The DC Chapter of the International Cesarean Awareness Network is sponsoring a "Meet the Doulas" event on Capitol Hill.  Come meet area birth and postpartum doulas.  Learn more about the areas they cover and how they help during labor and postpartum. 

Having a doula at your birth can:

50% reduction in the cesarean rate
25% shorter labor
60% reduction in epidural requests
40% reduction in oxytocin use
30% reduction in analgesia use
40% reduction in forceps delivery

When:
May 30, 2009
1:00pm-3:00pm

Where:
628 5th St NE
Washington DC 20002


If you are curious about what a doula does or want to meet area doulas in person, come to this free event. This event is sponsored by ICAN of DC, a non-profit group dedicated to supporting safe birth and lowering the rate of unnecessary cesareans. For more information join our Yahoo! Group http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/icanofdc.

Doulas In Attendance:

Nicole Jolley

My name is Nicole Jolley.  I own and operate Belly Birth Services LLC,serving Capitol Hill and the greater metro area.  I am a DONA trained, experienced doula who supports families in the time surrounding the birth experience. I do not approach my clients with an agenda (ie. natural childbirth only or home birth only) but strive to meet moms and their partners where they are on the birth journey. For some that means a natural birth and for others that may mean birthing with an option for pain medication or medical intervention. My only request is that my clients be active and diligent birth consumers - willing to ask questions and explore their options. I have worked in all of the DC metro hospitals and birth centers and have experienced all types of birth - home, natural, medicated, water, VBAC, breech, twins.  I have attended more than 250 deliveries (and counting!).

 Belly Birth Services LLC
bellybirthservices@...
PO Box 48502, WDC 20002
703-489-2585

 Mary Bailey
202-251-4338
maryebailey@...

My goal as a postpartum doula is to support you as you go through your fourth trimester with your baby and heal from the birth.  I will listen as you process your birth story and feelings as a new mom, help you as you learn to care for and feed your baby, help connect you to local resources in the area which might enhance your parenting journey, and take care of practical needs in the early weeks, such as meal preparation, light housekeeping and organizing, and errands.  Most of all, my desire is to support you in focusing on getting to know your baby intimately, and in developing your parenting instincts and confidence, in an open, accepting, and nonjudgemental manner.   I serve the areas of Takoma Park, Silver Spring, downtown Bethesda, parts of DC and PG County.  Visits typically take place in 2-3 hour increments, and can be scheduled on weekdays, evenings, and weekends.

Emily Smith

Emily L. Smith is a doula in training through DONA and a volunteer doula at the Family Health and Birth Center in NE DC.  She is a wife and the mother of a daughter born in 2007, and another baby on her/his way in October 2009.  It was because of her own positive and empowered birth in 2007 that she decided to become a doula.  Emily believes your pregnancy doesn't have to be a scary time, but that you can dispel fears by becoming informed of your choices.  Your birth has the potiental to be a celebration!

 Sara Baum

My name is Sara Baum and I am a DONA-certified labor/birth doula based in Montgomery County and serving the DC metro area.  I believe that in addition to a healthy baby, all women deserve to have a birth experience that they can look back on happily and proudly.  I believe that mothers deserve accurate information and the opportunity to make their own birth choices, without pressure or judgment from anyone.  I have supported women who had unmedicated vaginal births, medicated vaginal births, and VBACs.  I have worked in hospitals as well as birth centers, and with family doctors, obstetricians, and midwives.  I have supported single moms, teen moms, moms whose partners want to be their primary support, and moms and partners who want a doula as their main support.  My personal experience giving birth informs my doula work and enables me to better understand and respond to my clients' experiences. I take a small number of clients so that I can focus on getting to know each woman closely and tailoring my support to her and her family's needs. I provide continuous physical, emotional, and informational support during labor and birth, as well as postpartum and breastfeeding support.  I can be reached at baum.sara@..., or 312.501.5356.  

 Maria Mercedes Olivieri, CD(DONA)

 I am a DONA-certified birth doula interested in working with VBACs. As a mother and grandmother, I'm taking advantage of my retirement years to do what I'd always wanted to do "when I grew up"--being involved in the miracle that is birth.
I have coached over a two dozen births at several DC-area hospitals, including one VBAC.  I am trained as both a Childbirth and Breastfeeding Educator.  Further, I'm a Massage Therapist in the process of getting my professional license in Virginia.
In addition to the usual birth doula services, I provide one prenatal massage.

 Nichole Johns

My name is Nichole Johns.   I live near Baltimore and am involved with Barbara Stratton's ICAN chapter.  I have two children of my own; one was a cesarean and the second was born unassisted at home.  I am new to being a doula, but with the few births I have attended I have gotten experience with cesarean, hosptial birth, unassisted birth, and breech birth.  I am also a student midwife and have been assisting in prenatal care for almost a year.

 Ursula Sabia Sukinik, AAHCC

Women have been birthing babies for thousands of years. We lived in communities surrounded by family and friends. This village offered education, love, companionship, support and education.  In today's world, where it once took a village to raise a child, we live alone in our own space and distant from family and friends.   Childbirth classes are now a necessity for mothers to be.  Childbirth classes are a gateway to a village of support and knowledge.

Childbirth classes help you to understand the birth process and to figure out what type of birth experience you desire.  Today the majority of women birth in hospitals, however birth center and home births are attracting more and more healthy and low-risk mothers.  Water births, VBACs, and alternative birth experiences are desired by some.  My childbirth classes will help the birth team who may not know what type of experience they desire as well as help to facilitate conversations with your provider once you know what you desire in your birth.  My goal is to help you have the `birth you desire'.

Ursula Sabia Sukinik, AAHCC

Childbirth Educator and Birth Doula

BirthYouDesire.com

301.231.5122

Claudia Booker Birthing Hands of DC

Each Birthing Hands doula and midwife birth assistant joins our team not only with seasoned and expert skill, but also as women committed to ensuring that expectant mothers experience a safe and satisfying journey toward the birth of their babies.

The doulas who are members of the Birthing Hands team are certified by a nationally recognized organization as birth doulas with vast experience and skills. Many have advanced training in midwifery, breastfeeding, massage, acupressure, perinatal education, and other birth related specialties.  

We are keenly aware of and understand hospital protocols, doctors and medical staff directives, as well as their close relationship with patients. We also know that women choosing to have their babies in a familiar home setting or in the comfort of a birthing center expect the trusted services of an experienced midwife. Birthing Hands seasoned midwife birth assistants are regularly called upon by area midwives with the confidence that our services complement their birthing expertise.

Margie Lidoff 

Postpartum Doula

  Jennifer Zaranis

301.503.4087

zaranis@...

www.damascusdoula.com

Magali Barbaran

DONA Doula-in-Training.  Volunteer Doula at the Family Health and Birth Center.  Bilingual in Spanish and English.  Yoga Teacher.


Be Well,
Janet

Janet Brown, LMT
Licensed Massage Therapist
Certified Prenatal Yoga Teacher
http://jbrownlmt.bravehost.com
Trying to Live Beautifully 
703-863-3156