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Meet the Birth Doulas
The Doulas of Greater Kansas City does not endorse or recommend professionals, but lists those professionals who endorse The Doulas of Greater Kansas City mission statement; Our mission is to make a positive difference for pregnant women, new mothers and their families through education, nurturing and advocacy, while fostering respect, knowledge and integrity among doulas everywhere, and the DONA vision statement; A doula for every woman who wants one, and are paid Doulas of Greater Kansas City members. Doulas of Greater Kansas City does not guarantee the professionals’ information contained in this guide and Doulas of Greater Kansas City does not check the validity or accuracy of credentials including, but not limited to, certifications, licenses or training of any listed professional. There are variations in the philosophies and practices of professionals listed. It is the responsibility of each consumer to verify the credentials of professionals and Doulas of Greater Kansas City encourages consumers to interview professionals in order to find the care that is right for each individual and family.
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Elizabeth Allen, CCE - Childbirth Educator, Doula, Family Planning Instructor, Wellness Educator
I am a DONA trained Doula and a Certified Childbirth Educator through the Academy of Certified Birth Educators (ACBE). I work as an Antepartum, Birth, Overnight, and Postpartum Doula. I teach an array of Childbirth Education classes to fit the needs of each individual, including traveling classes for moms on bed rest. I also teach Breastfeeding Basics, Infant Care, Family Planning, and Health and Wellness Classes. Choosing to labor and birth in such a way that safely meets as many of your needs as possible, is important to me. My desire is for every woman to have a positive and nurturing experience during her pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum.
"And peace...which surpasses all understanding...will guard your hearts and your minds..." - I am delighted to accompany you on your birth journey.
phone: 913-754-6326
email:
web: www.KCLaborSupport.com |
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Sherri Bertram
I started attending births in 1996 out in rural Kansas. At first, it was friends and family who asked me to be with them during childbirth to give them support and just be there for them. One of these friends had a home birth and I met the most wonderful midwife. She was sound, gifted and taught me more about childbirth than I ever knew from having my own. I attended home births with her for about 8 years, learning techniques to ease the pain of labor while keeping the labor moving forward. When I moved to Kansas City, I knew that home births were fewer and farther between, so I trained as a doula and have enjoyed working in the hospitals with my birthing moms. Each birth is as different as each client is different so my goal is making the birth experience personal and giving each mom the kind of birth she can look back on with fond memories.
phone: 816-216-6898
email:
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Rosemary Boudreaux, La Leche League Leader
phone: 816-353-2617
email:
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Denise "Nadah" Cartmill, Birth Doula, Massage Therapist, Childbirth Educator
Nadah has been in private practice as a massage therapist for over twenty years having helped to develop and teach in the massage therapy program at Johnson County Community College. She also helped to establish the first hospital-based massage program at Saint Luke's Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. After numerous massage clients began asking for her to provide labor support, she became trained as a doula with the Academy of Certified Birth Educators and Labor Support Professionals in Olathe, Kansas where she also trained as a childbirth educator. In over nine years of hands-on birth work she has used her experience with touch as well as aromatherapy and herbal information to help women and their partners achieve their goals in childbirth. Her approach is to support women in such a way that they have confidence in the process and their own ability to give birth. Her services include prenatal consult and massage if desired, private childbirth education, labor support, breast-feeding assistance and one or two post-partum visits.
phone: 913-634-2059
email:
web: http://www.doulanadah.com |
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Bridget Chick, Birth Doula, Massage Therapist
phone: 913-244-8493
email:
web: http://www.bridgetchick.com |
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Rikki Hays Clawson, DC
Dr. Rikki Hays Clawson graduated from Cleveland Chiropractic College with her Doctorate of Chiropractic degree in 2009 and is certified by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners and the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners of Missouri. She is also currently in training as a doula and is scheduled to be trained as a HypnoBabies instructor in the Spring of 2012. Dr. Rikki is a lifelong resident of the Kansas City area, attending Lee's Summit schools and living in Blue Springs. A severe car accident at the age of 18 introduced her to the wonders of chiropractic care and the rest is history!
