Read More About Joli...

My parents taught me that life is about finding happiness. They advised me to figure out what makes me the happiest, and then find a way to make a living doing it. I did just that for my first career as a hairdresser, and then when that wasn’t doing it for me anymore I made the metamorphosis from stylist to birth doula. I’m happiest when I’m learning and when things are in motion. I’m a mover and a shaker and I love to help people see themselves the way that I see them. As a doula, one of my biggest responsibilities to my client is advocacy. I have to make sure that my clients have a clear picture of their options in any given scenario, and that the decisions that they are making about their health care are educated and reflect their hopes and beliefs about birth. I believe that there are no right answers in life, especially when it comes to how we birth our babies. Everyone I meet as a doula has a unique set of ideals about their birth. Their plan may be similar to someone else, but it will always have its own nuances. With this in mind, my friend and mentor Kathleen and I decided to write a childbirth education curriculum called Rebel Birth. We did it because we wanted to be a source for EVERYONE. We didn’t want to teach people to be biased one way or another. Instead we wanted to teach people to carry ALL of the tools, but know when and how they will want to use them. We wanted to teach people to work the system and manipulate their circumstances in order to get what they want. I want to empower families, no matter what choices they are making. I want to honor your way and help you to realize your goals. I want to be a person you can count on to see how important your birth goals are to you and to do everything I can to help you to achieve them. The way that I have educated myself as a doula is key to providing you with such well rounded support. If there is a training on something birth related I can go to, I do it. Rebozo, Reiki, Labor Whispering, OFP, Spinning Babies, Sexuality in Birth, Dancing for Birth, Acupressure and so on…I don’t pick and chose which things I want to learn. I learn everything that I have access to. I believe that I have to be able to offer anything and everything if I am really doing my job. The possibilities in birth are endless and I want to have as close to all of the answers as I can.

That’s who I am professionally; privately, well, I guess it is kind of the same story. I have never played by the ‘rules’ of life. I am adept at carving my own path and going with my gut. I love recklessly and I am a devoted friend. I am a wife, a mother, an aunt and animal lover. I have 2 dogs and 2 cats and a bearded dragon who I spoil rotten. I love music and movies and board games. I collect piggy banks, yard statues and coffee table books. I spend as much time with my family as possible. My path to motherhood was challenging and took a lot of years of heartbreak, but that path led us to the adoption of our 2 daughters who are our entire universe. As much as I love being outdoors and finding new adventures, my favorite thing in the world is sitting on the couch listening to a book with a crochet project on my hook while my family, both human and animal, invade all of my personal space and compete for all the snuggles.

Prenatal Support

Minimum of 3 or more prenatal visits

Information

Thorough discussion of available choices

Preparation

Help with labor and comfort techniques

“The evidence in favor of doulas comes from more than eleven carefully designed studies: quite simply, hiring one cuts in half the odds of having an unnecessary cesarean. It also halves the odds of our having a forceps delivery.

That’s not all!

Having a doula also shortens labor by greatly reducing stress, pain, and anxiety. In the typical U.S. birthing unit, the doula you bring with you may be the only person whose responsibility is to make you more comfortable and to help you labor as effectively as possible.”
—Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, Ina May Gaskin

Labor Support

Whole family emotional and physical care

Birth Support

Advocacy, information, after-birth care

Resources

Everything needed for a perfect pregnancy

Emotional Support

For you, your partner, and your family

Placenta Services

Nutrition, artistry, and other services

Postpartum Support

Home visitation and breastfeeding support

Availability

Phone, email, on-call starting at Week 37

WHAT I DON’T DO

Perform clinical tasks, such as monitor blood pressure, fetal heart rate, or give vaginal exams, or any other clinical task. I am there to provide only physical comfort measures, emotional support, and advocacy.

Make decisions for you. I will help you get the information necessary to make an informed decision. I will also remind you if there is a departure from your Birth Plan.

Speak for you to medical staff regarding matters where decisions are being made. I will discuss your concerns with you and, when asked, suggest options. You or your partner will speak on your own behalf and make decisions for yourselves.

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