Category: Portland Doula

The 4th Trimester

Compared to other mammals, humans are much more fragile at birth. That’s why parents need to be in physical contact and providing constant attention to their babies.

Experts believe humans are born 3-4 months earlier than we should be because when primitive women stood up, the shape of their pelvis became more narrow, which resulted in babies being born still needing serious protection from their parents.

Newborns don’t have the brain maturity to deal with the outside world. They depend on their parents for basic survival.

Babies don’t know how to soothe themselves until they are about 4 months old.

In the womb baby is constantly rocked, skin-to-skin, held and their is always noise. This is, to some degree, what a baby needs outside the womb – during the 4th trimester

5’ S’s – Not all babies need all 5 and you’ll find the perfect combo for your baby

Tight swaddling provides constant touch

Left side to help with digestion or on stomach to provide reassuring support. Turn on back for sleep

Make shushing sounds to calm a baby, which imitate the continual whooshing sound made by blood flow in mom

Rocking, swinging movements, car rides, infant swings

Sucking triggers the calming reflexes and releases natural chemicals in the brain

Moms also have their on version of 4th trimester with hormone changes, sleep depravation and stress. So take care of yourself! Your only job is to feed yourself and baby and to rest!

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The Details of Postpartum Doula Care with Full Moon’s Daughter

Postpartum Doula Care in Portland, Oregon

Contact and Communication

So that I may arrange my schedule in time to provide you with postpartum support when you and your family require it, please have someone call me when you first go into labor.

If I have not received a call notifying me that you are in labor, I may require up to 12 hours to re-arrange my schedule to provide you support.

If you require additional doula care outside an already established schedule or routine, please allow 4 hours to arrange care.

Areas of Postpartum Care

Mom: Ensuring mom is comfortable, fed and hydrated. Providing expert lactation support, postpartum care and newborn care techniques and providing what mom needs to feel supported.

Baby: Soothe, bottle feed, change diapers, comfort measures, bringing to mama and baby wearing.

Home: Laundry, dishes, light sweeping, light cooking, organization, feeding and walking pets.

Siblings: Some meal prep and play time. Please note that postpartum doula care should be focused on mom and baby the majority of the time.

Doula Network

With the agreement of mom, backup doulas may also be provided if I am unable to support you. You may meet these doulas beforehand so that you feel comfortable with my network.



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Postpartum Sleep – Yes, You Can Have It

How to Get Enough Sleep in the First Weeks After Birth
Adapted and edited from a handout by Penny Simkin

To get enough sleep, you must take your need for sleep seriously, which is hard to do. They wind up sleep deprived and after several days or a week and fall apart. Baby care and everyday tasks become much more difficult than they should be. The following approach will help you get as much (or almost as much) sleep as you need. (It does not work as well if you have other children, unless you have help with them.)

• Calculate how many hours of sleep you used to need regularly before pregnancy in order to function well. Six hours? Eight hours? That is the amount of sleep you now owe yourself everyday

• Since you cannot get this amount of sleep in one stretch because of interruptions for feedings and baby care, you will require more hours in bed to get your allotted amount of sleep.

• Plan to stay in bed or keep going back to bed until you have slept your allotted number of hours. This means that with the exception of meals and trips to the bathroom, you do not get up. You do not brush your teeth, shower of dress in the early morning. Make a mental note of approximately how many hours you have slept since you went to bed (but try not to obsess about it). You may have to stay in bed from 10PM until noon the next day to get eight hours of sleep! If that’s what it takes, do it. Then brush your teeth, take a shower, dress, and greet the day.

• Many parents find it easier to follow this regime if their baby sleeps with them or nearby.

• As your baby grows and begins to sleep for longer stretches, it will take you less time to get enough sleep.

• Hiring a postpartum doula is also a great way to ensure you get enough sleep while baby is taken care of and the house isn’t falling apart while you’re snoozing.

Take your need for sleep seriously in order to prevent sleep deprivation. Sweet Dreams.

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Attn Portland Doulas: Doula Meet and Greet at Nurture

Nurture will be hosting an open doula meet and greet…

On October 3, 2009 from 4-6pm, Nurture will be hosting a Doula Meet & Greet which will be open to the public. All local antepartum, birth, and postpartum doulas are welcome to attend. This is an opportunity for potential clients to meet local doulas face to face to get a general sense of compatibility. This event will be mix-and-mingle style, with light refreshments provided.

To attend this event, we request $10/doula. Doula collectives are welcome to have more than one representative, also at $10/doula. There will be no charge for the families to attend. Proceeds from this event will be used to help develop Nurture’s non-profit status and programs.

If you are a doula, please come prepared with business cards and brochures to be carried by you. There will not be table space for advertisements during the event.

To register, please send a logo, sized 129 x 75 pixels, in .jpeg format; your website address; & the names of each doula attending to info@nurturepdx. com. You may pay by credit card (go to www,nurturepdx/ doulameetandgree t.html) or check. Please make checks out to Mychelle Moritz and send them to Nurture, c/o Mychelle Moritz, 1614 NE Alberta St., Portland, OR 97211

We will be advertising this event at our Green Sprouts booth as well as various other locations.

We look forward to seeing you on October 3rd!

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Midwifery Today Birth Essentials – Penny Simkin: Using Doulas for Birth Care

If you’re interested in learning more about how Doulas care for moms in labor, check out this video talk by Penny Simkin. Penny Simkin is a Doula, founder of DONA and childbirth advocate.

Midwifery Today Birth Essentials – Penny Simkin: Using Doulas for Birth Care

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Early Pregnancy Class – June 27 – 28

Angi Gunther, LCCE and Courtney Jarecki (that’s me), Doula and Health Advocate, are presenting an Early Pregnancy Class to help couples navigate the maze of options surrounding pregnancy, birth and postpartum so that parents may choose the care and products that make the most sense for their lifestyle and pocketbook!

When a couple finds out they are expecting, they are faced with a multitude of options regarding prenatal care, birth and the care of their baby. The first decisions that parents must make, and probably the most important, are that of a care provider and place of birth. Birth planning begins when parents choose where and with whom they will birth their baby. The care provider and birthplace should share or at least respect the parent’s philosophies regarding pregnancy, birth and newborn care. OBs, Midwives, Hospital birth, Home birth, and Birth Centers will all be discussed.

In addition, there are many types of prenatal classes and services available to women to help them through pregnancy or to prepare for birth. Couples will learn about prenatal exercise, childbirth education, Doulas and natural health care for pregnancy.

When it comes to baby care, parents are often overwhelmed at the number of products available. The Early Pregnancy Class will cover breastfeeding accessories, baby carriers, and diapering choices. Cloth diapers and glass bottles used to be the only choices, now they are making a comeback. But parents can also choose flushable diapers and BPA free plastic bottles. And what is Elimination Communication anyway?

The Early Pregnancy Class will feature guest speakers who specialize in pregnancy and newborn care, goody bags full of community resources, sling and cloth diapering demonstrations, a raffle, food and more!

When: June 27 – 28 | 5 – 7:30pm

Where: Nurture, a Family Wellness Collective

1614 NE Alberta Street

Cost: $75 per couple

Eats: Catered by din din

Contact: Angi Gunther, LCCE | confidentbirth@gmail.com | 503.890.1361

Courtney Jarecki | courtney@fullmoonsdaughter.com | 503.737.8834

Classes will be held at Nurture, located at 1614 NE Alberta Street, Portland, OR 97211. Nurture is a cooperative of professionals specializing in growing healthy families. For more information on Nurture, or to learn more about Angi and Courtney, please visit http://www.nurturepdx.com


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Where Am I

I’ve been distant from this blog. A lot of it has to do with me being busy as a Postpartum Doula – spending nights with a new family in their home. Missing sleep for me requires days of recovery. And by recovery I mean doing as little as possible.

