve helped us with baby care and tips, emotional support, meal prep, organization, house hold responsibilities (laundry/dishes/tidying), and provided us with information about newborns and infants that we didn’t know. The meal prep and organization to help our space to be more efficient alone has been beyond helpful. And the peace of mind has meant so much. Erin has so much knowledge about nourishing meals for mom during postpartum and will make them! I highly recommend postpartum services, esp with Erin and Rachel. It’s been such a pleasure getting to know them and having them be a part of such a special time.”

    ~ Mae in Milford

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    “I cannot express enough how grateful I am for the support I received from SEM Premier Doulas. We used SEM Premier Doulas in multiple ways: an overnight to promote sleep shortly after delivery, a full day to help care for our newborn when our family had to attend a wedding, and meal prep services when I had to return to work. Erin, the owner, is exceptionally caring, kind, and reliable; our whole family felt comfortable and cared for - not just me and the baby! Her compassionate approach, warmth, and professionalism made a significant difference during my postpartum period. SEM Premier Doulas truly go above and beyond to ensure that every family feels empowered and cared for during this special time. I highly recommend their services to anyone seeking outstanding doula support, from newborn care to meal preparation services.”

    ~ EC + Family in Birmingham

Ready to get started?

Head over to our contact page and share some basic information. We’ll reach out to schedule our free 30 minute consultation call. Can’t wait to meet you!