I provide birth services to pregnant people in the Salt Lake City, UT area.

My services include birth and postpartum doula services and placental encapsulation.

A doula is a woman who helps women (and their families) in labor and birth.

Statistical benefits of having a trained doula present reduces:

the overall cesarean rate by 50%

the length of labor by 25%

Pitocin use by 40%

pain medication by 30%

the need for forceps by 40%

epidurals by 60%

helping adjust the pillows to make a laboring mom more comfortable

I am always so honored when families hire me to be present and help them at a birth. I know what a special, sacred moment the birth of a child is and I will hold the space and allow you to experience your journey, offering open minded educational, physical and emotional support along the way. I trust birth. I trust that women can and do make educated and instinctive decisions that are right for them. I believe one of the most important prenatal planning is choosing your support people you invite into your home and into the birth of your child.

My services may include:

• a free 30 minutes consultation. This is the time to get a sense of who I am, and ask me questions you may have regarding my birth philosophies and how I can support your birthing desires. This is when we will decide if we work well together.
• 2 prenatal visits where I follow your lead through prenatal education, creating a birth plan, practical labor positions, and how we intend to spend your labor.
• Use of my extensive lending library, including all the best birth books and DVDs containing many beautiful natural births.
• Continuous labor support, from the time you call me in early active labor until up to two hours postpartum
• Practical breastfeeding help in the early hours and days following your birth.
• 2 postpartum visits, one a week after the birth to discuss your birth and journey into motherhood together and another a month later to check in
• Discounted placental encapsulation

I am “on call” within two weeks of your guess date, and once you call to tell me you are in labor, I will be with you throughout labor and delivery and the first two hours postpartum.

During your birthing process, I will provide emotional and physical support, using a variety of comfort techniques from massage, position support and suggestion, tools such as a birth ball to breathing techniques and ways your partner and others who attend your birth can make you comfortable and reduce pain.

The point is, I am there for you and your partner. Fathers/partners often have their own significant fears and anxieties surrounding birth. My calming influence can have as large an effect on your partner as on you. I can help show your partner effective ways to touch and comfort you, which often leads to increased participation on the part of the partner, since they often feel more comfortable following directions on how to help.

After the birth, I will help you learn to breastfeed your new child, and I will write up your birth story. I have a Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing, so you are guaranteed a beautiful keepsake to remember this special time. (It is often hard for mothers and fathers to remember all the details, so it helps to have an outside perspective!)

I will also meet with you twice during the postpartum period to help in any way I can, go over your birth story and discuss your feelings about the birth and any questions you might have about caring for your newborn.

My specific duties will vary with each client, as each woman is different. Whether you choose a natural birth at home or a hospital birth with an epidural and a cesarean, I am ready, willing and able to help make your experience wonderful!

A video by Birth Works on why you should hire a doula: