Birth Services
Doula and Postpartum Support Based in Intuition and Mindfulness
I believe mothers are the true authorities on their bodies and that intuition is the ultimate guide in pregnancy, postpartum, and parenthood.
My role as a doula is to provide services that allow you to tap into your own values and strength. My support is nourishing, warm, supportive, and friendly, while honoring YOUR role as the ultimate authority.
I chose to serve families who are planning births out of a medical setting, because I believe that (in general) birth is best in an undisturbed and personal environment. Whether or not this includes a certified or traditional midwife is up to you - I also serve women choosing unassisted births.
Services:
I offer prenatal, birth, and postpartum support. I am able to support clients in Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Jackson, Dexter, Grass Lake and throughout Washtenaw County and virtually nationwide. My base perinatal package includes:
3 prenatal visits
Labor support
Unlimited call and text support
3 postpartum visits
Personalized meditation
Pre and postnatal yoga and movement
Intuition building
Basic herbal and nutrition support
Additional Offerings:
Guided Session: Connecting to your intuition in birth and parenthood
Extensive postpartum support
Personalized guided meditations
What to Expect:
Creating a foundation of a beautiful, collaborative relationship is the core of my work. You and I should both feel comfortable and excited about our time together. The support I provide is rooted in deep faith in the natural and undisturbed unfolding of birth. If you choose to have me witness your labor, birth, pregnancy, postpartum, or all of it, we will be sure to build a solid relationship built on mutual trust.
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Our first session will be spent getting to know each other, learning about your hopes and dreams for your birth and postpartum experience as well as any other information you’d like to share. We will explore your support system and environment. Our conversation could be at your home, in a coffee shop, or on a walk and will feel like a chat between friends.
Session 2 will dive into birth education, and more in depth labor and postpartum planning. We will also spend some time discussing fears that are arising regarding your birth experience - and honoring DREAMS you hold for birth, labor and postpartum. After the 2nd session, I will formulate a personalized meditation of you to utilize during your pregnancy and labor, should you chose.
Session 3 is focused on building intuition and tapping into your own life force - whether it is through religion, ancestors, nature, community, or another form of spirituality. We will also review your labor and postpartum plan and make any adjustments, including how hands on you would like your support to be.
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I will be “on call” from 37 weeks onward, and can begin to attend your birth at any time you desire. My approach to labor is "sit on my hands" - meaning that the support I provide is rooted in deep faith in the natural and undisturbed unfolding of birth. When requested, intuitively guided, or pre-planned, I will provide positioning support, gentle presence, affirmations, nutrition, comfort measures, and more. If you choose to have me witness your labor, we will be sure to build a solid relationship built on mutual trust.
After your birth, I will be available for up to several hours to make sure you are comfortable, resting, and nourished.
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3 postpartum visits can be spaced out as you desire and will be flexible to meet your needs. Generally, visits will be targeted to support YOU as the parent, but infant doula care can also be provided. Tasks will include providing nourishment, witnessing your birth story, herbal baths and teas, boundary and intention setting.
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Guided movement that is specific to the pre and postnatal body can be woven into any visit. If you desire additional practices, they can be purchased in a bundle or separately. Sessions are usually led in your own home or at EarthWell Retreat Center.
about me:
I am a 2 time home birth mother, as well as mother to one angel baby. My challenging and illuminating personal and professional experiences in the medical system have led me to options that allowed my birth experiences to unfold within a different paradigm. Especially in my second home birth - l learned that I am the author of my story - and that my power is the deep intuition I carry inside me. My miscarriage and 2 births were the most powerful experiences of my life and set the stage for me to trust myself in motherhood. My eyes have been opened to the strength and intuitive abilities of women.
As a birth keeper, I strive to assist other women in accessing this part of themselves. I believe we all have this innate ability, but that our systems make it difficult or impossible to access these parts of ourselves. The systems are tools that we can utilize when we choose to, but we are always our own true authority.
Trainings:
Much of what I have learned has been from my own research and experiences, but I have also had the honor of learning from these mentors:
Heart and Hands Midwifery Intensive with Elizabeth Davis
Birthing Advocacy Doula Training
Om Births Prenatal Yoga Training
A note on inclusivity: While I do not specialize in trans birth, I am queer and LGBTQ affirming, and am open to supporting clients of all backgrounds if it’s the right fit for all.