Dr. Rikki's goal is to assist her patients in creating a healthier life for themselves, as well as their family members. Dr. Rikki specializes in adjusting pregnant women and babies and strives to educate mothers on the wonderful, natural experience that is birth.
phone: 816.229.4949
email:
web: http://www.mywholelifehealth.net |
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Jill Clingan, Birth and Postpartum Doula
As a DONA trained labor and postpartum doula and a mother of
two children, I believe that women deserve nurturing and support throughout
pregnancy, labor, delivery, and the postpartum period. After my own wonderful
experience with a doula when my son was born, I decided I wanted to help nurture
other women through their pregnancies and births. The foundation of my doula
practice is my passionate belief that birth is a natural, sacred, beautiful
event and that all women deserve the chance to experience birth as positive,
empowering, joyful, and life-changing. I believe that women's bodies
were
perfectly created to conceive, grow, and bring new life into this world and that
my role as a doula is to nurture women through this miraculous process. I also
feel great compassion towards the monumental task that is before new mothers in
their postpartum days, and I love to help compassionately nurture women who are
feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and even depressed. I believe that what new
families need most is nurturing and gentle support and that by nurturing the
mother, I can help her care for her baby more effectively.
phone: 913-575-2970
email:
web: http://www.jillclingan.com |
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Christina Collins, Childbirth Educator and Labor Doula
I began doula work in 2008. I had 6 children before I learned about doulas. I had 2 doula assisted births, what a difference it made. I have been through Natural Births, a C-section, VBACS, and Posterior babies with and without intervention. My home is full of children, 8 to be exact and more to be welcomed. I would like to help you have the birth you desire.
phone: 816-824-1778
email:
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Rachel Daniels, RN, HypnoBirthing Childbirth Educator
I'm a mom, birth assistant, nurse and HypnoBirthing teacher. I help women rediscover their natural abilities in pregnancy, labor and birth. HypnoBirthing emphasizes a calm, relaxed, love filled labor and birth experience. The classes help women redefine what birthing can be. I often hear, “I'm so excited to meet my baby, I'm just not looking forward to the labor and birth part.” HypnoBirthing: The Mongan Method, helps diminish the fear of birth, so you can have a wonderful experience for you, your birth companion, and baby. To find out more about classes and how HypnoBirthing can enrich your experience, visit my website or call me and talk to me personally.
Happy Birthing!
phone: 913-674-9766
email:
web: http://www.superbirth.com |
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Louise E. DeLaney, CCCE, CLD
Louise's fascination and passion for the pregnant woman started long ago. She has always found such beauty in the way a woman's body swells with life and how we, as women, are the ones who get to so intimately participate with God in His creative process as He creates yet another miracle. It seemed only logical then, that she would find a way to channel this passion into something productive and constructive. She started working with expectant moms and their partners in 2003 and has never looked back. She currently offers a variety of private childbirth education classes, doula services and trainings to the greater Kansas City area. She has been married to her best friend, Ed, since 2001 and together, they have two beautiful children. She holds both of her certifications as a childbirth educator and labor doula through CAPPA. Louise is currently working on becoming a Certified Lactation Educator with CAPPA as well. In addition, Louise is a member of CAPPA’s faculty and offers CAPPA approved training workshops for both CAPPA’s labor doula and childbirth educator certification programs.
phone: 816-820-3958
email:
web: http://www.sweetmiraclesdoula.com |
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Elizabeth Dimmitt, Birth and Postpartum Doula
If you are pregnant, you are embarking on one of the most exciting, magical, frightening, and spiritual journeys you will ever have the opportunity to take in your life. Finding the right doula can enhance this journey. My goal as a doula is to help empower you with information and support during pregnancy, labor, birth, breastfeeding, and transitioning your home for baby. This will allow you to make decisions that you and your partner feel are the best for your new family. Together we can work to develop healthy beginnings, build confidence and positive images of birth, and prepare for life with your baby. As a trained Doula through Academy of Certified Birth Educators, a mother, and a Licensed Professional Counselor, I have training and experience in communication, child development, comfort measures, fear exploration, family transitions, and coping with change. I would be honored to share in your momentous life experience. I will primarily serve Nodaway and Worth county residents but will work to accommodate the needs of mothers in surrounding areas.
