Kristin Rahn, Certified Birth Doula

Rahn_profile pic2Passionate birth advocate, mother of four, community volunteer, and certified birth doula, I am here to serve women and families in their individual journeys through birth.  I will move heaven and earth to help you advocate for the informed, empowered birth experience you desire. Sometimes I guide, more often I follow, frequently I simply guard the birth space. The women I serve are powerful, inspiring, and truly magnificent. I believe in them, and I believe in you. I would be honored to walk beside you during this special time of transition.

I live in NE Fort Wayne and serve the surrounding areas as well, typically up to a 50-mile radius. I have attended births in many homes as well as at all Fort Wayne hospitals, Dekalb Health, Auburn Birthing Center, and several smaller county hospitals. My service package includes at least two prenatal visits in your home beyond the initial meet-and-greet so I can learn how I can best serve you during labor and birth, continuous labor support for you and your family from as early in active labor as you’re comfortable with until mom and baby are settled and ready to rest after the birth (typically about two hours postpartum), at least one postpartum visit to discuss how the birth unfolded and how mom and baby are doing currently, a detailed birth story outline and pictures or video if desired, extensive knowledge of local professional resources for the childbearing year, and ongoing phone and e-mail support. Add-on services, if desired, include mother blessing ceremony officiating and placenta encapsulation. Feel free to drop me a line; let’s start talking birth! 

Kristin Rahn, CD(DONA)
(260) 804-1960

 

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Read my Testimonials

Laura France, Trained Birth Doula

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After having given birth, I realize the importance of excellent emotional, mental and spiritual support, as well as non-medicated comfort, for the birthing mother, in order to reach the best outcome possible for the mother and baby.  After giving birth to my second child, I went through the training program offered by DONA International so that I could support birthing mothers, whether as the primary support person or as the background support for the primary support person/s.  

My desire for a pregnant mother is that she would be educated to make the best informed decisions for herself and her family.  My role as a birth doula is to support her in those decisions before, during and after labor and delivery and to offer non-medicated comfort measures to help assist in the process of labor and delivery and the immediate postpartum period, as well as protecting the birth area so the mother feels protected and comfortable.

I serve women and their families in the tri-state area of Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.  Please contact me at giftoflifedoula@gmail.com or 260.908.1827.  You can also find me on facebook.  I would love to meet with you for a free, no-obligation meet-and-greet.

 

Amber Drake, Certified Birth Doula

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My name is Amber Drake of Beyond the Belly Doula Services, serving as a birth doula for Fort Wayne and the surrounding areas. I became truly passionate about birth after having my first daughter in June 2008. I have three children, two from my womb and one through marriage. My first birth was medicated and my second was unmedicated or “natural.” I look forward to serving you in the kind of birth that is ideal for you.  

Please contact me at beyondthebellydoula@gmail.com or 260.417.0318 to set up a free meet and greet or for further questions or inquiries. I look forward to coming along side you as you bring your new life into the world. 

Many blessings!

Amber Drake

www.beyondthebellydoula.com

 

Leah Mosher, Trained Birth Doula

I have always been intrigued by the process of creation and childbirth.  During my first pregnancy I knew I had always wanted to be able to have a natural childbirth without interventions, however, everyone seemed to try to scare me out of the decision I really wanted to make.  I had succumbed to the idea that I would probably use some pain relief intervention.  Just a month before delivery, a friend took me to see the screening of The Business of Being Born.  I walked out of that movie theater feeling more empowered than ever and I knew I could have the birth experience I had always hoped for.  
Just a few short weeks before my due date, I hired a doula and started the process.  I am so thankful to my doula who helped me allow myself to experience the most memorable and empowering experience of my lifetime.  Since that day(s) (I had a very long labor) I have been inspired to help other women achieve the experience they hope to have, how ever that may look. 

A little more than a year and a half after the birth of my daughter, I decided to leave my job and pursue a Doula Certification through DONA International.  Today, I am a DONA Trained Doula working toward my certification expected in 2010.
 
Leah Mosher, TD(DONA)
Empower Doula Care
260-348-2688
 

Mary Lybarger, Postpartum Certified Doula, Trained Birth Doula

Mission: 

As a birth and postpartum doula, I support families throughout the childbearing year.  It is my mission to serve families in a way that instills confidence in parents.  From navigating labor and birth options to newborn care practices,  I encourage parents by providing evidence-based information and supporting personal choices.

