In the past, we lived in communities where friends and family would tend to the birthing people and their families after. As our world and communities shift,we are called to fill the role of guide, believer, teacher of advocacy and friend to so many families. A doula is a companion through your prenatal, birth and postpartum journey. A birth doula assists your birth through emotional, physical and informational support.

“The act of educating, loving, respecting, listening, embracing, advocating for and assisting a woman prenatally, during labor, child and after.”

As your postpartum doula, I assist the mother and family during he transitioning and adjustment period of the newborn coming home. My top priority is caring for the mama by making sure she is getting rest, nutrition, and enabling her to have an optimal postpartum recovery. I encourage bonding between the baby and new parents and assist them with getting to know their new baby. I offer evidence based support on newborn sleep, soothing techniques, and everyday basic care. My goal is to provide a calm and peaceful environment so that the parents can recover and bond with their newborn during this precious time. I offer support in finding what works best for the parents as well as assist in finding outside resources for specific needs. Postpartum care can be any time of day, but is most often requested for evenings and overnights post-hospital return and beyond to give the baby 100% support, while caring for the mama (and dad, too!) to get some well-deserved rest and ask questions/get help.

Doulas can provide receipts for reimbursement through FSA or HSA funds, but are not usually covered through insurance. Alternatively, if your company collaborates with a benefit program like Carrot or Progyny, they might cover doula expenses, so I encourage you to ask. I also encourage my clients to have a “doula fund” or “cash fund” on their baby shower registry via Babylist or any other registry you plan to use.

There are so many benefits of working with a doula, but to list a few… Studies show that families working with doulas have a lower rate of interventions and higher satisfaction with their birth and postpartum experience. I have a deep love for mothers and birth. As a doula, I am here to provide resources, support, understanding and wisdom to you. I work with my to families with an essential role of providing continuous physical and emotional support no matter what decision you make or how you decide to give birth. I am here to instill strength and reduce fear, I will keep you inspired, optimistic, and mindful. I will not only educate you, encourage you, and remind you of your values, but also make you feel safe, nurtured and supported throughout labor and birth. I am your confidant, your biggest fan, and your first phone call when labor begins.

Doulas support families in all the choices they make during their birth and postpartum journey. I will provide information and remind you of your options so you can make informed decisions. Most of the families I work with give birth at home or in hospitals and have an epidural.

Breastfeeding/nursing is a skill that you and your baby both need to learn, and as a breastfeeding educator, I have extensive knowledge about breastfeeding, pumping, and bottle feeding. I am able to help you with that first latch right after birth and show you the different ways to comfortably hold your baby while nursing. I will help you to know if baby has a proper strong latch and if not provide you with ways to ensure you’re getting one with each feed and any other support that is needed. The process is not always easy, and I can help you get the hang of feeding your infant whether you are exclusively breastfeeding, bottle feeding, or both.

A newborn care specialist (also known as an infant specialist and formerly known as a “baby nurse” or “night nurse”) is someone professionally trained in newborn care, which I am. I come to your home to guide you through the difficult transition into parenthood. Newborn care specialist/baby nurses assist parents in the first months of a baby’s life, with parent education, breast-feeding, and basic baby care. I can assist with sleep issues, feeding issues, and any other minor difficulties that you may encounter from birth through the first year.

Support can also include:

- Mama (and/or baby/sibling meal prep)

- Bathing, diaper, general caring

- Baby care while parents nap, shower, eat, break, etc.

- Milestone development with baby (tummy time, brain development, reading, etc)

- Fresh air / baby walks

- Baby laundry

- Pump/Bottle sterilization

- Breastfeed assessments and latch/support

- Doctor’s appointment IRL support; Will join at appointments for mental and moral support as needed

A doula is a professional companion whose goal is to help families have a safe, healthy and positive labor and birth experience. As your doula, I truly have YOUR best interest at hand and assist in whatever support you feel you need without judgement or pressure. My true intentions are to ensure you feel safe, comfortable, educated and empowered in your pregnancy, birth and beyond. I provide continuous direct comfort, encouragement and support (emotional and physical). I also don’t consider myself a transactional doula, where business feels clinical and outweighs the personal touches necessary to deepen a connection between us. I want you to befriend me and feel like you can reach out to me from day one with any questions or concerns even if it’s just to offer a listening ear so that you feel seen and heard. I want to build trust through this journey so that you feel nurtured in my presence so please utilize me and pick my brain about whatever will help you feel more informed and confident in making key decisions. Studies have shown that doulas can help cut back on time spent in labor, reduce a mom’s anxiety and overwhelm, lower the rate of medical interventions, decrease pain experienced if any at all, and improve mother-baby bonding post-birth. Below you’ll find a link to a great article, sharing insight about what doulas do and some beneficial statistics:

https://evidencebasedbirth.com/the-evidence-for-doulas/

COMFORT = OXYTOCIN

When you are surrounded by the comforts that your home offers, it allows for the release of natural oxytocin, (the hormone responsible for waves/surges). Not only do you have your simple comforts of familiar spaces such as your own tub/shower and your bed with all its components but also additional freedom and space to roam and move place to place, room to room with optimal atmospheric elements such as lighting, room temperature, background sound and less disruptions etc. The further along a woman is in her birth the more difficult it is to disrupt the labor pattern which is dependent upon oxytocin. Women who experience long intense waves close together before going to their birthplace are less likely to have a disruption in the release of their natural oxytocin when moving from home to birthing location.

