Or call me at 917-528-1855
]]>The use of a postpartum doula provides many benefits:
My postpartum doula services include routine newborn care and guidance, education of the mother in bathing, cord care, diapering, calming techniques, and newborn nutrition and development, breastfeeding assistance. Additionally I help with household tasks including laundry, light housekeeping, grocery shopping, and meal preparation, care of older siblings, accompanying mother and baby to pediatrician appointments, running errands.
Flexibility is provided in 16 hour packages coordinated around your schedule.
]]>A Mother’s Circle
By Jean Kunhardt, Lisa Spiegel, Sandra Kunhardt Basile, and Sandra K. Basile
Spiritual Midwifery
By Ina May Gaskin
The Birth Partner
By Penny Simkin
Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth
By Ina May Gaskin
The Birth Book
By William Sears, MD and Martha Sears, RN
Sacred Birthing
By Sunni Karll
The Scientification of Love
We are all Waterbabies
By Michel Odent, MD
Womens Bodies, Women’s Wisdom
By Christiane Northrup, MD
The Mother of All Pregnancy Books
By Ann Douglas
Magical Beginnings and Enchanted Lives: A Holistic Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth
By Deepak Chopra, David Md Simon, David Simon, and Vicki Abrams
Birth as an American Right of Passage
By Robbie E. David- Floyd
The Expectant Father: Facts, Tips, and Advice for Dads-to-Be
By Armin A. Brott and Jennifer Ash
The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth
By Henci Goer
Postpartum:
After the Baby’s Birth
By Robin Lim
The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers
By Newman and Pitman
The Happiest Kid on the Block
By Dr. Harvey Karp
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
By La Leche League
]]>Sold separately. (please email me to see sample photos)
]]>Emily
"Nicole was a warm, reassuring, and extremely helpful presence throughout my difficult labor. She was constantly by my side, and always ready with practical and useful ideas and breathing and pushing techniques. I really felt that she genuinely cared about my well-being, as well as that of my husband and my baby."
Kristen
"I was grateful to have Nicole with us through my wife's labor. She helped create a calm atmosphere, and she gave informational support. By making me feel more comfortable and confident in my role, she allowed me to participate more fully in the birth. She was attentive to the mother's needs and mine, providing relief so I could eat and rest. Nicole undoubtedly made our child's birth a better experience."
Sam
"Nicole's help was invaluable. Her experience and preparation set us at ease from the very beginning. I encourage every couple I meet to get a doula. She allowed us to get sleep and prompted us to eat. Suggested position changes and help from the accupuncturist when we weren't progressing. She was also a great sounding board for us during our time at the hospital. I hope she'll be able to help us with all our births. Thanks Nicole!"
Mike
"I can't say enough about Nicole. When searching for a doula- she was the first to respond and the most prepared and informative. I knew we'd be in good hands with someone this caring, knowledgeable and experienced. I was right. Our labor experience was long and hard and took many twists and turns that neither our doctors or we had forseen. But Nicole was there with us every step of the way with positive reassurance that we were doing a great job and making the right choices. AND she meshed so well with our doctors that they are recommending her to their patients. Labor is the most beautiful time- but it can be overwhelming and unpredictable. You can't go wrong hiring a doula . . . especially if you are lucky enough to work with Nicole!"
Shannon
]]>My classes not only provide information and support, but also an opportunity to meet other expectant couples. However, I can also provide classes to couples in a one on one setting.
The series of classes I offer for women and couples prepares them to birth at home, birthing center, or in the hospital.
Topics Covered:
Anatomy and Physiology
Hormones during Pregnancy and labor
Stages of Labor
Signs of Labor
Pain Coping strategies
Different Breathing techniques for labor
The role of the partner
Interventions and complications
What to expect from your birthing location
What to pack and how to prepare
Pain medications for labor
Newborn procedures following birth
Newborn Care Techniques
Breastfeeding
Hormones during the postpartum time
The postpartum issues for the mother
]]>Professional Labor Assistance Studies have shown that the presence and support of a professional labor assistant (doula) can:
Mothers who have experienced professional labor assistance report they feel more positive about labor, are more successful at breastfeeding, and even report feeling more positive about their partner months after the blessed event!
2 Prenatal meetings
Birth attendance
2 Postpartum follow-up visit
During our prenatal visits, we will go over your intentions and desires for your labor and discuss how you want to be supported. My mission is to support you in having the birth you most deeply desire. We will discuss what to pack for the hospital/birthing center or how to prepare your home, comfort measures for the late stages of pregnancy and labor, positions for labor (and the ways in which your partner can help you get in and out of these,) how to prepare your body and mind for labor, breastfeeding basics, and we will discuss issues and needs for the postpartum days. The prenatal visits are held in your home.
I support women and their partners for the duration of their labor. I will join you at home or once you arrive to the hospital to help you get settled and comfortable in your environment. During labor, I will be there to provide reassurance, explain any medical interventions the medical staff proposes, and be a constant knowledgeable presence in the hospital where nurses are in and out and doctors are often present for only the last moments of labor. Using my knowledge of massage, acupressure, counter pressure, and beneficial labor positions I will assist you in maintaining a relaxed and calming experience. With the goal of helping you have the most comfortable, safe, and rewarding birth possible, I will support you in whatever decisions you make. If you want to have a natural birth, I will be there to reassure and encourage you to go through labor without medication and provide the necessary comfort measures to get you through labor. On the other hand, if you are open to taking pain medications during labor, I can explain the trade offs of each option, and will fully support you in whatever decision you make. I will be by your side until you have given birth and are successfully breastfeeding.
These are some of my most special experiences as a doula. During the postpartum visit I will see you within 36 hours of your labor to help you trouble shoot any breastfeeding issues you may be experiencing. Additionally we will discuss your birth experience, which gives you a very needed outlet for expressing how you felt during labor and how you are feeling now with a new child in your arms. These are tender moments and I will be there to listen to you.
]]>Nicole Heidbreder is the founder of GracefulFusion, professional labor and postpartum support, labor photography, childbirth education, and lactation support services. She is a DONA trained birth and postpartum doula. And a Lamaze and CEA trained Childbirth Educator. She is a member of the New Leadership Council for the International WomenÕs Health Coalition, and is currently working on Transparency in Maternity Care, a research project that will offer current statistical information for expectant couples throughout America.
Nicole believes that the experience of becoming a mother is one of our most important rites of passage in life, and her approach is to bring a comforting and calming energy to her clients. She supports her clients with physical comfort measures, provides information and explanations throughout pregnancy and labor, and offers emotional and mental support to the couple during labor. She has attended births all over the world, and this exposure to different cultures and practices has given her a wealth of information on pregnancy and the birthing process. In addition to her regular doula practice, Nicole is also experienced in massage, acupressure, and aromatherapy, and also offers services in labor photography, combining her passion for photography with her sensitivity to the precious moments around birth.
For the past year Nicole has been actively involved with BornClear- an amazing childbirth education program. As well, Nicole works as the Special Events Coordinator for The New Space for WomenÕs Health.
Before becoming a doula, Nicole completed a Masters of Arts in Administration and Management from New York University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Illinois. She was also a Ford Foundation Scholar. She has lived, studied, worked, volunteered, and traveled in over 30 countries around the world; what continues to inspire and amaze her is the resilience and intelligence of women she encounters, and how they gracefully face the highs and lows of life.
]]>NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL
Cascade Healthcare Products, Inc
The Coalition for Improving Maternity Services
International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN)
National Advocates for Pregnant Women
National WomenÕs Health Information Center
World Health Organization Recommendations
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