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As your birth doula or monitrice  I will help you prepare for the birth of your child, including developing a "birth plan", educating you about the birth process, provide continuous emotional and physical support throughout labor, birth and early post partum. Licensed midwives acting as a monitrice are able to go above and beyond the capabilities of a  doula providing dilation checks, monitoring of the baby and the mother and other medical needs during labor. I will help you establish breastfeeding and provide resources for both birth and post partum when needed. 

 

I draw on knowledge and experience to provide emotional, physical, and educational support.  I may also be in communication with the health care staff to make sure that you have the information you need to make informed decisions as they arise in labor.  I will provide reassurance and perspective to you and your partner, make suggestions for labor progress, help with relaxation, massage, positioning and other techniques for comfort.   It’s good to remember that I am working for you independently and not for your caregiver or the hospital.

 

What makes me different?

• I have personally delivered 3 children one hospital, and 2 home births. I have had personal experiences with both the traditional obstetrical and midwifery models.

• I have worked with thousands of families seeking a natural birth over the last 20+ years.

• I am a licensed midwife.  I have a deeper understanding of normal birth, variations of normal and possible pitfalls in pregnancy and labor that can be handled preemptively with nutritional and lifestyle changes to help support the goal of a natural birth.

• I owned a birth center here in Los Angeles for almost 9 years.  I am well respected in the community as a doula and also have a large circle of associates that support families during pregnancy and early postpartum.

• I 100% embody that this is not my birth, my body or my experience.  My goal is to empower you to understand what your options are, what your rights are and respect and hold dear the choices you have made for yourself and your family.  I will remind you that ultimately you are the expert here and give you the guidance and encouragement to trust your instincts and your body…and ultimately find your inner wisdom and power.

• I have direct experience  working with Twins, Breech, VBAC, and Natural Birth after multiple C-sections, Single Moms, LGBTQ familes, loss, moms over 40, moms who struggled with infertility, clients with sexual trauma history,  and more.

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What is a birth doula?

“The word "doula" comes from the ancient Greek meaning

"a woman who serves" and is now used to refer to a trained and

experienced professional who provides continuous physical,

emotional and informational support to the mother before,

during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and

practical support during the postpartum period.

 

Studies have shown that when doulas attend birth, labors are

shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they

breasfeed more easily”  www.dona.org

 

• Recognizes birth as a key experience the mother will remember all her life

• Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor

• Assists the woman in preparing for and carrying out her plans for birth

• Stays with the woman throughout the labor

• Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint, as well as helping the woman get the information she needs to make informed decisions

• Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and her clinical care providers

• Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the woman's memory of the birth experience

• Supports the woman's partner to participate at his/her comfort level

 

Why hire a doula?

Numerous clinical studies have found that a doula’s presence at birth

• Tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications

• Reduces negative feelings about one’s childbirth experience

• Reduces the need for pitocin (a labor-inducing drug), forceps or vacuum extraction and cesareans

• Reduces the mother’s request for pain medication and/or epidurals

 

Research shows parents who receive support can:

• Feel more secure and cared for

• Are more successful in adapting to new family dynamics

• Have greater success with breastfeeding

• Have greater self-confidence

• Have less postpartum depression

• Have lower incidence of abuse

What's included in your care?

 

TWO PRENATAL VISITS

These visits are done in the comfort of your home and usually last about 2 hours each.  The first when you first hire me.  Part of the intention of these visits is to become more familiar and comfortable for the big day.  We will review your ideas about your birth and I will guide you in creating a plan (including location and provider) that give you the greatest opportunity for success in the plan you desire. Whether your plan includes a scheduled induction, or c-section, plan to receive pain medication or a desire to be 100% intervention free, I will be there to educate you on your options, your rights and the pros and cons of each.  I will give you all the tools needed to create your own birth plan with confidence.  The next visit ideally is after you have had your childbirth education class but before your due window.  Around 36 weeks is ideal.   Here we will review the stages of labor, some practical hands on advice for you and your partner to deal with early labor, and when to call me to join you.  We will address if there are any last minute changes to the plan based on preference or health necessity and we will address any unanswered questions and or fear that may have arisen regarding, labor, birth, parenting, breastfeeding or early postpartum.

 

REFERRALS

I have been working in this industry in this area for 20 + years, therefore,  I have a wealth of referrals for the best holistic providers that support pregnancy and early postpartum in the Los Angeles area.    Doctors, midwives, lactation consultants, Neonatal CPR instructors, chiropractors, massage therapists, classes, and just to name a few.

 

UNLIMITED PHONE CALLS BEFORE LABOR AND DELIVERY

Ill be your go to gal regarding any questions and or concerns that may arise as you move closer to the birth.

(See the Natural Birth Consultating page for examples of they type of questions my clients tend to ask.)  

CONTINUOUS LABOR SUPPORT FOR HOME, BIRTH CENTER OR HOSPITAL
You and your partner will receive constant emotional and physical support to manage your labor waves beginning in early labor, all the way through to delivery. I will also be able to answer all your questions about any and all procedures during your birth either at home, birth center or at the hospital. 

 

ASSISTANCE WITH BREASTFEEDING IMMEDIATELY AFTER BIRTH
If your plan is to breastfeed I will be available for assistance with successful latch and support you in feeling confident and in creating an instantaneous bonding with your child.

 

ONE POST-PARTUM HOME VISIT

Ideally this will happen day 3 once you are home and getting back into the normal groove of life.  This is usually when your milk comes in and hormone levels tend to drop.  I love for this visit to be at home but can come to the hospital if there is an extended stay for any reason.  This is a good time for us to look back on the birthing experience and de-brief so to speak.  If there are questions or feelings surrounding the experience this is a good time to process what took place.  Additionally, I can answer questions about babies appearance, diapering, breastfeeding, shifting roles, check in and make sure your post partum plan is  sufficient to cover your needs and if not make recommendations for postpartum specialists, (ie Lactation consultants, postpartum doulas, etc. During this time I will assess baby and mom’s well being from a holistic approach and make recommendations on having this period be supported and relaxed.

 

TOOLS UTILIZED FOR LABOR

People tend to ask what tools I will utilize in labor.  Like Honey Sticks?  Yes I have a doula bag chocked full of goodies to help you cope with labor.  However, I feel like the list below gives you a better understanding of some advanced skills I can utilize should your labor need a little boost with a malpositioned baby (which usually leads to a slower more inconsistent labor pattern and in turn unwanted interventions in the hospital)

• Spinning Babies Techniques

• Robozo

• Aromatherapy

• Acupressure

• Massage

• Deep Trust and Knowledge of Natural Birth