SF Bay Birth

Specialties

When I get hired to be a birth doula, my primary goal is to get to know my client, their labor support team and their desires for their birth. Making a connection and establishing trust is a large portion of what doulas do. I provide educational, emotional and physical labor support. This means supplying information regarding labor, birth, newborn care, and breastfeeding, teaching hands on comfort measures for labor, and working with partners to feel better prepared on how to support mom. Having someone in labor that is there just for you, with no other obligations or agendas, has been proven to lower the use of interventions and need for pain meds.

Services include all of the following:

Two prenatal appointments: getting to know each other; exploring what is most important to you for your birth; what to expect before, during and after labor; help creating birth plan; breathing techniques, comfort measures and learning other coping techniques.

Unlimited phone and email support before and after birth

Continuous support through labor and birth, with back-​up support available

Immediate postpartum support at place of birth

Initial breastfeeding support

One postpartum visit (Additional visits available)

Access to my growing lending library

Complimentary Interview

I offer free, no obligation meet and greets so we can meet each other and determine if we would like to work together!

History

Established in 2013.

October 2010

Completed Birth Doula Skills Workshop, Simkin Center at Bastyr University

January 2011

Completed Basics of Breastfeeding for Doulas, Birth and Beyond in Seattle

January 2011

Joined the Precepted Apprenticeship Program, PALS Doulas

November 2011

Completed the ICEA Approved Childbirth Educator Workshop, Great Starts in Seattle

January 2013

Joined Hearts & Hands Volunteer Doula Program, Contra Costa Regional Medical Center

March 2013

Became a Certified Birth Doula or CD (DONA), DONA International

November 2013

Completed Postpartum Doula Skills Workshop, Blossom Birth in Palo Alto

Completed Lamaze Passion for Birth, Childbirth Education Workshop, Seattle

Meet the Business Owner

Bethany H.

Business Owner

I am a mother to four children, ages 13 down to 3 years old. My husband and I have lived in several different cities since we’ve been together, but we are happy to call Martinez, CA home now! We love the community and friends we have made here.

I have been interested in birth since I was pregnant with my oldest daughter. The woman who taught my childbirth class was a midwife and I remember greatly admiring her and being drawn to the profession back then. At the time, I ended up pursuing other goals so it wasn’t until I was pregnant with my third child and living in Seattle that I found myself drawn into and emerged in the passion of birth work again. I researched all the different careers you could have supporting women in birth. I eventually signed up and attended my birth doula skills workshop, the first step towards my certification.

As a trained and certified doula I hope to provide a kind and caring atmosphere for women to make the decisions they feel are right for themselves,