Blessed Birth Doula Services

I have been married since June of 2002 to the most caring, hard-working, and supportive man that I know.  Jason and I have two precious children, Jack and Caroline, and are raising them to love life and love the Lord.  We live in Pantego, Texas - a small town right in the middle of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. 

My Journey
I've had three very different childbirth experiences. My first was when
I was 17. In November of 1996, I found myself unexpectedly pregnant.
Thankfully, the baby's father (now my husband) was right there for me and we both had wonderful, supportive families who really stood behind us and our decision to place our daughter for adoption. During my labor I was undereducated and felt like my birth was "done to me".  I didn't feel allowed to experience birth while making my own informed choices.  Also, due to the adoption agency's policy, I wasn't allowed to have my mother or Jason in the room with me when I was pushing. As I was working to bring life into the world, my family waited, anxiously, outside in the hall.

The birth of my son, Jack was very different. I spent my entire pregnancy
educating myself and preparing myself for a natural, drug free delivery. I had a care provider that I trusted, despite the fact that I was butting heads with him on many aspects of my birth wishes.  After many back and forth meetings discussing my birth plan, his wishes, hospital policy, etc. we finally came to a good medium between all involved. I went into labor naturally at home and labored there for quite a while. When I went into the hospital I did meet a bit of resistance from the nurses and the on-call doctor (it was a Saturday and my OB wouldn't be delivering my baby - after all that!). I did have my natural, drug free delivery but I had to fight for it, which tainted it a bit for me. However, the best part, other than the amazing gift of my son, is that I delivered with my mom on one side and Jason on the other -  something I had really been upset about missing in my previous birth.  It was while processing the birth of my son that I decided to become a doula.

With my youngest,Caroline, I changed care providers and planned to have my mom act as doula for me again as she did such a wonderful job at Jack's birth. I delivered my daughter into a quiet, dark room with my husband and my mom at my side again.  It was the most amazing experience of my life.  Never before have I felt so at peace, so strong, so powerful. 

My birth experiences truly began my journey to becoming a doula. I really have a heart for those who are experiencing similar situations I've been in.  Really, I have a heart for every woman who is becoming a mother.  I  believe no woman should have to bring a child into the world feeling as alone as I did when I birthed my first daughter. I also believe no woman should have to fight with those who are supposed to be supporting her during her amazing journey to becoming a mother. Every woman deserves to be educated and empowered when it comes to her birth.  Every woman deserves support. Every woman deserves another woman to love her and guide her to her destination of motherhood.  Every woman deserves a doula.

• I believe that birth is a normal, natural process that requires little, if any medical intervention under most circumstances.
• I believe that every woman has the right to choose her birth location - be it at home, a birthing center, or a hospital.
• I believe that every mother deserves to be educated and empowered about birth.  Every mother should own her birth, no matter what her childbirth choices may be.
• I believe that every mother deserves a doula, regardless of her birth choices.
• I understand that my beliefs and birth choices have shaped the woman I am today.  I also understand that I must enter into a doula relationship without bias or an agenda in regards to a mother's choices about birth.  My choices and convictions in no way diminish my ability to serve women and families who have different beliefs and desires as myself.
  

My Training and Certification

• Certified Birth Doula - Doulas of North America (DONA)
• Lamaze Labor Support Specialist
• Certified Breastfeeding Educator, Texas Department of Health
  
• Bachelor of Science - Health, Texas A&M University, 2002 

 "We have a secret in our society & it is not that birth is painful, it's that women are strong." -Laura Stavoe Harm