During our prenatal sessions, we will work together to address your wishes, needs, questions, and dreams. In addition to our conversations, we may decide to practice a variety of tools such as learning comfort measures, positions for labor and birth, pain-coping practices, baby positioning, visualizations, breathing techniques, preparing for unwished-for events, how to make decisions about interventions, and more. If you are giving birth in the hospital, we will work together to ensure you (and your partner) are making informed decisions on the possible medical interventions that are common in the hospital setting. If you are planning to birth outside of the hospital we will work on developing a birth vision board that will help evoke the spirit of your ideal birth as well as a Plan B, because we do not know if a transfer is in the cards and well, I like to ensure we are aware of what could happen to minimize the blow that can occur in the moment your midwife makes that call. This is a time of great preparation, so our measures will be towards preparing your mind, body, and spirit for the journey ahead.

Absolutely, even with epidurals, complete pain relief is not a guarantee. With or without an epidural, tools to cope and relaxation techniques from a professionally certified doula as myself can help with the discomforts of labor.

Absolutely not. Let's take a moment and recognize that your partner has a strong desire to help, to participate, to feel useful and active throughout the entire journey. But, when two people share an emotional bond and an ongoing relationship, it is very difficult for that companion to remain continuously objective, calm, and removed to some degree from your discomfort and fears, or any danger. Your partner will benefit from my presence as I will assist them in supporting you during labor and throughout the first 6 weeks postpartum. I may suggest positions, pain-coping practices, or comfort measures such as massage. I may offer breathing techniques, encouragement and a shoulder to lean on. My approach isn't to overshadow, but to enhance the moment. Most partners express their gratitude for the chance to step away, take a break to reenergize, without leaving you alone with no support.

Absolutely. I support everyone who feels the need for additional support. Having a doula isn't a privilege anymore, it's a birthing parents human right to have the kind of support they desire. Don't limit your thinking. Our society has a funny way of labeling ourselves as this or that, but I don't believe in separating people into categories. I will meet you where you are at.

As a doula, I DO NOT provide, nor perform, nor imply clinical/medical procedures, including and not limited to taking blood pressure, fetal heart checks, vaginal exams, etc.

If you have hired a doula for labor support, they will go on-call at 38 weeks gestation, unless stated differently in your service agreement. This on-call period lasts anywhere from 3-5 weeks. However, once you hire us, we are committed to serving you no matter how early (or late) your baby is born.

Why not?!? By hiring me, a doula who is professionally certified by DONA International with a background in Integrative Health & Wellness, you will feel safe, supported, and confident. I have been professionally trained to tune in to your needs, create the most optimal environment, and continuously support you for your best possible birth and maternity leave. Doulas are an under-utilized resource, according to ACOG! A recent joint statement released on March 2014 from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) set forth new guidelines designed to prevent primary cesareans. Here are a few highlights: “Increasing women’s access to non-medical interventions during labor, such as continuous labor and delivery support, has been shown to reduce cesarean birth rates.” “Published data indicate that one of the most effective tools to improve labor and delivery outcomes is the continuous presence of support personnel, such as a doula.” “… the presence of continuous one-on-one support during labor and delivery was associated with improved patient satisfaction and a statistically significant reduction in the rate of cesarean delivery.” I noticed that the link was no longer available on ACOG's site, so in the meantime, while I relocate it here are some others: https://www.dona.org/acog-smfm-statement-one-of-the-most-effective-tools-to-reduce-the-cesarean-rate-doulas/ https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jmwh.12972 https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD003766.pub6/full

Doulas are known around the world for assisting laboring and postpartum moms through this huge transition in life. The word “Doula” is Greek for “woman caregiver” and is typically a female who is highly educated and professionally trained to continuously offer one-on-one care, as well as unbiased information, psychological encouragement, evidence-based education, and practical hands-on support immediately through the first year. If you think about it, throughout history women have always helped women give birth and as childbirth began to move from home and into the hospital setting less than 100 years ago, this vital ingredient in childbirth began to disappear. Now, due to the rising rates of cesarean sections and the highly technological and impersonal nature of childbirth we’ve begun seeing the shift in our culture to restore the role of a doula, “birth companion”.

No. A doula does not replace your health care provider. Their role is to fill the gaps that your provider does not have the time nor capacity to. As a doula becomes known and trusted, the provider sees her as a member of the team helping the birthing parent with support services. This is why I like to attend at least one prenatal appointment with you so that we can collectively address your birth plan and answer any questions your provider may have about my role. The good thing is as of date the majority of the obstetricians in our area are doula-friendly. (Unfortunately, during the pandemic there are restrictions in place, so I will not be permitted to attend nor will your partner. If this is important to you I would highly recommend scheduling an appointment with a local midwifery practice to receive personalized care for you AND your partner.)

