I am a certified Placenta Encapsulation Specialist, I have been trained in placenta anatomy, the ethics surrounding placenta encapsulation and postpartum mood disorders, as well as safe processing skills.Placenta encapsulation is the process of preparing the mother’s placenta after the birth of her baby, in order for the mother to ingest it, also known as “Placentophagy”.

I use the modified Raw method; first cleaning the placenta, dehydrating it, grinding it into powder, and placing into capsules to be consumed by the mother how she sees appropriate.

A placenta tincture is made by taking a piece of raw placenta and steeping it in 80-100 proof alcohol for 6-8 weeks before consumption. Placentophagy is beneficial because it reintroduces the vitamins, minerals, proteins, hormones and other nutrients into the mother’s body after birth, helping slow down the hormone and nutrient imbalance that occurs after birth

While the ‘evidence’ supporting placenta consumption is largely anecdotal, many mothers report numerous benefits including:

- Decrease in baby blues/postpartum depression

- Decreased postpartum bleeding

- ​Increase in maternal energy

- ​Improve mode and over sense of well being

- ​Shorten the healing time after delivery

- Increase in breast milk production

- ​Restore iron levels in blood

- ​Increasing the “love and bonding hormone” (oxytocin) levels

- ​Restore hormone balance

- ​Provide natural pain relief

According to Evidence-Based Birth; when women had the continuous labor support of a doula, women experienced:

31% decrease in the use of Pitocin*

​28% decrease in the risk of C-section*

​12% increase in the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth*

​9% decrease in the use of any medications for pain relief

​14% decrease in the risk of newborns being admitted to a special care nursery

​34% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience

*For four of these outcomes,* results with a doula were better than all the other types of continuous support studied.

The short answer is that I join you in active labor when you feel like you are ready for additional support.

The long answer is that it depends.

For Birth Support, I start being on-call 24/7 when you are 38 weeks pregnant or 4 weeks prior to your estimated due date. For Postpartum Support I begin the 24/7 on-call process at 38 weeks or 2 weeks prior to (EDD)..

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In an ideal world, you would let me know when you're feeling any rumblings of early labor so that you're on my radar. That way, I can keep in touch with you throughout the day or night and can check in periodically on how you're coping. I'll talk with you on the phone and assess your progress -- are you still chipper and chatty, or are you stopping to breathe and moan through your contractions..

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Whenever it seems like whatever you're doing is no longer enough and you're ready for support, then that's go time. I'll be with you in an hour or less..

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If you're being induced or have a planned cesarean, I will meet with you at the hospital at an agreed upon time and support you from the beginning to the end. Please speak with your doctor about their procedures for having a support person in the OR should you have a planned or emergency cesarean..

Interview! This is why I believe in offering a free initial consultation, giving you a chance to feel me out and see if we get along. Ask me questions about the services and comfort measures I have to offer and decide for yourself whether these interest you. There is no pressure. You need to be comfortable with who you are inviting into your sacred space.

I take on a very limited number of clients at a time to ensure I am available to support each one when their time comes.However, I always have a backup plan for emergencies and I have a list of amazing doula connections to choose from. I will assign and brief one of them as my backup for you in the event I can’t provide support for you through no fault of my own. I can choose the doula or you can and you can choose to meet them if you’d like as well.

As a doula, my role is not to advocate FOR you, but rather to help you and your partner feel empowered during your experience so that you may, if necessary, advocate for yourselves and your baby. I can, however, suggest options or questions you might face that can be brought up to your care provider or nurse. If a suggested procedure or course of treatment is unclear, I will encourage you to get the information you need to make an informed choice.Whatever decisions you make, know that I will support them 100% and without judgment.

No, I am not your voice; I will encourage you to use yours and seek out all the information to make an informed decision. I can aid in seeking out information by providing evidence based and credible tools, resources, and references you may need to make your decision. I will always support you and your decisions without judgment or bias.

While friends and family can be great at supporting you, they are typically not trained in current evidence-based information and familiar with difficult situations that may arise in labor and delivery. I am committed to continuing my education and am trained to react calmly and professionally in any situation that may arise.I encourage my clients to have whomever they wish in attendance at their birth and I will work with them as a team, to support you in having the best possible birthing experience.

As your doula, it is my goal to foster a feeling of inclusion for all involved in the birthing process and postpartum period! Partners participate in a variety of ways. I will listen to you and your partner, as well as anyone else you choose to have on your support team. I am good at feeling out the room and seeing where I can encourage and support their desire to support you in whatever capacity you are all comfortable with. I am dedicated to enhancing the partner’s role, not replacing it. It is my goal to work seamlessly with your whole support team in order to help you have a positive birth and postpartum experience.

No, of course not. Your birth, your way. I will never try to prevent you from making a choice that you felt was in your best interest. As your doula, I’m dedicated to supporting you regardless of your pain management/ movement/birth setting preferences. Your need for physical and emotional support does not end when you receive an epidural, and I will help you navigate and assess your options for pain medication so you may choose what is right for you.

If your birth plan includes pain management, I can help you learn all of the options that are offered at your birthing place of choice, and understand the procedures and other important information you might want to know so you feel confident in your decision.

My support doesn’t end when your pain management begins. I am there to help you interpret your labor, provide physical and emotional support in the time before you receive your pain management, and coach you through pushing, all while continuously providing emotional support and encouragement throughout labor. Just because you don’t feel the same pain you would without an epidural, doesn’t mean you won’t feel the same emotions. You have my continuous support no matter what.

Absolutely! I am available and happy to support you in whatever setting you choose to have your baby. Home, birth center or hospital, I am here to ensure you are supported.

Yes, absolutely. I am trained in providing support no matter how you give birth, including surgical births! Your baby is coming to meet you and you are safe. That is what is most important.I will join you in pre-op, and possibly the OR (depending on the facility), as well as in recovery so you are never left unsupported!.

Here are just a few of the other ways I will support you with your planned cesarean:

- Assisting you in relaxing and focusing on staying calm.

- Explain procedures in terms you understand

- Accompany your partner while they wait to meet you in the OR

- Help you manage the physical and emotional challenges of surgery

- Encourage you to share your birth plan and wishes with the staff

- Update family members at your request

- Stay with you if your baby (and partner) must to go to the nursery

- Help you initiate breastfeeding (if that is your choice)

Additionally, you may be surprised to know that planned cesarean births have options that will allow for a more gentle, “family-centered” experience. There are many decisions to be made, and I will help you to identify your priorities, find out what is available in your birthing facility, and create a birth plan that reflects these preferences.