Pregnancy Coaching & Birth Doula Services
Services
HYPNOSIS FOR BIRTH OR VBAC PREPARATION
Mindset is everything
Hypnosis & accelerated evolution mindfulness practices can help get you in the right headspace & heartspase to confidently prepare for the birth you desire, and combat anxiety so you can truly look forward to your baby's arrival.
Location: Zoom video coaching anywhere you have wifi, or in-person at my office in Bend, Oregon
TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE INTEGRATION FOR
PREGNANCY & BIRTH
Healing & resolution for pregnancy & birth
I blend hypnosis and Accelerated Evolution's gentle approach for Intense Experience Integration to help bring resolution & healing to the challenges associated with infertility, stillbirth & miscarriage, infant loss, as well as disappointing or difficult births: unexpected c-sections, last-minute birth plan changes, attachment ruptures due to baby moving to the NICU, difficulty breastfeeding or bonding with baby, and more.
Location: Zoom video coaching anywhere you have wifi, or in-person at my office in Bend, Oregon
PREGNANCY & POSTPARTUM SEXUALITY & RELATIONSHIPS
Rediscovering connection, pleasure & eroticism after becoming parents
46% of new parents say the quality & frequency of their intimacy declined, and 61% of women report a decreased interest in sex after the birth of a child. Sleep deprivation, breastfeeding, and body image shifts can call for a new approach to lovemaking and eroticism. I've helped families for 17 years rediscover pleasure & connection after baby comes, and I can help you, too. .
Location: Zoom video coaching or in-person at my office in Bend, Oregon
BIRTH DOULA SERVICES
Heart-centered, evidence-based doula services for Central Oregon families
Coaching is now the majority of my work, but I do take approximately 10 births/year. I have over 400 births under my belt, and provide expert doula care for Central Oregon families birthing both in and out of the hospital. Please send an inquiry to see if I am available during your estimated due date range; if I am not available, I am very happy to refer you to my colleague and friend Jaime Collado and her doula agency, Nurtured Bend. As a doula, I don't bring my own personal agenda to birth. My purpose is to support and encourage and empower you as parents to experience birth your way, and to support you with evidence-informed education and trauma-aware support throughout your pregnancy and birth.
Location: in person only in Bend & Redmond, Oregon
Birth of a Doula: My Story
Kristin
About Kristin
I assisted at my first birth at the age of 3, when I attended my baby brother's home birth. I have been a birth nerd ever since, even sculpting the human uterus and developing baby in the 3 trimesters of pregnancy in my 7th grade pottery class, following in my mother's footsteps (she was a doula and La Leche League breastfeeding educator, so I grew up believing that pregnancy and birth are natural, normal, healthy, and safe). I also camped out in our barn during lambing and calving season, staying up waiting on little four-legged babies as well.
My first pregnancy and birth (assisted by my mother, who was a doula & breastfeeding educator) ignited a passion in me to help other families. I struggled with adnoymosis, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, and a uterine septum, and found tremendous empowerment and healing through my two pregnancies and births.
I founded Sage Birth Doula Services in 2007, and then co-founded Harmony Doulas, served as President of the Central Oregon Birth Network, and trained over 75 Registered Nurses on Therapeutic Language and Touch for birth support. I took 8 years off of birth work after the end of my first marriage (being on call 24/7 wasn't possible as a single mom). Now that my kids are in high school and can drive themselves around town, I'm delighted to return to my passion of assisting new families with pregnancy & birth.
Testimonials
“How do we begin to thank you for one of the most memorable days of our lives?! We are glad to have chosen you as our doula. You made the labor and delivery smoother, relaxing, and bearable, not to mention a most joyous day for us. You were very patient, supportive, loving and caring to both of us as well as amazing and special to all 3 of us. We had the birth experience we wanted! Thank you for EVERYTHING!” - Sean & Rhonda
“Dear Kristin, I want to tell you how much I appreciated your support, wisdom, and caring touch during G's birth. You truly have a gift with your empathy and intuition; you seemed to know exactly what I needed. I felt very empowered with you there. Also, thanks for all the 100% compassion for the choices I made in labor – it really made those choices easier. You are a very special lady – it shines through in your passion for birth and women.” - Wendi
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Doula?
A birth doula is a person trained and experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after childbirth.
Where does the term "doula" come from?