phone: 660-620-1121
email:
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Nicole Elliott Bays
I am a CAPPA trained Labor Doula and Childbirth Educator and I would love to help you along this awesome journey of new beginnings. When my daughter was born two fires lit inside of me the first to be the best mother I could and the second to serve other mothers in their journey of motherhood. My passion is to empower women to look within themselves and see they have all the makings of a healthy labor however they choose. I experienced firsthand what a positive attitude does during labor with my own pregnancy and others. Pregnancy and labor can be a scary thing because of the unknown but it doesn’t have to be. When you educate yourself and surround yourself with solid support and a “Can Do” attitude you have all the makings of a pregnancy and labor you can be happy about. I want to help facilitate your wishes so that you and your partner can be confident throughout the process because making a child is such a miraculous thing.
phone: 818-451-8636
email:
web: http://www.belliesandbundles.com |
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Gaela Fisher, Certified Labor Doula, LPN
The Empowered Woman- My goal is to give you the tools that you need to make your birth experience a meaningful, spiritual time in your life. I will work with both you and your birth partner to take control of pain management, learn how to express your needs to your health care provider, and assist you in making and carrying out your birth plan.We will work together using breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, positional changes, water therapy and other methods to address comfort issues.
phone: 816-786-9532
email:
web: http://www.YourBodyYourBaby.com |
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Vanessa Flood
Birthing Beyond, LLC was created to enhance the physical and emotional journey
into motherhood through education and labor support.
I offer comprehensive private childbirth education, continuous labor support
with certified doula services and certified breastfeeding education and support.
phone: 913-485-0298
web: http://www.birthingbeyond.com |
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Pat Flynn, PhD
Birth
Whether you choose a natural or medically assisted birth, you deserve a positive
experience that is worthy of respect. I would be honored to assist as your Doula
and activist to help you find confidence and strength in the birth of your child. Let
me educate, pamper and empower you during this amazing time.
Loss
If you are facing the tragedy of stillbirth, miscarriage or early infant death you will
need someone who can be your advocate and provide resources. If medically
possible, you need time to prepare as you will only have this one opportunity to
say hello and goodbye to your precious baby. I have experienced the stillbirth of
my son, received education and training pertaining to perinatal loss and am one
of the few certified Baby Loss Doula Instructors in the nation. I would be honored
to assist and advocate for you, while we work together to prepare and to make a
lifetime of memories in the short time you will have with your precious child.
phone: 816-830-9572
email:
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Cheryl Gates
phone: 913-722-1721
email:
web: http://www.kchomebirth.com |
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Melissa George, Birth Doula & Childbirth Educator
I am a CAPPA trained childbirth educator and birth doula, I'm also a mom of two.
I have a passion to help women feel supported and empowered by their
birth because I believe that a woman's birth experience can play a part in
shaping her as a mother. I will support her through any kind of birth she
chooses or needs because all women, reguardless of the method used to birth her
baby, deserve to feel supported. I will give her the tools she needs to make
informed decisions through her pregnancy and support her emotionally and
physically during her birth using a variety of techniques.
"Birth is not only about making babies. Birth is about making mothers. Strong,
competent, capable mothers who trust themselves and know their inner strength."-
Barbara Katz Rothman
phone: 913-579-5637
email:
web: http://www.smallblessingsdoulaservices.com |
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Linda Herrick, RN, CD(DONA)
phone: 785-242-6423
email:
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Anne Iverson, Birth Doula
Anne is a trained doula through the Academy of Certified Birth Educators and works in the Lawrence, Kansas City, and Topeka areas. She has two B.A.s from KU in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and in Sociology and is also a trained sexual assault survivor advocate.