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Philosophy:

I believe in Mothers.  Growing a baby, laboring, giving birth, and nourishing your baby is a profound experience.  It is hard, trying work at times, and it is pure bliss.  You are doing important work, and you are doing wonderfully.  
I believe in a history of Feminine Wisdom and Mothering the Mother.  I am here to support you.  I will direct your questions to answers, providing you with resources and encouraging you to trust your intuition.  I am cheering you on.
I believe in Partners.  Babies made in love of two people are born into the love of two people.  I am available to support the family as a unit.  I provide reassurance to partners, and share tips and tricks of the trade.
I believe that intuition works in favor of growing a healthy baby, having a satisfying birth, and being a confident parent.  I encourage parents to listen to their gut.  Evidence-based information can only go so far.  When studies contradict and advice varies so greatly, we are required to look within ourselves for the right answer.
I believe in Babies.  A baby growing within mother’s womb is a magical thing.  It is innate to be grow, be born and to nurse.  I will encourage you to trust your baby.  
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Bio:

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 This is me doing what I love.  I am honored to accompany families through pregnancy, labor and birth, and the postpartum period.  I have earned a Bachelor's Degree from Indiana University with a major in General Studies and a minor in Women's Studies.  I am a Postpartum Certified Doula through DONA.  I have completed birth doula training , and I am working towards obtaining that certification through DONA as well.  I am married and have a young daughter.  I also enjoy gardening, traveling, and cooking.

 
I serve families accross northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio, within a 60 mile radius of Fort Wayne, IN.
 
To schedule your free meet and greet, please e-mail sunshinedoulacare@gmail.com or give me a call at (260)349-8680.

 

Mary Lybarger, PCD(DONA), TD
Sunshine Doula Care

 


Brooke Friedberg, Certified Birth Doula (DONA International)

Brooke_doula With my first daughter, I had an almost perfect pregnancy and so I thought labor would be really easy too. It turned out a lot different than I thought. I had 24 hours of labor which ended up in a c-section. This was really upsetting for me and so when I got pregnant again I was determined to have a VBAC(vaginal birth after cesarian). I knew I was up against a lot — so I did everything I could to become prepared to deliver this baby naturally. I read extensively, did tons of research, attended support meetings, and, at the recommendation of a friend, I hired a doula.  Thankfully, I achieved the VBAC and in the process, saw how valuable a doula really is.

Through the course of my research as well as during my birth experience, I realized what a truly valuable resource a doula was. I wanted to make it possible for other women to experience the same care, satisfaction, and joy with their birth experience that I felt during my own. I felt a new passion to improve other women’s birth experiences the way mine was. I trained in Chicago, attended serveral births there and obtained certification with DONA International.

I’m so excited to be in Warsaw now , serving and advocating for the women here — because I know they deserve it!

Brooke spends most every single day with her three children. The four enjoy playing on the swingset, drinking coffee, telling jokes, and playing with the hose.

Website: www.compassionatedoulacare.com

Hallie Greider, Certified Birth Doula (DONA International), Certified Childbirth Educator

Hallie_info_pageI am certified as a childbirth educator through Childbirth Education Association of Metropolitan New York (CEA/MNY) and as a labor support doula through Doulas of North America (DONA ).

Since 2001 I have been fortunate to help educate and support women and their partners during their personal journeys towards parenthood in NYC.  It’s my hope that through working with other birthing families in Fort Wayne I can help them have similarly life-changing experiences as well.

In July of 2007 I moved back to my hometown of Fort Wayne along with my husband and our four children.  My hope is to open a free-standing childbirth education center where parents and families can come during pregnancy and long beyond to find the support needed.  Birth Matters, a family education center, was born in the fall of 2007 and we are thrilled with the interest and support in Fort Wayne! 

Websites: 

www.halliegreider.com

www.birthmatters.com

Email: hallie@birthmatters.com

Phone:       260.415.1176   

Kat Hickey CD(DONA): Birth Doula


Kat headshotPersonal:  My desire to attend women in birth began after the birth of my first child. I knew, instinctively, that I could have avoided much of the intervention and disappointment if I had support and encouragement in labor. After the beautiful and intervention-free birth of my second child in 1999, I was inspired to begin my training to become a doula. I trained with BirthWorks as a labor support doula and childbirth educator in June of 2000.  I also founded birthNETWORK of Northeast Ohio, a non-profit organization helping women seeking a safe and satisfying childbirth experience. My husband's job brought us to Fort Wayne in June, 2005. I took a break from attending births to give birth to our fourth and final baby in June, 2006. 


In July of 2007, I participated in a DONA-approved birth doula training with Penny Simkin and Kathy McGrath and I am certified through DONA International. I am thrilled to be attending births in the Fort Wayne area. My family and I live just minutes from Dupont Hospital and the Parkview Family Birthing Center.