I’ve also not been posting very often because I’m hoping to have an official Full Moon’s Daughter website up. Though I am not even close to even finalizing a design, I feel like I don’t want to blog too often until that is a reality.
Full Moon’s Daughter, by the way, is that name of my Doula practice, which will transition into my Midwifery practice. The name is powerful to me for a lot of reasons, two of them being that I am, for the first time in my life, identifying myself as a daughter and claiming who my mother is.
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Portland Doula Services

Courtney Jarecki, Doula and Health Advocate

503.737.8834

Support. Compassion. Energy. Birth. Dance. Movement. Ceremony. Freedom. Life. Joy. Love.

There is nothing on earth more amazing and humbling than witnessing a mama give birth. I  strongly believe in the beauty and power of a woman’s body to birth and am honored to be a part of this experience.

I am trained to provide Doula support during three different times of your childbearing year; antepartum, labor and postpartum. I currently work as a Postpartum Doula at Alma Birth Center and also offer my Pregnancy, Labor and Postpartum services through Nurture, a non-profit center for growing families. My ongoing academic experience includes training at Birthingway College of Midwifery and enrolling with Ancient Art Midwifery Institute where I will be a Midwifery student. Throughout my work and responsibilities, I maintain a flexible schedule to ensure you will never be without Doula support. 

Outside of the birthing world, I love spending time with my amazing husband Dave and puppies Satchel and Maji. Dancing, cooking, meeting friends for tea and hiking are favorite activities and, most recently, learning to crochet has occupied much of my time as well.

I look forward to speaking with you about your baby and birth. Please feel free to call or post a comment to ask questions (it won’t be published unless you say it’s okay).

Antepartum Doula

As an Antepartum Doula, I will support you later in your pregnancy. Antepartum services can be especially helpful if you are a single or teen mom, have multiple children, are on bed rest, have severe morning sickness or have emotional trauma. I will provide informational, emotional, physical and practical support during your pregnancy with pregnancy massage, meal planning, education labor preparation. 

Labor Doula

My work as a Labor Doula means I will provide you with continuous physical, emotional and informational support before, during and just after birth. I will be there for you, your partner and baby after delivery to help in whatever way best serves you.

I can assist with birth plans, birth art, pain coping techniques (massage and touch, positioning, breathing, meditation and visualization, vocalization, aromatherapy, hypnobirthing and healing energy techniques), pregnancy and postpartum diet and fitness designed to ease labor and recovery, Reiki healing, and creative expression and relationship / birth coaching. This time is all about you and what works best for your family.

If time allows, we will meet two-to-three times prenatally where we will get to know each other. We can incorporate any modalities that you and your family need.

Postpartum, we will meet once, during which we will share your birth story and discuss all the challenges and joys that lay ahead. You will also receive any needed breastfeeding support during this time.

Postpartum Doula

Postpartum is a special and sometimes trying time for a new family. I can help ease this transition by providing lactation consulting, infant care techniques, meal planning and cooking, gentle yoga and exercise options, natural healing, light housekeeping, dog walking, nanny care and companionship.

Fees

I believe that all families should be able to afford Doula services and all Doulas should be able to pay their mortgages. Therefore I offer my services on a sliding scale, based on what each family can pay. I am happy to discuss pricing options and payment plans with each family and am open to barter and trade.

Antepartum & Postpartum Doula Services: $25 – $35 per hour with a 4 hour minimum.

Labor Doula: During certification process I only ask for reimbursement of transportation and food expenses, usually between $50 – $75.

After certification: $400 – $700. Includes 3 prenatal visits (if time allows), full labor and delivery support, 1 postpartum visit. Additional prenatal visits are available, based on a sliding scale.




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Time Bank

Interested in trading service for service? Wanting a massage or acupuncture treatment? Looking for a babysitter or someone to put together your new crib?

The international, community organization Time Bank believes that each person has a skill that someone else finds valuable. The basic premise is that members offer services (everything from accounting to grocery shopping) and other members pick and choose what they need help with. Money never changes hands at the Time Bank.

For example, let’s say you need a garden bed dug. You can post securely online or through a Time Bank Coordinator that you are looking for help or search out other members who list that skill. Once you find someone to dig your garden bed, you pay them one time dollar for every hour worked.

If it took the person 3 hours to dig your garden bed, then you have gone into “time dollar debt” by 3 dollars. There is no time frame for when you have to pay your time dollar debt off, but the premise is that you will then offer your unique services to someone else.

