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. To leave your normal (maybe the city?) and drive out in the beautiful rolling hills of SW WI (just a short drive southwest of Madison. 5 miles west of New Glarus). 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

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.

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.