The word “doula” comes from ancient Greek, meaning “Woman’s servant.” Throughout history
and in much of the world today, a cadre of women support a woman through labor and birth
giving back rubs and providing continuous emotional support. Like their historical counterparts,
DONA International birth doulas know how to help a woman in labor feel better. However, today’s
doulas are much more diverse than their predecessors. DONA International membership includes
men and women from a wide range of ages and cultural backgrounds.
What effect does a doula have on birth outcomes?
Numerous clinical studies have found that a doula’s presence at birth:
- tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications
- reduces negative feelings about one’s childbirth experience
- reduces the need for pitocin (a labor-inducing drug), forceps or vacuum extraction
- reduces the requests for pain medication and epidurals, as well as the incidence of cesareans
(see website below for more statistics & references)
What effect does a doula have on babies?
Studies have shown that babies born with doulas present tend to have shorter hospital stays with
fewer admissions to special care nurseries, breastfeed more easily and have more affectionate
mothers in the postpartum period.
Does a doula replace nurses or medical staff?
No. Doulas do not replace nurses or other medical staff. Doulas do not perform clinical or medical
tasks such as taking blood pressure or temperature, monitoring fetal heart rate, doing vaginal
examinations or providing postpartum clinical care. They are there to comfort and support the
mother and to enhance communication between the mother and medical professionals.
What effect does a doula have on the mother?
When a doula is present during and after childbirth, women report greater satisfaction with their
birth experience, make more positive assessments of their babies, have fewer cesareans and
requests for medical intervention, and less postpartum depression.
Does a doula make medical decisions on my behalf?
A doula does not make decisions for clients or intervene in their clinical care. She provides
informational and emotional support, while respecting a woman’s decisions.
Will a doula make my partner feel unnecessary or left out?
No! In fact, quite the opposite: a doula is supportive to both the mother and her partner, and plays a crucial role in helping a partner become involved in the birth to the extent they feel comfortable (see diagram later on this page about the "dream team" partnership between birth partners & doulas!)
Do you provide birth support to same-sex couples, single moms, surrogates, or polyamorous families?
Absolutely, YES. I have experience and love supporting families of all configurations.
Doula Promises
- I will always tell you the truth
- I will help you feel safe
- I will make sure that you have a voice and that you are heard
- I will respect and include and support your partner
- I will support you unconditionally and without judgment
Trainings, Certifications & Experience
- DONA-certified birth doula (2007-2018)
- Hypnobabies Hypnosis for Childbirth Educator
- Birthing & Beyond Certified Childbirth Educator
- Certified Hypnobabies Hypno-Doula
- Happiest Baby on the Block educator
- Newborn Breath with Karen Strange
- VBAC, unmedicated hospital births, home birth, inductions, C-sections
- Created curriculum for "Birth By Design" childbirth class for Birthing & Beyond and the Bend Birth Center
- 2x educator for St. Charles Medical Center Family Birthing Unit Skills Labs, training in Therapeutic Language & Comfort Measures for Childbirth, Aromatherapy for Childbirth, and Labor Support Skills
Would you like me to attend your birth, or support you with pregnancy/birth coaching?
Send an inquiry and I'll reply to you personally
RN, Family Birthing
“The most relaxed and peaceful natural birth ever I’ve seen. Kristin was very calming and positive with the patient and family. She was also helpful to me.”
- Registered Nurse, St. Charles Medical Center, Bend, OR
OB/GYN
"Kristin was wonderful and supportive – very reassuring and positive.”
- OB/GYN, East Cascade Women's Group, Bend, Oregon
RN, Family Birthing
“Kristin was a positive, reassuring presence for the parents. This was a difficult labor resulting in a successful c-section and Kristin remained upbeat and supportive throughout, helping the mom to adjust expectations and remain emotionally strong.”
- Registered Nurse, St. Charles Medical Center
Certified Nurse Midwife
“5++++++++”
- CNM, responding to the question, ‘On a scale of 1-5, how useful was it having a doula (Kristin) present?’
- East Cascade Women's Group Bend, Oregon
Physical Benefits of a doula* at your birth include...
50% reduction in cesarean section rates [1,7]
60% fewer requests for epidural pain relief [1-4,7,8]
30% fewer requests for narcotic pain relief [1-4,7,8]
Reduced duration of labor by 25% [1-6]
Reduced use of pitocin [1,2,4,6,7]
Fewer forceps deliveries [1,2,4,5]
Reduced use of vacuum extraction [4]
Reduced neonate hospitalization and rate of complications [2,3]
Reduced chances of maternal fever and infection [2]
Reduced maternal bleeding following birth [5]
Increased chance of spontaneous vaginal birth [6]
Psychological benefits of a doula* at your birth include...