Professional: I see my job as a doula as being three-fold,  First, to make sure that families have the information and support they need to make decisions during the childbearing year.  Second, to provide physical support: massage, position change, and other techniques to help labor progress smoothly.  Finally, to protect the birthing family – to hold the sacred space around them so they feel confident and comfortable. 

I have experience with all types of births, in all types of settings with all types of care providers.  Every pregnant family deserves to have a doula – the person whose only concern is the satisfaction of the laboring mom and her partner. 


Services Offered: 


Testimonials


Contact Kat at kathickey@me.com or 260.437.8094.

 

 


Ryanne Kees: Postpartum Doula

Ryanne_kees_1 I am a full-time wife and mother of two young boys.  I grew up in Ossian, Indiana and graduated from Norwell High School in 1996.  I obtained my Associate Degree in Science and became a Certified Medical Assistant through International Business College in 1997.  After graduation I worked for Meijer Pharmacy for 9 ½ years as a Pharmacy Technician.  I decided to follow my dream full-time in April 2006 and resigned from Meijer.  Now my dream is coming true as I help families adjust, cope and thrive as they grow.

My own experiences with my two boys were varied.  I learned a lot after my first son was born about the importance of getting support early and often in the first few months.  I did not get much support and my experience was hectic and nerve-racking.  The arrival of my second son was a much more relaxed and soothing experience.  My husband was deployed six weeks after the birth, but I was able to get the support I needed. With this support, I became empowered even more to care for my newborn and toddler on my own.

260-657-1043

blessedbeg@yahoo.com

Shelly Gilliland: Trained Birth Doula

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My role as a doula is to create a safe, positive atmosphere for giving birth and to assist in the process by providing emotional support and a variety of other comfort measures.  My services include face-to-face meetings during pregnancy, continual support during labor and birth, and a minimum of one post-partum visit. 

My goal is to serve as many birthing women and their spouse or partner as I can.  I have been a trained birth doula since 2003, and I am pleased to have attended the births of my six grandchildren as well as many others.  References upon request.

 

 

Serving women in Warsaw, Fort Wayne, and the surrounding areas. 

 
Read about Shelly in an article written by a past client. 

 

You can contact Shelly at:
574-453-7453 (cell)

Jordan Saalfrank: MSW, Certified Birth Doula

 

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Fall 2011

My passions have always encircled families and children.  In 2000 I graduated from Hunter College in NYC with my Masters of Social Work degree with a concentration in assessing and counseling children and adults.  A few months after graduation I gave birth to my first son.  That first birth experience gave me a deeper understanding of how much quality information and support families need in order to be able to get the birth for which they have planned and hoped.  

 

I began birth doula certification through DONA International in May of 2003 after the birth of my second child and certified in 2005.  I feel very honored to have been serving families for the last 10 years and is still feels like such an honor to continue the doula work each time I am asked.  Recently I have had the opportunity to expand my skill set to include birth assisting for local home birth midwives.

In July of 2006 I founded the Doula Network of Fort Wayne with a mission to supply evidence-based childbirth and postpartum information to growing families and care providers through a public website and free community-based events.

In 2008 I co-founded Birth Matters with my sister, Hallie Greider, and trained with the International Childbirth Education Association.  I continue to teach Childbirth Education, Newborn Care, Sibling Preperation and Traumatic Birth Healing classes with Birth Matters.  

In 2011 I trained with Penny Simkin and Phyllis Klaus (Authors of "When Survivors Give Birth", "Birth Partner", "Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn", "The Doula Book" and others) in their pilot program for "When Survivors Give Birth" instructor certification.  I am currently completing the certification and will be one of a hand-full of trained professionals in the US. 

2012 has been a time of creativity for me.  I have been developing my Traumatic Birth Healing class into a self-help workbook that couples or singles can do in the comfort of their own home.  This fall I will be traveling quite a bit to host Healing for Birth workshops and When Survivors Give Birth seminars.  I have also been working on developing an educational film company called:  Conceive the Truth which provides evidence-based birth and postpartum information to the public in short, 2 minute videos that can be accessed online.   I am looking forward to launching the website in 2013!

 Birth Doula Service Information

MISSION 

SERVICES 

CONTACT

TESTIMONIALS
 

Jordan lives with her husband, three sons and daughter on the north side of Fort Wayne across from Dupont Hospital and down the street from Parkview North.  Please contact Jordan for a free meet & greet where you will have the opportunity to explore the option of hiring a doula and utilize her resources for general birth information.

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Jordan offers a $100.00 discount off birth doula services to families who take Childbirth Education classes through Birth Matters.  For class information, to register or view the extensive resource links, visit:  www.birthmatters.com

 

 

 visit my photo album

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