Not at all. You can birth in a hospital, birthing center, or at home. Your birth, your decision.

Yes. Whether scheduled or not, we will be by your side throughout the process. Depending on the hospital, we can join your partner in the OR. Depending on hospital protocols; we will be there for you in recovery to assist with newborn feeding and to attend to your other needs.

Even though doulas are known to greatly improve birth outcomes and family bonding, we are not always covered through group health insurance. However, you may be able to submit a copy of your paid invoice to get reimbursed for a portion of your doula fees, or have the cost applied to your deductible. Let us know and we will help you complete the reimbursement form. If you have an HSA/FSA, you will be able to use your card to pay for services upfront. We're happy to discuss this further on our initial intake call.

Yes, we will offer a listening ear, answer your questions the best we can, and help you to process your experience. Putting your birth in perspective is an important aspect of postpartum healing, and allows you to create more emotional space to bring to the mothering experience.

Though we are not therapists and cannot diagnose or treat depression, we are trained to recognize the potential signs. We can provide resources for you to receive treatment, and nurture you at home while you are healing, helping you to gain confidence in mothering your baby.

Yes!! We specialize in promoting parent/infant bonding, and bonding with other family members. We can help everyone to have more time to enjoy the new baby. Our approach is to educate family members on how to care for the new mother (and baby) in ways that will help this precious unit have the best BabyMoon possible. We will help the family to understand the mother’s needs, and guide them to support her in establishing her confidence in her new role as the Mother the way she feels is best for her and her baby.

While we are aware of many of the challenges that arise in postpartum parents and babies, any health concern needs to be addressed by your medical provider/s.

A parent’s need for rest, nourishment, and support are even greater with twins. Our team of doulas will become the new parents' extra arms until you have the strength and confidence to care for the babies on your own.

We respect your parenting choices. There is no one way to raise a baby. Whatever makes you feel happy and sane is usually what’s right for you and your family. My hope is for you to better enjoy your postpartum time, making sure that you get the rest and nourishment you need to have the stamina to do the intensive parenting required of a newborn baby (or two). Please Note: I will not participate in any sort of harmful sleep training, "cry-it-out", extinction methods, Baby Wise, or Ferber methods. I follow a holistic approach to baby care, using natural methods that are mindful of their neurological development.

Yes, we are trained to support normal breastfeeding. We can give you tips on overcoming basic problems. If these issues persist, we can provide resources for lactation consultants and local support groups. Using nurturing, loving encouragement is our way of helping you gain the confidence to breastfeed your baby.

A baby nurse OR newborn care specialist focuses solely on the new baby around the clock. A postpartum doula helps the family to be more independent about caring for the newborn also around the clock. For us, we take an Ayurvedic approach and are available for the postpartum parent as well as the rest of the family, to help them nurture the parent, nourish themselves, and enjoy having a new member of the family during daytime hours ONLY.

At Aspired Mother, We provide a variety of services to support your postpartum recovery. These services include Ayurvedic massage for you and baby, nutrition and lifestyle counseling, yoga and meditation, and stress management.We are also experienced in providing emotional and practical support to ensure you have the resources you need to take on motherhood with confidence.

The Ayurvedic postpartum doula cares for the mother and her family in their home in the first 6 weeks following birth. The foundation of care for an Ayurvedic Postpartum Doula is mainly to rebalance the Vata Dosha. This rebalancing is achieved through the Ayurvedic pillars of care which are: Nutrition, Abhyanga, Pranayama/Yoga and Rest. Within this framework, the Ayurvedic doula provides: Non-Medical/ Non-Clinical Care Evidenced-Based Education Suggestions Referrals Comfort Care Support Empowerment Advocacy The doula focuses on these aspects in order to address the physical, psycho-social, emotional and spiritual needs of the mother, baby and family. Doulas are the conduit of care between the families total health and welfare and her healthcare providers. She is the bridge from birth through the 6 weeks. The postpartum doula has filled the void of mothering the mother at the bedside, providing care as past communities surrounding mothers did. This care was passed on from one generation to the next and this program reflects this knowledge through the lens of Ayurveda.

This is dependent upon your situation and needs. A new parent may want this nourishing care throughout their entire month long postpartum recovery. An experienced parent may just want a few days of help catching up on much-needed rest. If you need overnight care, we can refer you to our partner; she will care for your baby as you sleep, comforting them and changing diapers, bringing them to you only to nurse (or bottle-feeding them if that is your wish.)

An Ayurvedic postpartum doula is a great resource for new mothers. Not only do they provide the specialized care and support you need to rebuild your strength and confidence, but they can also provide guidance and resources that can help you make the most of your postpartum journey. We can also help you make informed decisions that are best for your health and wellbeing.

