River of Birth Doula Services
My overall goal as a doula is to assist each woman in having the best birth experience possible, given her personal preferences and the circumstances of her own unique labor and birth.
Although I am nearing retirement and am not taking new clients at this time, I am still happy to talk to parents about what doulas do. If you are looking for a doula, I would be pleased to meet with you, to go over the types of service you could expect from a doula. And meanwhile, the following text will give you an idea of what you might expect from a doula.
A summary of what I offer…..
When a mother and her partner hire me, we meet to review the the couple’s birth goals and jointly explore their preferences related to physical and emotional comfort. We also share information about pregnancy, labor and birth, mother and baby care, hospital or home birth procedures, resource providers, role of the doula, etc. This sharing (and trying out of comfort positions) helps to prepare the mother and her partner for birth, and it also helps me to see how I can best support them.
When a woman’s birthing time begins, I meet the mother and her partner at the hospital, or join them and their midwife in their home or birth center. Together, we use comfort techniques that work for the mother, and change them up as necessary. As doula, I adjust the support I’m offering according to the moment-to-moment needs of the mother and her partner, while keeping the mother’s over-all preferences and goals in mind.
Once I’ve joined a birthing woman, I remain with her throughout her labour and birth of her child, and for an hour or two after birth, until the new family is settled and ready to rest. Then I usually visit 1-2 times in the first days after birth, and 1-2 times in the weeks following. This is to check on breast-feeding, baby care and mother’s adjustment, and also to debrief and congratulate!
... my experience & extra training:
I have worked as a Birth Doula since 2009, in Canada and in the U.S. Starting in the West Kootenay area of British Columbia, I supported women in hospital and home births, and had the privilege of assisting families as they navigated a wide variety of birth paths: vaginal & cesarean; simple & complex, medicated & non-medicated; singles & twins. The home and hospital birth environments in the West Kootenays were very supportive to birthing women and their partners - providing an excellent example of a family-friendly approach backed by excellent medical care. I was privileged to serve there, as it taught me a lot that I can use while serving mothers here in the Willamette Valley! Now that I'm here, I work privately (for women who contact me directly) and also through the Community Doula Program.
As for extra training, I have experience in the use of acupressure points for initiating labor, turning babies and increasing comfort during labor. I've also taken extra training in the Spinning Baby techniques, which are used to help babies move into optimal positions for birth. I've taken a workshop called "When Survivors Give Birth" so that I can be of better service to parents who have experienced abuse or other trauma. And as an experienced Childbirth Educator (teaching both 'standard' prenatal classes and Hypnobabies classes), I have a broad knowledge of the birthing world.
… and the perspective that I bring with me:
Pregnancy, childbirth and the starting of a new family are profoundly beautiful, loving, and empowering times. When I am invited to support a couple in this most sacred passage, I bring my love for them, my complete confidence in their abilities, and my enduring respect for their choices. I listen and observe carefully to find those spaces and places where each expectant couple needs support, and then I give empathy and encouragement, moment by moment by moment. I bring my understanding of the need to flow with the unique course of each birth, and if necessary, I help couples adapt to change. And I join in celebrating life, love, empowerment, awareness, and that marvelous ‘We did it!’ moment.
Although I am nearing retirement and am not taking new clients at this time, I am still happy to talk to parents about what doulas do. If you are looking for a doula, I would be pleased to meet with you, to go over the types of service you could expect from a doula. And meanwhile, the following text will give you an idea of what you might expect from a doula.
A summary of what I offer…..
When a mother and her partner hire me, we meet to review the the couple’s birth goals and jointly explore their preferences related to physical and emotional comfort. We also share information about pregnancy, labor and birth, mother and baby care, hospital or home birth procedures, resource providers, role of the doula, etc. This sharing (and trying out of comfort positions) helps to prepare the mother and her partner for birth, and it also helps me to see how I can best support them.
When a woman’s birthing time begins, I meet the mother and her partner at the hospital, or join them and their midwife in their home or birth center. Together, we use comfort techniques that work for the mother, and change them up as necessary. As doula, I adjust the support I’m offering according to the moment-to-moment needs of the mother and her partner, while keeping the mother’s over-all preferences and goals in mind.
Once I’ve joined a birthing woman, I remain with her throughout her labour and birth of her child, and for an hour or two after birth, until the new family is settled and ready to rest. Then I usually visit 1-2 times in the first days after birth, and 1-2 times in the weeks following. This is to check on breast-feeding, baby care and mother’s adjustment, and also to debrief and congratulate!
... my experience & extra training:
I have worked as a Birth Doula since 2009, in Canada and in the U.S. Starting in the West Kootenay area of British Columbia, I supported women in hospital and home births, and had the privilege of assisting families as they navigated a wide variety of birth paths: vaginal & cesarean; simple & complex, medicated & non-medicated; singles & twins. The home and hospital birth environments in the West Kootenays were very supportive to birthing women and their partners - providing an excellent example of a family-friendly approach backed by excellent medical care. I was privileged to serve there, as it taught me a lot that I can use while serving mothers here in the Willamette Valley! Now that I'm here, I work privately (for women who contact me directly) and also through the Community Doula Program.
As for extra training, I have experience in the use of acupressure points for initiating labor, turning babies and increasing comfort during labor. I've also taken extra training in the Spinning Baby techniques, which are used to help babies move into optimal positions for birth. I've taken a workshop called "When Survivors Give Birth" so that I can be of better service to parents who have experienced abuse or other trauma. And as an experienced Childbirth Educator (teaching both 'standard' prenatal classes and Hypnobabies classes), I have a broad knowledge of the birthing world.
… and the perspective that I bring with me:
Pregnancy, childbirth and the starting of a new family are profoundly beautiful, loving, and empowering times. When I am invited to support a couple in this most sacred passage, I bring my love for them, my complete confidence in their abilities, and my enduring respect for their choices. I listen and observe carefully to find those spaces and places where each expectant couple needs support, and then I give empathy and encouragement, moment by moment by moment. I bring my understanding of the need to flow with the unique course of each birth, and if necessary, I help couples adapt to change. And I join in celebrating life, love, empowerment, awareness, and that marvelous ‘We did it!’ moment.
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