Anne believes that birth is one of the most important moments in a woman's life and every woman deserves to experience her labor and birth with support and respect for her choices. Her role as a doula is to help provide an environment in which you as a laboring mother feel nurtured and strengthened, not rushed or pressured. She works with you to engage your own power and abilities to welcome your baby into the world.
phone: 712-540-5917
email:
web: http://www.seedlingdoula.com |
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Jena Kittle, DC, Birth Doula
phone: 816-377-3270
email:
web: www.balancedcarechiropractic.com |
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Lauren Letterman, Hypnobabies Instructor, Hypno-Doula, Birth Doula
I am a toLabor trained Birth Doula, Hypnobabies Childbirth Hypnosis Doula, and Hypnobabies Instructor. I serve families in Kansas City, Missouri and the surrounding areas. My role as a doula and educator is to help parents have their best birth - one where their wishes are respected and they always feel loved and supported.
phone: 417.234.6835
email:
web: http://www.peaceful-birth.com |
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Teresa Marshall, CD, PCD(DONA)
I am a birth and postpartum doula, including overnight care. The birth of my first son in 1981 was a profound life changing event for me. From the moment David was born I realized how incredible and capable a woman's body is. I want all women to have the birth experience they desire. We all have the right to feel respected, in control and empowered through our labor and birth at home or in a birth center or hospital. I went on to have three more beautiful, natural birth experiences. Now that my children are out of the nest I am devoted to what I now know is my life's calling. All the best to you for a safe, healthy and incredible birth!
phone: 913-402-4434 or 913-271-4067
email:
web: http://www.facebook.com/TLCdoula |
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Catherine Martin, Birth Doula, RYT
I am a CAPPA trained labor doula, certified prenatal yoga instructor, and mama of two boys! It is my passion to empower women in this life and I am blessed to be able to do this in many ways. The blessing of birthing a child into the world is a powerful time of transforming who we are- it’s not only opening your body, but opening your heart, mind & soul. I specialize in guided meditation, visualization and imagery as well as showing you how to hold and move your body to do what it does best naturally and to ease your baby into the world. I am a calm, peaceful presence providing support physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I have several packages available for doula clients which can include prenatal yoga & thai massage, aromatherapy, guided meditation & visualization sessions, breastfeeding & post-partum support. Please email or call me to set up a free initial consultation. I look forward to hearing from you!
phone: 816-520-2247
email:
web: http://www.kcyogamama.com |
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Diana Meisinger (DONA)certified Birth, Postpartum, and Night Doula
She is the wife and mother of four home-birthed and breastfed children. Diana is a trained Waldorf early childhood educator- for the last eighteen years she has been teaching as well as helping families develop rhythm, and rituals in their home. She feels that creating a sacred birthing space before and after delivery is important. She is committed to helping each family achieve that goal and support them in their new roles as parents.
phone: 913-592-3915
email:
web: sacredspacesdoulasupport.com |
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Elizebeth Miller, Birth and Postpartum Doula
I believe that birth is the most amazing experience and women should be able to experience it to the fullest by being educated about the many choices and having continuous, loving support.
phone: 660-647-2843
email:
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Cami Nettekoven, CD(DONA)
Cami is DONA trained, serving the Greater Kansas City Metro area in home and hospital births. She is also educated by the Kansas City Missouri Health Department as a Breastfeeding Counselor with Nutritional Services. Her experiences as a mother have encouraged her to share her gift and to be a support to other expectant mothers. Her position as a doula is to help families understand the nature of the birth process and to empower them with the tools to make pregnancy, childbirth, and beyond an experience of fulfillment and joy.
phone: 816-591-4633
email:
web: http://www.kansascitydoula.com |
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Cindy Obenhaus, PCD(DONA), CD(DONA), RN, CBE
Mothers and babies have been Cindy Obenhaus’ life work, spanning over 30 years. As a professional nurse, Cindy has worked in neonatal intensive care, pediatric care, mother baby care and high-risk obstetrical outpatient care and management. Locally, Cindy has worked at Children’s Mercy, St. Luke’s Hospital and pediatric offices, nationally in areas of pediatric and adolescent urgent care and internationally in Haiti, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. While working in Haiti, Cindy was drawn to the birth experience and postpartum period of rural Haitian women. Caring and observing the natural and communal nature of birth and the care of mothers and babies after birth there sparked a passion to bring this experience back to women here in the U.S. Her unique background of maternal-newborn health in the hospital setting and her experience as a program director of a free standing birthing center in Haiti bring a balanced approach to birth and the postpartum period for mothers, babies and their families. Most important to Cindy are healthy mothers, healthy babies and healthy families. As a DONA trained postpartum doula, Cindy brings her passion, expertise and non-judgmental support to families with newborns, walking alongside parents as they transition into parenthood.