This sacred ceremony is special as it is very personalized. This is an opportunity for Mothers to bring their culture into their childbirth experience, so the decorations like candles, natural material (crystals, shells, flowers, plants, sand), feminine diety sculptures, music, prepared food selection can all be influenced by Mothers' culture. Go as bohemian or boujie as you'd like.

This ceremony is inspired by the traditional Dine Navajo ‘Blessing Way', but if you look back at many indigenous cultures theres a ceremony in which honors the transition into Motherhood -- being one of the most sacred of all. In our Modern American culture, many of us are choosing to bring forth sacred feminine elements into our childbirth experiences, much like our ancestors had done for generations. I call my version the 'Mother Blessing', rather than recreating the 'Blessing Way', in order to appreciate the roots of this cultural tradition rather than appropriate.

A Mother Blessing is a special, intimate gathering focused on the emotional and spiritual growth that comes with motherhood, as opposed to the board, materialistic focus that comes along with a traditional baby shower. While the idea of accepting attention and sharing in a spiritual ceremony with your friends and family might be uncomfortable, it offers your loved ones the opportunity to pledge their support.

Yes. Reiki accelerates the healing process and reduces postpartum symptoms, helping your body return to its normal state, bringing both physical and emotional healing as you adjust during the first weeks of your baby’s new life. It is also a wonderful support after a difficult or cesarean birth, reducing your recovery time. You can receive a Reiki treatment while holding your baby in your arms so that the baby is also receiving the energies.

It's at your discretion. If you felt you had a beneficial and caring session, then you may wish to show your gratitude with a review on our Google page. 💗

No. Reiki is a wonderful complement to a health or wellness plan. It supports your work with your primary care providers.

Yes. Reiki works beautifully during labor in relieving the pain and anxiety of the contractions and may even reduce or eliminate the need for medical pain relief methods. The calming and centering resulting from Reiki helps you to be more grounded and empowered during your baby’s birth. In my experience, babies are much more calm if their mothers receive Reiki during childbirth. Being relaxed during labor can help to speed the time it takes in getting to delivery, and allowing the delivery to be much easier. Your body knows exactly what to do. If you are feeling more peaceful and the rest of your body is relaxed, the muscles used to deliver the baby are the only ones that need to do the work, allowing you to concentrate on contractions.

Yes. These sessions are intended for individuals (and couples) who are working through healing after the loss of a pregnancy, and is open to those healing after any type of loss. All are welcome, regardless of gestation at the time of loss, whether the loss is active, recent or months or years in the past.

Reiki is a holistic method that can be very beneficial during pregnancy, helping to relieve worry, face discomfort and hormonal changes in a gentle, safe and non-invasive way, and can result in better sleep as well because you will be far more relaxed after a Reiki session. Reiki can help to relieve symptoms of morning sickness. It will help you to be more grounded emotionally, benefiting both the mother to be and her growing baby. Reiki brings a balanced and harmonious relationship to you and your fetus while keeping your baby healthy and safe.

I am familiar with the standard protocols at all area hospitals and can discuss what you need to know at your specific place of birth. Many hospitals have virtual tours that can you take as well.

Aspired Mothers' private prenatal sessions allow you to work around your schedule to make it more convenient. The focus is on providing information that is relevant to you, your lifestyle, and situation. My private childbirth and postpartum preparation sessions allow you the comfort to ask questions you may not have without feeling embarrassed with strangers around.

I suggest you start before 20 weeks and no later than 36 weeks gestation. If you sign up for a labor or postpartum preparation session we will go over relaxation techniques and they are best when practiced regularly over many weeks.

No, but will make suggestions to watch specific clips on your own. Many people feel uncomfortable watching birth videos because there is no emotion attached to that experience. While I make an effort to share videos that emote those feelings, it still feels quite different when you are in the moment and welcoming your baby.

There is so much information out there that it can sometimes be overwhelming as well as conflicting. My goal is not to only give you information, but to help you discover and cultivate internal resources already within you that will help you meet the challenges birth and parenthood can bring. No matter what type of birth you're planning - or if you don't have a plan at all - our sessions are a time for you to ask questions, explore your feelings around birth and parenting, and prepare to meet your little one. Also, you will be invited to our private AM Village App to create a community of people who are going through the same experience you are. You can't get that from a book.

Partners are a very important part of our sessions. My focus is on getting you on the same page by facilitating conversations between the two of you. I also love to practice the tools and techniques with you both so we can build a comfort level with these techniques.

My sessions are very comprehensive and cover all the information you need to feel prepared for any type of birth and the early days with your newborn. The benefit of my sessions is that the information is tailored to what YOU want to know.