Now let’s say that you offer guitar lessons and someone requests 5 hours of lessons from you. After those 5 hours you have paid off your 3 dollar debt and earned yourself 2 time dollars. And so the process continues….services provided and received without the exchange of money.

Check out their site to see if you have one in your community.

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Doula with Mom

I feel this picture captures everything that a Doula does to support a woman through her birth. I scanned this photo from “Birth Reborn” and am in love with the surrendering of both women to the power of childbirth.

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Quiet Work

I am so fortunate to have found work that I love doing. It’s quiet work that allows me to be present for hours, supporting a mom. I kneel on the ground for hours stroking her arm or sit behind her holding her lower back, all the while being filled with love and compassion and allowing the rest of the world to fade away.

When you are in labor with a mom, you have come together for one purpose, and that is to allow her to have the birth that is perfect for her. And that’s my job! It is work that leaves me still and humbled the next day.
I left a fast-paced world of project management to follow my passion, and every day I am rewarded for that decision.
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Nurture- A Center for Growing Families

I am happy to announce that I have joined Nurture’s wonderful collective of health care providers as a Doula. Check out my bio to learn more about the services I’m offering.
Nurture’s mission is to provide space for growing families to access multiple resources for their needs. We offer midwifery care, doula services, acupuncture, art therapy, fertility consultation and much more. 
Nurture is located on Alberta Street in Northeast Portland in an older home with ample room for workshops, baby clothes swaps, healing circles and play groups. 
If you’re interested in learning more, let me know.

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Reiki Healing Prenatally and Postpartum

“Reiki? You mean where someone lays their hands on your body and channels energy to make you feel better? Yeah, I’ve heard of it, but have no clue what it is.” Most folks interested in a holistic approach to health have heard of Reiki. Few have actually experienced it and even less can explain how it works. 


In a nutshell Reiki is a simple, non-invasive, holistic healing modality where the practitioner channels energy to help heal the body. The channeled energy comes from Universal Energy, that exists around all living beings and objects. What is Universal Energy you ask? It’s similar to holding your palms about a half inch apart from each other and feeling that fuzzy warmth between them – that is Universal Energy. It’s all around us.


Reiki healing takes place on physical, spiritual and energetic levels by balancing the natural energy of the body. Pregnant and postpartum women have found Reiki useful for everything from relieving day to day stresses to turning a baby as delivery nears. 


Reiki can be used to achieve whole body relaxation as it removes blockages, allowing energy to flow unhindered and helping pregnant moms cope with their ever-changing bodies. Having opened the energy channels of the body you won’t hold onto things like stress, muscle knots and toxins. Plus, one of the secret added benefits of Reiki is that it leaves mom with more energy than when she arrived – always a nice bonus.


A recent study at The Hartford Hospital in Connecticut showed that Reiki used during pregnancy on a regular basis reduced stress and anxiety by 94%, pain during pregnancy by 78% and nausea and morning sickness by 80% after Reiki sessions. The study also showed that a woman’s quality of sleep was improved by 86% when Reiki sessions were included during pregnancy. 


Unlike massage, mothers-to-be don’t have to be cautious when using Reiki while pregnant. The only precaution is that, as the pregnancy goes on, mom may have to sit in a chair or lay on her side rather than on the back. Treatment may also be shorter if mama is uncomfortable laying still for that long.


As we all know, an unborn child shares her emotional state with her mother. There is no better time than during pregnancy to experience the benefits of Reiki, both for you and your baby. The state of overall wellness that is passed from mom to baby helps nurture baby in the womb, during labor and after birth.

After birth, postpartum, Reiki can be used to accelerate the natural healing process as well as provide relief and comfort to physical aches and pains. Baby can still participate in the session, with mom holding her new baby or lying next to her.

Thinking about trying Reiki and wondering what your first appointment will be like? Generally, you can expect the Reiki practitioner to sit down with you to discuss your reasons for being there and ask what your intentions are. He or she will ask you to lay on their massage table, fully clothed with your shoes off. The practitioner may place their hands on your body over your clothes or may hold his or her hands a few inches from your body using gentle hand movements to channel energy. Either way, the vital energy force will be channeled through the practitioner to your energy field.

“Reiki is a wonderful way for women to nurture themselves and their babies during and after pregnancy.  Giving and receiving Reiki is having the experience of loving and being loved unconditionally.  Children thrive on love.  It allows them to experience their full potential.  The same is true for mamas and papas!”  Molly Fitzpatrick, practitioner and teacher of Reiki at  Transformational Medicine, Portland, OR.

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My Complete Doula Services

What is a Doula?

“Doula” comes from ancient Greek, and means “a woman who serves women”. Today, Doula is used to refer to a trained woman who can provide support during three different times of a woman’s childbearing year. An Antepartum Doula supports the mother later in her pregnancy with pregnancy massage, meal planning, education and labor preparation. A Labor Doula provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to a mother before, during and just after birth. A Postpartum Doula is there for mom and baby after delivery to help in whatever way best serves mom.


What Services and Experience do I Offer?

Antepartum Doula

As an Antepartum Doula, I help support mothers on bed rest, single or teen moms, women with severe morning sickness, emotional trauma or multiple children. As an Antepartum Doula I can provide informational, emotional, physical and practical support during a woman’s pregnancy.

My ongoing academic and professional experience includes education at Birthingway College of Midwifery, training from Alma Birthing Center, and my own self-study.

Labor Doula

I am currently in the process of becoming a certified Labor Doula through Birthingway. I have attended extensive training through the school and now must attend 5 births in order to become certified. The mother and caregivers will need to fill out paperwork for the school evaluating my performance as a Labor Doula to help with this certification process.

As a Labor Doula I can assist with birth plans, birth art, pain coping techniques (massage and touch, positioning, breathing, meditation and visualization, vocalization, aromatherapy and healing energy techniques), pregnancy and postpartum diet and fitness designed to ease labor and recovery, Reiki healing, and creative expression and relationship / birth coaching. (Whatever works best for mom and family.)

Postpartum Doula

Currently, I work at Alma Midwifery Birth Center as a Postpartum Doula where I have received training to care for new families in their first 48 hours after birth. I have expanded this service beyond the birth center environment and into new families’ homes. I provide lactation consulting, infant care techniques, meal planning and cooking, gentle yoga and exercise options, natural healing, light housekeeping, dog walking and nanny care.


What do I Charge?

I believe that all families should be able to afford Doula services and all Doulas should be able to pay their mortgages. Therefore I offer my services on a sliding scale, based on what each family can pay. I am happy to discuss pricing options and payment plans with each family.

Antepartum & Postpartum Doula Services

$25 – $35 per hour with a 4 hour minimum

Labor Doula

During certification process: reimbursement of transportation and food expenses, usually between $50 – $75.

After certification: $400 – $700. Includes 3 prenatal visits (if time allows), full labor and delivery support, 1 postpartum visit


Want to Learn More?

For a lot of people, the concept of a Doula is a very new thing. Now that women often don’t have built-in family support, a Doula can really fill the gap for the new family by providing knowledge, compassion and practical support during this very important childbearing year.

If you’d like to learn more about what I do and the services I offer, please leave a comment to this post (it will remain unpublished).

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Portland Doula for Hire

As a Doula, I am honored to serve in whatever way you feel will best support you and your family prior to, during and after the birth of your new child.  I am privileged and humbled to be there for you and your family during your birthing process. 

My ongoing academic and professional experiences includes continued education at Birthingway College of Midwifery, Postpartum Doula work at an established birthing center, and experience as a student Antepartum and Labor Doula. I maintain an extremely flexible schedule and support network to ensure you will never be without Doula support. 

My services include supporting families during the antepartum period if mom is on bed rest, a single or teen mom, has severe morning sickness, emotional trauma or multiple children. As a Doula I can provide informational, emotional, physical and practical support during your pregnancy. 

