Karen

And

Aubrey

Empowering women to experience the best child birth possible.

What is a doula?

A doula is a professional birthing companion that offers physical, emotional and spiritual support during labor and postpartum.

• What are the benefits of having a doula?
  
  

  Studies have shown that the presence of a doula improves birth in the following ways:

  • 50% reduction in cesarean birth
  • 30% reduction in requests for pain medication
  • 60% fewer requests for epidural anesthesia
  • 25% decrease in the length of labor
  • Lower post partum rate for mothers
  • Increased breast feeding success
  • Greater overall satisfaction from the mother about her birth

  -Klaus, Kennell and Klaus, Mothering the Mother, 1993

  
  What does a doula do?
  
  A doula provides continuous support and encouragement throughout your birthing experience. She pampers and comforts the laboring mom, makes sure the environment is orderly and is suited to the laboring mom's needs, ensures that the birthing plan takes effect, and creates a positive birthing experience.
  
  
  When should you hire a doula?        
  
  Ideally, choose a doula when you are about 20 weeks along. If you are further along, there is no need to panic! Doula's are very flexible and can even take on a birth when you are in labor!
  
  
  What does your fee include?
  
  2 prenatal visists where we will consult with you about your birth plan, your fears and aspirations, different positions and techniques to make your labor and birth easier, and give you knowledge that will empower you to have a beautiful birth experience.
  
  Continuous support throughout labor and birth
  
  1 postnatal visit
  
  Numerous support through phone calls during pregnancy and after birth
  
  Help in constructing a birth plan
  
  Photography of your labor, birth, and baby
  
  24/7 availability starting 3 weeks prior to your estimated due date, and 2 weeks afterwards.
  
  Where do you offer your services?
  
  As doulas, we are willing to work in your home, your choice of hospital, or your birthing center. Currently we are offering services to Salt Lake, Utah, and Juab counties.
  
  
  Here is what will happen when you contact me:
  
  You will get a return phone call within 24 hours . We will then set up a time and place that we can meet in person (this will not count as one of your prenatal visits). At that meeting we will go over a few things (when you're due, your birth preferences, etc. .) and set up a time and place that we can do your prenatals. 
  
  
  When I am in labor when do I contact you?
  
  You may contact me whenever you feel that you need to. I am available 24/7. It's up to you to decide when you need me, whether it's from the moment you go into labor or when you're in the active phase of labor.
  
  What is a back up doula?
  
  A back up doula is some one who can step in for me in case I absolutely cannot attend your birth. You will still have your prenatal and postpartum visits with me. The only reason you would get a back up doula instead of the doula you hired is if I cannot make it to your birth. I usually dont plan trips around my clients due dates but in case of emergency you will still get to experience your birth with a doula. Below is our contact information. If for any reason the doula you hired isn't able to attend your birth the other listed below will take her place.
  
  
  ABOUT KAREN-
  
  I decided to become a Doula because of the experience I had with the birth of my little boy. I had taken the HypnoBirthing classes and found them intriguing and educational. I started into labor and kept on going for 32 hours, all in comfort and ease, but close to exhaustion. My midwife decided it was time for me to go to the hospital because it had been 24 hours since my water had broken. When I arrived at the hospital, I feel like the focus of all those around me was to be done and just get the baby here. After pushing for 4 hours, I heard comments in the room that "her pelvis must be too small", and "I've never not seen this technique work." With these comments being made around me, and out of sheer exhaustion, I decided to have a cesarean birth. I had a beautiful and healthy little boy and a well done surgery, but I felt disconnected from the whole experience. Afterwards my husband asked the doctor what was "wrong" with me, and why hadn't the baby come, was the baby too big, was her pelvis too small etc. To this he replied "No, everything was perfect, he was just taking his time." So I started doing research with a fury to keep my mind off the hurt and anger I felt over my birthing experience, and was astounded at what I found. With a cesarean rate that has just risen to 30% in the United states, I knew something was wrong with our system. I decided that for me personally my cesarean could have been avoided if I had had the support I needed. I felt strongly the need to help women who are faced with the medical world of birth everyday, and especially to help women who faced what I did. I love to attend all births from all cultures. I do feel like I have a strong background and deep compassion for women who want a VBAC and those who are HypnoBirthing moms, because that's what brought me here. I love what I do, and my dream is to daily change the birthing world by empowering mom's to know that they CAN give birth.
  
  
            ABOUT AUBREY - 
  
            I decided to become a doula when I became interested in midwifery. I had already gone to school to be a medical assistant and was working in a doctors office at the time. The doctor who I was working with was a family doctor and I had helped with many pregnant patients prenatally and postpartum. After working with him for several months he decided to stop delivering babies. I missed it and wanted so much to be a part of it again. I knew a midwife who had delivered several babies and I had worked with her before in our office. I had asked to be a part of her team and it happened to work out. To further my education in child birth I took the doula course and am working on becoming certified.  I wanted to help women acheive their greatest desires for birth because the birth of my own baby didnt go as planned. Being a diabetic mother didn't help with the process because I had to deliver three weeks early. A cesarean was planned but it didn't go as expected. I crashed from the medications they used during the cesarean and for the first two days of my daughters life I was in the ICU. I didnt get to hold her until she was a day and a half old but I was on so many pain medications that I didnt remember holding her at all, infact I didn't remember much of anything those first few days. When I think back on my birthing experience it was definately not one I'd like to rememer. I didn't do the hypnobirthing although now I wish I had. I think it would have helped me tremendously.I didn't know I even had options but now that I do it frustrates me to think that the birth of my daughter could have gone very differently. My goal is to help women have the best child birth possible. It's to make the memory of their birth something that they will always treasure and will take NO regrets from.
  
  
  
  
  
      
  
  
                                  
   
  
  Contact Karen:              MY EMAIL: easybeautifulbirthing@yahoo.com
  
                                        MY PHONE NUMBER:    801-372-3312    
  
  I am currently serving all of Utah and Juab counties