Mothers report more positive reviews of their birth experience [4,8,13]
Reduced levels of maternal anxiety [4]
Mothers have higher regard and increased sensitivity towards babies [4,10]
Mothers feel more secure and have more confidence [14]
Reduced incidence of post-partum depression [4,10]
More Client Love
“My wife's labor lasted for nearly 24 hours. I truly am not sure how she or even I could have done it without Kristin’s help. She was amazing. We worked as a team to make my wife feel comfortable, safe, and loved. Kristin gave us both support, making the birth of our baby boy a wonderful experience. We were about to be new parents and had many doubts and fears. Kristin’s experience, skill, and knowledge completely reassured us. If knowledge is power, Kristin's presence IS that. She eased our fears and gave us comfort. She did a wonderful job helping us feel comfortable and less fearful about the labor and delivery process.”
“Dear Kristin, having you a part of our labor and delivery was the best decision we could have ever made. We are so happy! From the moment we met you, we could feel your passion and trusted your expertise. I needed to be induced, with your comforting magic, I was able to labor for 7 hours without any pain medication before getting an epidural. Through your massage, aromatherapy, relaxation techniques, breathing, soft words, and coaching for my husband and me, I was able to continue the laboring process naturally. Unfortunately, my pelvis was tilted in such a way that our baby could not be born vaginally. However, you stayed with us in the operating room for the Cesarean birth. I remember your soft words and touch during the procedure. You comforted me when I was exhausted, nervous about surgery, and disappointed about not giving birth vaginally. I remember you wiping my tears when we heard our baby's first cry. If we decide to have another child, we hope you will be a part of that journey as well!
References
1. Scott KD, Berkowitz G, Klaus M. A comparison of intermittent and continuous support during labor: a meta-analysis. Am J Obstet Gynecol1999 May 180:5 1054-9.
2. Kennel J. Klaus M, McGrath S, Robertson S, Hinkley C. Continuous emotional support during labor in a US hospital. A randomized controlled trial. JAMMA 1991 May 1 265:172197-201.
3. Scott KD, Klaus PH, Klaus MH. The obstetrical and postpartum benefits of continuous support during childbirth. J Women's Health Gend Based Med 1999 Dec 8:1257-64.
4. Keenan P. Benefits of massage therapy and use of a doula during labor and childbirth. Altern Ther Health Med 2000 Jan 6:66-74.
5. Wand D, Mao X, Qian S. clinical observation on Doula delivery. Chung Hua Fu Chan Ko Tsa Chih 1997 Nov 32:11 659-61.
6. Zhang J, Bernasko JW, Leybovich E, Fahs M, Hatch, MC. Continuous labor support from labor attendant for primiparous women: a meta-analysis. Obstet Gynecol 1996 Oct 88:4 Pt 739-34.
7. Nolan, M. Supporting women in labor: the doula's role. Mod Midwife 1995 Mar 5:3 12-5.
8. Gordon NP, Walton D, McAdam E, Derman J, Gallitero G, Garrett L. Effects of providing
hospital-based doulas in health maintenance organization hospitals. Obstet Gynecol 1999 Mar 92:3 422-6.
9. Langer A, Campero L, Garcia C, Reynoso S. Effects of psychosocial support during labor and childbirth on breast feeding, medical interventions, and mothers' well being in a Mexican public hospital: a randomized clinical trial. Br J Obstet Gynecol 1998 Oct 105:10 1056-63.
10. Klaus KH, Kennell JH. The doula: an essential ingredient of childbirth rediscovered. Acta Paediatr 1997 Oct 86:10 1034-6.
11. Raphael D. Support and variation, the needs of the breastfeeding woman. Acta Paediatr Jpn 1989 Aug 31:4 369-72.
12. Barron SP, Lane HW, Hannan TE, Struempler B, Williams J.C. Factors influencing duration of breast feeding among low-income women. J Am Diet Assoc 1998 Dec 88:12 1557-61.
13. Campero L, Garcia C, Diaz C, Ortiz O, Reynoso S, Langerm, Soc Sci Med 1998 Aug 47:3 395-703.
14. Manning-Orenstein G. A birth intervention: the therapeutic effects of Doula support versus Lamaze preparation; working models of care giving. Altern Ther Health Med 1998-Jul 4:4 73-81.
Copyright Kristin Warnaca