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I believe in women.
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Your pregnancy is a special time in your life, but, it can also be overwhelming and frustrating. People generally don't instantly become experts in pregnancy, birth, and postpartum when they find out they are having a baby. This is why a doula is a wonderful tool to ensure you get the most out of this important moment in your lives, and, are fully informed of all of your options and resources.
Birth outcomes can vary greatly and it is my job to ensure that you feel heard, supported, and respected regardless of the way you end up giving birth. It is my job to help you navigate your options so you can make the right decisions given your specific circumstance, and then provide you (and your partner) with continuous support - without my own agenda, judgement, or expectation attached.
Birth outcomes can vary greatly and it is my job to ensure that you feel heard, supported, and respected regardless of the way you end up giving birth. It is my job to help you navigate your options so you can make the right decisions given your specific circumstance, and then provide you (and your partner) with continuous support - without my own agenda, judgement, or expectation attached.
My Birth Doula Services Include:
Pregnancy Support
2nd Prenatal: Overcome anxieties or fears | discuss roles and expectations of your labor & postpartum team | Learn to prepare your body
3rd Prenatal: Receive practical training on ways to cope with labor | Game plan for the big day
What I will NOT Do
- 2-3 prenatal visits:
2nd Prenatal: Overcome anxieties or fears | discuss roles and expectations of your labor & postpartum team | Learn to prepare your body
3rd Prenatal: Receive practical training on ways to cope with labor | Game plan for the big day
- Client Folder with helpful information and handouts you will need to access throughout your pregnancy.
- Mothering From Your Center {Tami Kent} and
- Prepared Childbirth the Family Way {Amis & Green}
- Assistance in finding the right health care provider and birth location (if needed)
- Prenatal with your Care Provider, if necessary. We want your CP to feel good about your choice to utilize a doula!
- Have your questions answered and your fears and concerns comforted through your WHOLE pregnancy! E mail, text and phone contact for questions, concerns and support whenever you need it.
- Access to a lending library of books and information
- Postpartum Planning
- Connections to local resources for additional support and services
- On call from 36 weeks until your delivery
- Complete labor and delivery support for you (and your partner) from the time you call us in until 1-2 hours after delivery. I will do anything possible to help you (and your partner) have the birth experience you desire. This might be through massage, acupressure, relaxation methods, creating peaceful, spa-like atmospheres, helping you with breathing, meditation and visualizations and making helpful suggestions. I might rely on my knowledge of the different positions and rebozo techniques to get and keep your baby in a good position and help facilitate your labor. Overall, though, the greatest asset that will help you succeed is the wealth of knowledge that you might need to help you make quick decisions and help you avoid unwanted and unnecessary interventions.
- Assistance in establishing Breastfeeding (if that's what you want to do)
- Helpful tips and suggestions for recovery
- Complete timeline of your birth story.
- Postpartum visit 1-2 weeks after delivery to make sure the family is adjusting well, help in any way we can and connect and support you further if you are struggling in any areas. We will also go over and help you process your birth, answering any lingering questions you might have.
- Breastfeeding and Baby Wearing support
What I will NOT Do
- Stand between you and your healthcare provider. We believe in the birthing team as a whole and trust that you have chosen the right caregiver(s) for the kind of birth that you want.
- Replace your Partner. We want your partner to be your main source of support and attention, while being supported as well and being able to take breaks and remain more present.
- Do anything medical.
- Judge you. Regardless of your background, age, relationship status and sexuality, job, religion or non-religion. Regardless of how your birth goes or what choices you make for yourself or your baby.
I have been a birth doula since 2006 and have attended over 150 births. I have hand trained many doulas in the Grand Rapids area and have coached many others throughout the world. For me, this work is a means to help women step into their power and help them navigate through a sacred moment in their lives that they can never get back. I understand that it has nothing at all to do with how many interventions she ends up with - it is that she leaves the experience feeling heard, respected, and supported.
My only goal is to help her have a birth that happens through her and not to her.
My only goal is to help her have a birth that happens through her and not to her.