Frequently Asked Questions

Well, of course, having spent much of my life teaching about birth, YES! Yes, yes, yes it's worth it. For you, for partner. Come to this beautiful space (Art House 360 in Verona, WI). Get away together. Learn, laugh, practice, talk all about this amazing topic. Leave feeling excited, prepared, equipt with tried and true ways to cope and ways to help. 

Sample Agenda (leaving lots of space for questions and group needs):

Understanding how things work, how to cope and how to help

 Terminology you’ll suddenly need to know!

Birth and Culture and impacts

A talk about pain:  Fear-Tension-Pain cycle, Gate Control Theory

Mindfulness in Birth – Breath Awareness, Body Scan, Loving Kindness

Laboring without Medication

Medication options for labor

Asking questions and getting answers

Pain-coping practices:  relaxation, touch, massage, breathing, meditation, movement, and more

Positions for labor and birth

Help for back labor

What is partner’s role? How can you help?

Communicating with the staff

Unexpected Surprises

and more!

Come. Take a break from your busy life. Stop. Slow down. Breathe. Learn. Laugh. Think and process. 

How do you see this birth/early postpartum unfolding?

What are your hopes and dreams around this?

How can you prepare in your heart and mind for this change?

Come and grow.

Doula: in the service of

How do I define a doula? Well, to me - an experienced  guide, a non-judgemental supporter, a helper with no strings. As a Birth Doula, I am there to inform, educate, support, listen, help, all while being present for your actual birth experience. I will come visit twice before your birth and once after. I bring my loving heart, open mind and years and years of experience. 

Absolutely! Your birth YOUR way, imho. I'm here to listen, help, inform educate, guide and, ultimately, non-judgementally support.  YOUR birth, YOUR way.

Again I say, ABSOLUTELY! Lots of labor will most likely happen before you can get an epidural (must be at the hospital). We'll talk about all the ways to cope and help before, during an after getting an epidural. How labor can change and tips and tricks for laboring and supporting a birth with an epidural.

Well, most likely your husband/partner and I have different skills. I know about birth and things to try, ways to cope and all those ins and outs. To date, I've attended 82 births and had 4 of my own.

However, your husband/partner brings so so much to the birth experience. We have different skill sets. I might know about birth but they know about YOU! They bring their heart, mind, kindness, sense of humor, way of touching and love to you. 

Honestly, there is space for all. And I have found I spend just as much time supporting them! Truly, most couples report that hiring a doula was a very smart decision.

Catapulted into the birth world following the amazing first birth I experienced, I have literally devoured everything about birth. Reading, listening, studying. Taking trainings, processing with other birth people, attending lots of births. Thinking, processing and studying everything I could get my hands on. I have certifications in pretty much every training around. My 30 year obsession continues and fuels my passion and love for this amazing, challenging and complicated topic - becoming a parent!!

I feel that "less is more" in this arena, meaning the fewer medical things the better, however, there is a time and place for all things. Sometimes the next best thing is an epidural. Wonderful, empowered birth happens in all kinds of ways.