As a Labor Doula, we will meet three times (if time allows) and can incorporate modalities that you and your family need, such as help with birth plans, birth art and pain coping techniques (massage and touch, positioning, breathing, meditation, visualization, vocalization, aromatherapy, energy techniques) pregnancy and postpartum diet and fitness designed to ease labor and recovery, Reiki healing, creative expression and relationship / birth coaching. You will decide what type of total labor support you require from me as your Labor Doula.

Postpartum, you will receive one visit, during which we will share your birth story and discuss all the challenges and joys that lay ahead. You will also receive any needed breastfeeding support during this time. 

Additional longer-term postpartum support can include lactation consulting, infant care techniques, meal planning and cooking, gentle yoga and exercise options, natural healing, integrative life coaching, light housekeeping, dog walking and nanny care.


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Essential Oils for Birth

Stephanie, a Labor Doula from the Portland Birth Collective, recommended some essential oils for my birth bag when attending a laboring woman. I purchased the oils she suggested, plus some additional ones that I use in my personal practice, while holding the intention of childbirth, then meditated on the scents and allowed imagery to come to me that would assist women during their work.

Here are some of the oils I in my birth bag. More to come later.
Lavender
Feminine. A pure waterfall. A gentle caress. A bed of satin.

Lavender is calming. Place drops around mamma.

Rosemary
Remember how it feels to climb a wall. Dancing in a dream. Running into the wind, feeling the sunshine on your back.
Rosemary and Orange are energizing. Sprinkle a few drops on the floor around the birthing mamma.
Sweet Orange
Clean and safe. Mouth watering sweet. Paradise.

Use in combination with Rosemary.

Ylang Ylang
Erotic beauty. Lotus flower opening gently in the calm of the pond.
Ylang Ylang is a good to drop in a bathtub when mamma’s cervix isn’t opening. Because it is a sensual oil, Ylang Ylang can help open the cervix like a Lotus.
To use during birth – remember to hold your intention:
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Portland Birth Collective

Portland Birth Collective is a gathering of birth practitioners who have come together through the cooperation and community of supporting women through the natural process of birth. Through this collective we are able to guide and support one another as we each work with families in the Portland Metro area.
We offer grief support, labor doula and postpartum services, as well as education and resources during the childbearing year.
If you are interested in learning more, you can contact us at portland-birth-collective@googlegroups.com.

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My Labor Doula Profile

As a Doula, I am honored to assist in whatever way you feel will best support you and your family prior to, during and after the birth of your new child.  I am privileged and humbled to be there for you and your family during the birthing process. 

My ongoing academic and professional experiences includes being a student at Birthingway College of Midwifery, a Postpartum Doula at an established birthing center, and a student Labor Doula. Throughout my work and academic responsibilities, I maintain an extremely flexible schedule to ensure you will never be without Doula support. 

My expertise includes pregnancy and postpartum diet and fitness designed to ease labor and recovery, Reiki healing, meditation, creative expression and relationship coaching (aka baby-proofing your life). If time allows, you will receive two-to-three prenatal visits where we will get to know each other. We can incorporate modalities that you and your family need, such as help with birth plans, birth art and pain coping techniques (massage and touch, positioning, breathing, meditation and visualization, vocalization, aromatherapy, energy techniques).

Postpartum, you will receive one visit, during which we will share your birth story and discuss all the challenges and joys that lay ahead. You will also receive any needed breastfeeding support during this time. 

Additional postpartum support can include meal planning and cooking, gentle yoga and exercise options, infant care techniques, natural healing, integrative life coaching, light housekeeping, dog walking and nanny care.


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Resource List

Inspired by being snowed in for a full week out here in Portland, I’ve started putting together a resource binder for women who need information about getting pregnant, pregnancy, birth, infants, sleep, feeding, yoga, health, nutrition —- all sorts of topics.

Very excited about this! Now I just need to come up with a cool name other than Community Resource Binder for Women. Any suggestions?
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Doulas on the Today Show

The Today show ran a piece on Doulas. In addition to the article, click on the video on the right.

The piece started out on a positive note, but did contain a warning from a doctor who works in a hospital that banned Doulas all together.

Looks like our community is really starting to make itself known! Keep spreading the positive word about Doulas and our scope of practice.

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