Hello, my name is Melissa and I am a birth and postpartum doula. I believe that every woman deserves to have the best possible birth and journey into motherhood. Mothers should be supported during pregnancy, labor, birth, and beyond in a way that adds even more joy and excitement to this wonderful chapter and turning point in their lives. 

 

I am able to do any type of birth, whether it be a home birth, hospital birth, cesarean, or something in between, I'm your doula! My goal is to make the best day of your life even better, and as stress free as possible. My labor service includes one prenatal appointment to go over comfort measures with you and your partner, the labor and birth of course, one postpartum visit to help establish breastfeeding and answer questions, and 24 hour availability from 38 weeks until delivery. My postpartum packages include a variety of things that will be unique to each family's needs.

 

I am a certified labor and birth doula, as well as certified postpartum doula. I'm also CPR and first aid certified, reiki 1 certified, and have a bachelor's degree in psychology, and a bachelor's degree in sociology. 

 

"We define a birth doula as a professional support person trained in the needs of the family during pregnancy and childbirth. The doula offers non-judgmental support, guidance, evidence based education and practical hands-on support during childbirth including comfort measures. Doula originates from the Greek word meaning woman servant. A birth doula recognizes the profound impact of childbirth on the mother.

The birth doula does not provide medical care, clinical tasks such a cervical checks or fetal heart tones and does not speak on behalf of the client." http://internationaldoulainstitute.com/what-is-a-d...

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"When a woman has the continuous support of a doula, the pitocin use goes down 31%, the cesarean  rate decreases 28%, there is a 12% increase in spontaneous vaginal births, a 9% decrease in medications for pain relief, a 14% decrease in newborns being admitted to a special care nursery and finally, a 34% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience." According to http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23076901