• Birth support
• Postpartum doula services
• HypnoBirthing
• Private (in the home) childbirth education classes

• Labor Assistance
• Postpartum Support
• Lactation Counseling

I am committed to supporting you and your family during pregnancy, birth and beyond. Having a baby is a time of sacred transformation. It is my purpose and joy to support you and your family during this time by being a resource for evidence-based information on pregnancy, birth, the postpartum period and breastfeeding. During your labor I will be a constant presence, providing both physical and emotional support as you give birth to your baby. As your Labor Assistant it is my duty to provide you with the support you need during your time of transformation, thereby empowering you and your family for years to come.

I am an ALACE trained Labor Assistant and the mother of 3 children. My youngest child was born at home. I have completed a 45 hour Lactation Counselor Certificate Training Course. I am training to become an ALACE Childbirth Educator. I am a believer in birthing the way nature intended. I am at the beginning of my journey toward becoming a Midwife one day. I believe that all women in all settings deserve all-embracing support during labor, however they decide to birth, should they choose it.

• Birth Doulas
• Postpartum Doulas
• Childbirth Education and workshops
• Professional development (for doulas and other care providers)

Providing calm, confident and continuous support for the woman and her family during labor and childbirth, and empowering them with the tools and knowledge to achieve a positive pregnancy, birth and parenting experience. At Brattleboro Birth and Doula Services, your local childbirth and postpartum doula network, we contract with professional birth and postpartum doulas. Our doulas are professionally trained and for peace of mind, all doulas have verified credentials and references and you are guaranteed a back-up doula. Visit our website to see a list of doulas available.

• Birth and Postpartum Doula: certified and insured
• Emotional support
• Certified E.M.T.
• Labor & delivery coach
• At-home support for family
• Certified EKG Technician
• Personal care assistant
• Special needs assistant

As a mother of three children, ages 10 - 25, and having experienced natural and c-section births, I feel I bring confidence, tenderness, flexibility and enthusiasm to this personal experience. I have shared in many amazing births. It has been an honor and a privilege to be a valuable part of the miracle of birth.

• postpartum doula support geared towards mother's self care and mother-infant bonding
• hypnosis
• emotional support/coaching/listening/conversation
• nutritional guidance
• cooking/shopping/meal prep
• child care/pet care
• non-toxic housecleaning, plant care, organizing
• help with community service referrals
• help with breastfeeding and infant care

I have great trust in the human capacity to be and act in ways that are unlimited, and yet we sometimes find ourselves in pockets of our lives where support is essential for our return to experiencing ourselves as beings who are empty of the stress and worries that can at times consume our attention. Following the birth of her baby, a mother undergoes an intense transformation, both hormonally and energetically, which in turn affect her physical and emotional/mental state. If this adaptive period is not supported with care and love, the new mama can often experience the effects of feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, confused, depressed, and withdrawn. As doulas, we help mothers to balance caring for herself, her baby, the home, and her children as soon as baby is welcomed to the family. Our support can make it possible to prevent any of the above-listed negative stress factors from developing, thus assuring a relaxed and loving bond between mother, baby, and partner. A postpartum doula can also help to ease a mother's mind and body, even once and if stress has set in. As a postpartum doula my intention is to assist mother and baby in whatever ways I can so that they can fall in love with each other day after day after day.

• A continuum of care from Pregnancy through Infancy
• Birthing From Within® Childbirth Preparation Classes - 12 hour series, Immersions, and private sessions.
• Birthing from Within® Doula Support - Labor and Postpartum
• Birthing From Within® Birth Story Workshops
• Mindful Mother Journey Support Groups

My own journey through pregnancy, my son's birth, and becoming a mother was deeply transformative.
I realized that birth offers us a profound opportunity for personal growth, which can be very helpful in our parenting!
I have since been in training to offer mothers, their partners and newborns a unique and meaningful continuum of care from pregnancy through postpartum.

Please read below for more information, visit my website at www.mindfulbirthjourney.com, or just give me a call. I look forward to hearing from you!
(Sliding scale is available for all my offerings.)

In Birthing From Within® Childbirth Preparation Classes we learn Mindfulness practices (based on age old meditation traditions) which are proven to be very helpful for coping with pain, un-wished for surprises, and life postpartum. In BFW classes we also:

• Explore personal concerns and release fears with thought provoking processes and creative expression.
• We learn about and explore:
  • Creating the optimum environment for birth,
  • Labor physiology and psychology,
  • Home birth and hospital culture,
  • Handling un-wished for events and getting information and giving consent,
  • Finding your voice,
  • Birth from the baby's perspective,
  • Preparation for life postpartum - family, food, support.
  • Special class for Partners and much more.
• Each couple receives a BFW Keepsake Journal with over 200 pages of thoughtful questions for both you and your partner, from pregnancy through postpartum.
• My BFW classes are fun! We dance, sing, work with art materials, hear stories, and make friends.

• As a BFW doula, I offer you at least 6 hours of BFW classes, both in group and privately.
• My first consultation is free.
• I am on call for you anytime during day hours and then 24 hours a day after 37 weeks.
• I support you with Mindfulness techniques, and will support you and your partner in making your own best decisions.
• If wanted in labor, I can be very hands-on, and will massage, offer aromatherapy, hold hands, talk and breath with you.
• I will stay with you for the first few hours after your baby is born to help with breast-feeding and to get you nourishing food.
• I will visit you within three days of the birth, if possible, at your home.
• And again within the next month.

As a postpartum doula I will offer you basic house cleaning, and cooking and support you emotionally and physically in your care of your baby.

Mindful Mother Journey Support Groups

In the months that follow, you can come with your baby in the pre-crawling stage, or by yourself to practice Mindfulness with other mothers, have time to talk, and renew, and build community.

BFW Birth Story Workshops

You can also come for a 4 hour class and explore your birth experience through healing visualizations, drawing, and writing and sharing with other mothers. Partners are also welcome to this class.

I have over 60 hours of mentor and doula training with Pamela England, author and founder of the Birthing from Within® movement.
I have also trained with Michelle L'Esperance of Warm Welcome Doulas.
I am also trained by Rachel Zamore of Mindful Mamas® to facilitate Mindfulness Support Groups.
I have been offering my services to families in Western, Ma. for two years. References available.
I bring my love of meditation, expressive art-making, mothering, children and families to all that I offer with Mindful Birth Journey.