My Services

Welcome to Between The Olives. I’m here to offer you heartfelt support throughout your pregnancy, labor, and postpartum journey. My approach is all about helping you feel empowered and at ease, whether you need prenatal education, labor support, or a helping hand after your baby arrives. Together, we’ll create the experience you envision, grounded in trust and understanding.

  • Birth Doula Support

    Marissa is a Certified Birth Doula through DONA International, currently providing in-person support in New Jersey, specifically Morris, Essex, Union, and Hudson counties. Depending on your situation. If you live outside this area and know you’re being induced or have a planned cesarean for medical reasons, please reach out! Travel may be an option depending on your circumstances. When you book Marissa’s Standard Birth Doula Package ($1800) you receive:

    ∙Text and Email Support Throughout Pregnancy
    ∙ Customized Birth Plan Based On Your Preferences
    ∙(2) Two Prenatal Sessions for Pregnancy Support & Labor Preparation (One Virtual, One In-Person)
    ∙(1) One Two-Hour, Live Childbirth Education Class on the Phases & Stages of Labor, Hormones of Labor, Medical Interventions, and Types of Pain Management
    ∙Continuous Support During Labor and Delivery
    ∙(1) One Postpartum Visit for Follow-Up Support

    If you upgrade to the Premium Package ($2500), you receive everything listed above - but instead of two prenatal sessions we’ll meet once every two weeks (60 minutes each)! These meetings will be virtual, with one longer in-person session happening around 34-36 weeks.

    This option is perfect for someone who is hoping for more in-depth support throughout their pregnancy.

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  • Virtual Doula Support

    For some families, virtual support is their preferred way of connecting with a birth doula! Whether the person they want to work with is too far to travel, their hospital doesn’t allow enough people in the birth space to have a doula, or you just want your partner in this space with you physically, virtual pregnancy/doula support is a growing option that can fill a very important role in your care team.

    The Virtual Pregnancy Support Package ($800) Includes:

    Text & Email Support Through Pregnancy
    2 Prenatal & 1 Postpartum Support Call(s)
    Can Be Combined With Virtual Childbirth Education Course at a Discount

    The Virtual Birth Doula Package ($1000):

    Includes Pregnancy Support Package
    24/7 On Call For Labor Support Starting @ 38 Weeks
    Virtual Support (Text/Phone/Video) From Start of Labor Through Delivery & Your First Two Hours Postpartum - or Services Are No Longer Needed

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  • Create Your Birth Plan Coaching Call

    Create Your Birth Plan Coaching Call

    Contrary to popular belief, birth plans aren’t just for people looking for an unmedicated birth, and they don’t mean you’re not willing to roll with the unpredictable!

    Whether you’re a first-time or repeat mama, hoping for a vaginal birth, or planning a cesarean/VBAC, birth plans are a tool for you and your birth team. They help to effectively communicate the experience you hope for - giving you control over the things that can be, and prepare you for the unexpected. Most importantly, they help to empower you and your partner, giving confidence in making informed, evidence-based decisions for you and your family.

    Birth Plan Consultation ($150): 90 Minutes - No clue where you should begin? This is for you! We’ll talk through your options and goals for your birth and postpartum experience, how to communicate your wants, and how to handle the unexpected. We’ll finish with your completed birth plan, ready to print and pack in your bag!

    Purchase Your Call Here
  • 1:1 Labor & Birth Prep Coaching Call

    1:1 Labor & Birth Prep Coaching Call

    Not looking for the full doula experience, but to just jump on a call (or a few) to talk through what you should be doing to prep for the big day? Coaching calls are a great way to dig in to topics that are specific to you and your pregnancy - giving you a sounding board and resource without needing to fully commit to one of my larger packages. This does not include text and email support throughout your pregnancy, just the allotted time you book for your calls.

    Single Calls: $100 for 60 Minutes
    Five Pack: $400 for (5) 60 Minute Calls

    Purchase Your Calls Here

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  • 1000x yes! Doulas still take a very active role in births where an epidural is being utilized for pain management.

    We help with position changes to keep you moving and to encourage the baby to get in an optimal position, providing additional comfort measures depending on how much pain the epidural relieves. We provide emotional support, give you and your partner space to rest, help to create a calming environment and advocate for you to receive the care and information you need to feel empowered in your birth. And those are just a few ways a doula stays busy during your labor!

    Planning to get an epidural doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a doula - in fact, it can help more than you realize!

  • Typically I join my clients at their birth location at the onset of active labor, which by definition is about 6cm dilated with contractions about 4-5 minutes apart. Early labor can last quite a long time, even days - so I stay in touch via phone and text in the beginning stage of labor.

    However, depending on your particular situation, I may meet you at your home first. This would be something we discuss during your consultation call and agree upon in writing during the contract signing phase.

  • When booking a client, I will arrange for a backup doula to be on deck in the event of an emergency. There are a couple of women in the area that I have formed connections with, that I implicitly trust with my clients, and have received similar if not the same training as me.

    During one of your prenatal sessions, I’ll make sure to introduce you to the backup for your birth, so that they are a familiar face! I’m confident that, in the unlikely case of utilizing one of my backups, you will still receive incredible care and support during your birth.

  • I am happy to attend hospital births, birth center births, and even home births! There isn’t one “right way” to have a baby - or one “right place”! I currently attend births in Morris, Essex, Union, Somerset, and Hudson Counties in NJ as well as Manhattan. The only births I don’t attend are free births where there are no plans to involve a medically trained professional. Given that I’m not medically trained, I’m not currently comfortable serving as support in that setting. However, I’m more than happy to connect people looking to have a doula at their free birth with other area birth workers!

  • I do not directly accept insurance, however, as a Certified Doula I have worked with clients who have Carrot Fertility benefits! If you’re using this benefit, I would bill you directly, and you would submit the invoices to Carrot for reimbursement. Maven is a similar service, so feel free to inquire!

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