OXYTOCIN = LESS NEED FOR PITOCIN

When women labor longer at home, they increase their natural oxytocin levels which in turn moves labor along stronger naturally. When labor is moving strongly naturally, Pitocin is less likely needed to strengthen the laboring surges to assist baby in moving down as the cervix thins and opens. Decrease in oxytocin= decrease in labor movement which in turn creates a need for Pitocin. More comfortable environment = safety and trust = increased oxytocin = labor progression.

LESS NEED FOR MEDICAL INTERVENTIONS

Women who labor longer at home are less likely to need pain medication or epidurals to get them through the rest of labor. Typically there is either no time to administer interventions OR even better, mamas have learned to cope with surges using comfort measures, breathing techniques, guided meditation, relaxation and affirmation.

COPING TECHNIQUES

Women that labor at home longer are typically able to do so because it's much easier to cope with arising discomfort and fatigue within the safe space their home provides. We are able to focus and find what breathing methods, vocal exploration, comfort positions and beyond work to ease laboring discomfort without the worry of disruptions. This helps us eliminate any holding back we might otherwise display in fear it may seem wrong or embarrassing. For example vocal release. Less fear equals more comfort which in turn allows for more oxytocin which then helps strengthen labor naturally. This also gives mamas time to find what works well for them and get into a routine through each surge like they’ve been doing it their whole lives. It becomes natural and more seemingly effortless.

COMFORT MEASURES

Acupressure/ Counter pressure - Hip Squeeze, Flat Hand, Two Hands, Fist =, Ball Massage Techniques- pressure point assistance and tension release

Hydrotherapy - hot and cold compress, towel, shower or bath

Vocal Exploration - face relaxation and energy movement

Positions - I will share numerous positions with you to work through to any discomfort and laboring, and to also help encourage baby movement into optimal fetal positioning for transition.

Aromatherapy- essential oils aromatically through diffusion and/ or topical use

Affirmation/ Encouragement- I have a ton of beautiful phrases to use to keep the mind focused

Breathing Techniques- I lead you through suggested breath work to reset your mind and body into a state of relaxation and inward focus as well as keep your heart rate and nervous system in a more parasympathetic state.

Guided Visualization -There are many of these that can be helpful in distraction and letting the mind focus inward.

● Individual Birth vision mapping & preferences

● Discussion of doula role, partner role and how to ensure you are getting exactly what you need

● Body mechanics, posture, pelvic structure (inlet/outlet)

● Guided meditation, relaxation and breathing techniques

● Physiological benefits of relaxation

● Helpful positions & movement techniques for optimal baby positioning (engaging baby) and labor encouragement

● Stages of labor

● Laboring at Home - the WHY and HOW

● Pre-labor and labor signs

● Emotional and physical response of birthing person to labor (fear-tension-pain cycle VS relaxation-oxytocin-bliss cycle)

● Review of Comfort measures and Labor Positions

● Informed consent- what it looks like and how to advocate for yourself

● While not always the most fun topic, we should cover, to your comfort level what happens if labor isn’t progressing and what your options are and level of comfort regarding each option

● Breastfeeding & Newborn info

I am certified in postpartum nutrition so I can offer the very best whole-istic health support to all of my clients. There is significant importance in maternal mental, physical, and emotional well-being. When you understand functional nutrition within the context of WHOLE BODY wellness, the mama is far better off and is setting both herself and her baby up for success.

Did you know…

• 7 of every 10 women are prescribed prescription drugs in pregnancy.

• More than 30% of women in postpartum will be diagnosed with a mental health disorder.

• Women are at a 28% increased risk of developing a postpartum autoimmune disease in the first year after birth.

• Babies are suffering with increased childhood illnesses and disease.

This new reality is not only negatively shaping motherhood, it's changing the landscape of community and human health as a whole. It's time to we get back to the roots of health and nourishment and profoundly change the postpartum paradigm as we know it.

Through my nutrition background and certification, I am able to guide you to expand your understanding of the physiological and psychological changes of postpartum. I will teach you how to address the root cause of dysfunction, disease, and dis-regulation, including repletion and absorption. I will help you interweave science, cultural traditions, and women's collective stories into a sustainable practice that works for YOU and your lifestyle and family. Healing your own motherhood journey and health is part of the process, while creating long term generational well-being.

I strive to empower mothers and families through nutrition and whole-health support, while witnessing long-term recovery that nourishes mamas for a lifetime.