phone: 816-719-3396
email:
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Dayna O'Gorman, Birth Doula, Childbirth Educator
Dayna is a certified birth doula and childbirth educator through Academy of Certified Birth Educators. She has almost 10 years of experience as an educator and doula having taught the last 8 years at a local hospital, and now teaches privately. She has attended unmedicated and medicated, VBAC and cesarean section deliveries in almost every hospital in the metro area. Dayna believes that using education, support and nurturing, women will feel empowered to make decisions that are right for them and have the birth experiences they desire.
email:
web: http://www.daynadoula.com |
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Sarah O'Leary, Childbirth Educator, Labor Doula
I have always been fascinated by birth and hoped since I was young, to work in the birth professional field. I believe God created our bodies so beautifully and intricately, giving us as women the ability to participate in creating new life from within. It is such a honor to witness such a blessed event as birth! In addition to serving as a Labor Doula and Birth Educator, I am a wife and mom of three children. I am a CAPPA-trained Labor Doula and Birth Educator and have been working the birth professional field since 2009.
phone: 913-568-9342
email:
web: www.onceuponapregnancy.com |
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Sherry Payne, RN, Birth Doula
Sherry Payne is a registered nurse and homebirth doula. She is dedicated to assisting women in having a natural, unmedicated, and empowering birth experience in the home or birth center setting. She also provides guidance in getting breastfeeding off to a good start. Ms. Payne resides in Overland Park and is the mother of nine, six born at home.
phone:913-638-0716
email:
web: www.perinatalresourcellc.com |
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Sarah Ragusa, Birth, Postpartum and Overnight Doula, Pregnancy Loss & Stillbirth Doula
My priority is to help you have a safe, memorable and empowering birthing experience whether you choose an un-medicated birth or are having a planned cesarean birth. I want to encourage you with the decisions you make, without judgment. I aim to provide emotional, physical and informational support and encouragement in a wide variety of ways before, during and after the birth of your child. I consider it the highest honor to support the beautiful birth you've dreamed of! And because I personally know life is not always beautiful, I am available to offer bereavement support for families coping with pregnancy loss and stillbirth. Contact me for more information.
phone: 402-304-2499
email:
web: www.chebelladoula.com |
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Sally Riley
Your labor and birth is an experience that you will remember forever. We can work together to help that memory to be positive by: 1.) building a healthy pregnancy; 2.) choosing a supportive care provider, a place of birth and a doula; 3.) writing a birth plan to express your choices; 4.) developing a positive belief in childbirth; and 5.) preparing for life at home with your baby. Sally is a certified childbirth educator (offering private childbirth education as well as group classes), certified doula, breastfeeding educator, and DONA doula trainer.
phone: 913-341-2853
web: http://www.acbe.com/ |
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Kim Rowe
What an exciting time in your life...to be trusted with the the honor of being pregnant. I believe
that this journey from pregnancy to birth should be and can be the most wonderful, blessed time in your life. I
myself am a mom of three, God graciously entrusted my husband and I with a spunky little girl, and two adventerous
boys. I homeschool my children and believe that the family bond begins in pregnancy. As a CAPPA certified labor
doula, my primary goal will be to offer you the emotional, physical and educational support that you will need. I will
work very hard to see that the birth goes as you and your partner have planned (not necessarily how the medical
field has it planned). I will be your advocate, and your voice if needed. I believe education is power and I am here
to offer you just that. We're in this together, and I truly believe that the best is yet to come!
phone: 816.914.4926
email:
web: www.abidinglovebirthingservices.com |
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Heidi Shulista, CD(DONA), Birth Doula
My goal is to empower women through knowledge and confidence in their bodies own abilities during the birth of their babies. This is done through education and support starting in pregnancy and continuing until after the birth. I can also offer support during the postpartum period as a doula. I believe that everyone deserves a doula no matter what their situation may be. I am the mother of several children and understand the significance of birth and how the memory remains a part of your life.
