What
is your Childbirth Profession?
I am a doula and a natural childbirth
educator
Describe your profession and why someone would want to choose your profession for support in pregnancy and/or childbirth.
I
have found that as a birth advocate for the last 10 years of my life that I am
constantly amazed and impressed at the power of a pregnant and laboring mother.
Families who choose a doula or myself as their support person are normally
looking for someone who is informed, supportive, compassionate, personable and
intuitive during the birth process. The more births I attend the more I realize
that we are connected in so many ways and that birth experience change us,
positive birth stories are such an encouragement to families.
Why did you get started in your profession?
I
had wanted to be a doula long before I actually became one. I filled that need by reading as much about
birth as I could wrap my head around. I
have been a practicing doula for 3 years. It is such a (pardon my pun) labor of love.
In detail, what is your personal
childbirth philosophy?
Birth
support is one of those life events that I believe that we as doulas have to be
purposed for, to attend, and befriend. The passion I have for the natural
process of birth, in my mind, is a gift from God. Fear surrounding birth is
something that is prevalent in our country, and this natural process is really
done best when the mother is supported, loved and empowered to embrace the
natural progression of the birth process. I believe with my whole heart that we
as women are capable of having babies, and that most of the battle is allowing
our bodies to take over and to shut our minds off. This creative process,
birth, cannot be taught but must be experienced.
If you could tell all pregnant women in the world something, what would it be?
I
would say, first of all, make sure you implicitly trust your doctor or midwife
with your physical and emotional needs during your pregnancy and birth. Trust
your instincts – it is never too late to find someone who really supports your
wishes. Read and listen to positive birth stories, practice relaxation daily (or
take a natural childbirth class), and of course hire a doula!
How long have you been in your profession? Are you certified? If yes, by who?
I
have been attending births for three years and I am DONA trained and ICEA
postpartum trained. I decided to forgo the certification process for my doula
career although I have met and exceeded all of the requirements. My time and
money are being spent on obtaining my credentials through ICEA for childbirth
education. I love the ICEA philosophy on
childbirth, “The freedom of decision based on knowledge
of alternatives”.
Do you have a business name? How can
people contact you for pregnancy and childbirth support?
My
business name is Natural Progression Birth Services and I have a page on Facebook
and a blog, https://naturalprogressionbirth.wordpress.com
and all of my contact information are listed on those sights.
Where do you practice?
I
am normally willing travel a 2 hour radius from Brookings South Dakota. I have
been happy to attend births in Minnesota and South Dakota. However, by some
lucky chance I have attended births in South Carolina, and Arizona this past
year. I really love my profession and
the people I meet at such a miraculous time in their lives.
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