I am married and a mother of two girls (ages 7 & 6) and a baby boy age 2.  I had two good experiences giving birth at local hosptials but enjoyed my home birth much more.  It was one of the most amazing experience of my life.  So I have experienced a medicated birth as well as a natural birth at home with no medication.  In fact, my doula and midwife did not make it to the birth so I delivered him myself with the help of my husband.  My husband was shocked and awed at the home birth and did a wonderful job.  People often ask me if I was scared.  The answer is no.  I have studied birth and experienced it many time myself as well as with my clients.  I was totally calm and confident that I and my baby would do great.

I have a four-year degree in Social Work and have worked with children for over 14 years.  I am open minded, have patience, am caring, non-judgemental, and am light-hearted.  I feel that enjoying and experiencing life, is what it means to truly live it.  And one of the most meaningful times in anyone’s life is giving birth to a baby.  I have been a practicing doula for over five years and have attended many births.  I absolutely LOVE birth and helping parents thorugh the process.  It is exciting and exhilirating being there in the room as a new life is brought into the world.  I never get bored or tired of the experience and eagerly await each and every birth.   I enjoy getting to know my clients and often have remained in contact as friends after the birth. 

My goal in being a doula is to help parents during this joyous although difficult period in their lives.  Everyone dreams of the perfect birth and fantasizes about what the labor and delivery will be like.  However, the birth of a baby does not always go as planned and even when it does, it can be stressful.  Wanting to have an unmedicated birth is especially hard due to hospital staff being unfamiliar with the needs of a mother laboring without pain medication.   Most care providers know about epidurals but are uncomfortable with a mother insisting to labor and deliver in her own way.  The situation is new, intense, and unfamiliar for everyone involved.  It can be difficult for expecting parents to always remain calm, reassuring, and objective.  Well meaning doctors and nurses may feel medication is best or offer medication due to their own discomfort in seeing moms in pain.  They may try to influence mom to accept pain relief drugs.  For this reason, as experienced trained skilled women - "doulas" are ideal.  I remain focused, give support, and am confident in my knowledge of the birthing process.  I remind mom and her partner of their birth plan and their likes and dislikes regarding the birth, offer up suggestions or alternative options to consider, or listen to their concerns and help them advocate these issues to medical staff so that they may achieve a birth experience that they desire even if obstacles arise.   I do not push an agenda of my own and will whole-heartedly support you in any decision that you make.  Studies have shown that parents feel satisfaction with their birth experience when they feel in control about their labor and delivery as well as being heard by medical staff.  Being able to have an active part in any decision instead of being treated like a patient and having procedures done to them.  It is your birth and it is your right to birth they way you want!

I have writen two articles published in national magazines.  You can find one here:  http://www.expectantmothersguide.com/library/charlotte/value_of_doula.htm