phone: 913-244-6464
email:
web: http://everyonedeservesadoula.com |
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Mindy Simpson, Birth Doula
Hi I'm Mindy Simpson (aka Doula Mindy) I am a DONA trained Birth Doula. I love all things about birth. I enjoy working with pregnant women and their partners through their birth process. I feel I have great compassion and understanding to the needs of laboring women. Childbirth is an amazing experience. I would love to work with you and ....Encouraging The Strength Within You. I work in the KC area as well as the Northwest part of the State of Missouri.
phone: 816-284-0041
email:
web: http://www.encouragingthestrengthwithin.com |
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Jill M. Strom, DC
phone: 913-402-7444
email:
web: www.first-choice-chiro.com |
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Pam Summers, CD, CMD, LMT
My role is to benefit you and bring relief to your partner. As a massage doula I feel it is a HONOR to assist you in the serenity of letting go and working with the natural rhythms of childbirth. I help you understand options and give support in bringing forth your own empowered ideal birth, by nurturing your inner strength and courage, helping you find wisdom within yourself, providing comfort measures for the body and meditation for the spirit and soul. Birth becomes best when interfered with as little as possible and as much as necessary. I believe there is no greater "Miracle" than the "Birth of a Baby"! Available for pregnancy, labor, and birth.
phone: 816-254-1188/816-405-5250 please leave a message and I will get back with you!
email:
web: http://www.embrace-nature.com |
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Sherri White Tauheed, Birth & Postpartum Doula
Sherri Tauheed is a Birth Doula serving the Kansas City Metropolitan area. She is the founder of Ausetwomb International; her motto is “Mothering the Mother” Her purpose is to holistically support Mothers and families with their pregnancy and birth choices. Sherri is a trained DONA labor Doula, ICTC trained postpartum Doula, WIC trained Breastfeeding Peer Counselor, Practical Nurse Graduate and Midwifery Student. As a Doula she provides educational resources that are culturally competent on pregnancy, birth plans, comfort measures during labor, postpartum care, breastfeeding support and newborn care. Sherri is also the state representative for the International Center for Traditional Childbearing (ICTC), their mission is to advocate for better maternal health care practices, promote breastfeeding, reduce infant mortality rates and increase the number of Midwives and Doulas in the African American community. “One does not force a pregnant woman to give birth. ~Baule Proverb”
phone: 816-316-0208
email:
web: www.ausetwomb.com (under contstruction)
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Sarah Wallbaum, CPM (Certified Professional Midwife), CD(DONA)
I am a homebirth midwife in the greater Kansas City area and have been a doula for many years as well. I attend
home births including all prenatal visits in the comfort of your own home. I have studied natural nutrition and healing for many years and use this knowledge to assist the moms I work with to encourage a healthier pregnancy and more satisfying birth. I feel that birth is a pivotal time in which a woman can explore her inner strengths as well as her fears, opening herself to her right and responsibility to make decisions for herself as well as her child. Women have a right to mother-centered care and support, whatever that means to each mother.
phone: 816-305-0391
email:
web: http://www.mamasara.com |
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Rachel Williston, Midwife, Doula
I am Rachel Williston, midwife, doula, and home birth mom of two boys. I believe
in the idea that birth brings into being a new family and mother as well as a
new baby. I encourage educated choices and a williness to explore your emotions
and options as you go through this experience. I take very few clients as I am
currently working on opening a free standing birthing center in KC, MO.
phone: 816-699-6416
email:
web: www.motherslovebirthcenter.com
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Alyssa-Rae Zonarich, DC, CD(DONA)
I am a chiropractor, DONA certified birth doula, childbirth educator, and group fitness instructor. My passion is all things fertility, pregnancy, birth, postpartum and child & family health. I'd love to talk to you about my services. Please visit my DoulaMatch.net profile for more information and to check my availability calendar.
phone: 913-908-1291
email:
web: Visit my DoulaMatch.net Profile |
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