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Birthwork

Birth Doula Services with Olatokunboh Obasi

Congratulations parent(s) on your nearly new arrival! I am a mother of three beautiful children who have blessed my life abundantly. They were all home births where I felt most secure, comfortable and free to take charge of my labor and birthing process. It is the support of those who attended my birth that drew me to become a birth doula over 15 years ago. Ultimately, it is my desire to specialize in home births, however, I will never turn down a mother who needs support in a birthing center or hospital.

As a birth doula my goal is to accompany women in the labor process to help ensure a safe and satisfying birth experience. Birthing is a sacred event in which a human spirit is coming forth to join his/her family. So, I have great respect and honor for this experience and this is what has led me to become a birth doula. I received my certification through DONA international a reputable doula association. I draw on my professional training, personal experience and knowledge to provide physical, emotional and information support to women and their partners. The balance of personal and educational experience inspires me to become an effective birth doula. I can provide reassurance and perspective for you and your partner, make suggestions for labor progress, help with relaxation, positioning, and other techniques that provide comfort including herbal remedies and aromatherapy. As a doula, I am working for you, not your caregiver or the facility where you birth. I have worked collaboratively with home birth midwives and nurses.  In addition, most people hire me because of my expertise in herbal medicine, successful birth outcomes and tenure in my work.

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As a birth doula I do not:

  • Perform clinical tasks, such as blood pressure, fetal heart checks, vaginal exams, etc. My role is to provide physical comfort and emotional support.

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

  • Speak to staff on your behalf regarding matters where health care decisions are being made. I will discuss your concerns with you and suggest options, but you or your partner will speak directly to clinical staff.

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Choosing a doula.

I prefer to meet with you and your partner first before you make any final decision about retaining my services. This meeting does not obligate you in any way. If you do select me, then I will want to meet with you a further two times

to discuss your preferences regarding management options. I also want to know your own best ways of coping with pain and fatigue and how you and your partner foresee working together. In our meetings I can provide prenatal and postnatal information about care for yourself and baby. As well as the home visits, I am available at all times for telephone/email consultations.

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Please note: I will also inform you of the rare times when I may be unavailable for labor support. To cover those times, I can arrange one or more back-up doulas whom you can also meet. Of course, you have as much choice over your back-up as your primary doula.

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When you are in labor.
I prefer that you call me when you think you are in labor, even if you do not yet

need me. I can answer questions and make suggestions over the phone. Together we will decide if I should come right then or wait for further changes (I usually need approximately one hour to get to you from the time you ask me to come). We will also decide where to meet - at your home or the hospital. Except for extraordinary circumstances, I or my back-up will remain with you throughout the labor and birth.

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After the birth.
I usually remain with you for one or two hours after the birth, until you are

comfortable and your family is ready for quiet time together. I can also help with initial breastfeeding if you wish. I am available for phone contact to answer questions about the birth or your baby and would like to get together with you within two to three weeks to see how you are doing, to review your birth, and to get feedback from you about my role.

I provide 2 prenatal visits and 1 postnatal visit. Please note that I thrive on flexibility, if you need more than one visit, we can discuss other options.

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Cost.

My total fee is $1100. I prefer a retainer fee of $550 due after hire, and the final $550 after the birth. Pay Here.

***Please keep my information at hand:

Olatokunboh Obasi, olawellofwisdom@gmail.com, 787-988-3922

 

Info for Birth Doula Clients

Search Doula Websites for both Birth and Postpartum Doula Services to Educate Yourself!

http://www.birthinghandsdc.com
http://www.doulamatch.net
http://www.thedoulaguide.com
www.farm.org/midwives
http://www.blackmidwives.org
http://www.ican-online.org/ (International Cesarean Awareness Network) http://www.orgasmicbirth.com/

http://www.lalecheleague.org/ (Breastfeeding Info) www.cerebralpalsysymptoms.com (Birth Safety Info)

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Motherland Midwifery Recommended Reading List

Pregnancy

  • A Child is Born. By Lennart Nilsson & Lars Hamberger, Delta, 2004.

  • Bountiful, Beautiful, Blissful: Experience the Natural Power of Pregnancy and Birth with Kundalini Yoga and Meditation. By Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa and Cindy Crawford, St. Martin’s Griffin, 2004.

  • Having a Baby, Naturally. By Peggy O’Mara. Atria, 2003.

  • Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn: The complete guide. By Penny Simkin, Janet Whalley, and Ann Keppler, Meadowbrook, 2001

  • The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth. By Sheila Kitzinger,

    Knopf, 2003.

  • The Naturally Health Pregnancy: The essential guide to nutritional and botanical medicine for the childbearing year. By Shonda Parker, Loyal Publishing, 1998.

  • The Natural Pregnancy Book: Herbs, nutrition, & other holistic choices. By Aviva Jill Romm, Ten Speed Press, 2003.

​Birth

  • Birthing From Within: An extraordinary guide to childbirth preparation. By Pam England, Partera Press, 1998.

  • Gentle Birth Choices: A guide to making informed decisions about birthing centers, birth attendants, water birth, home birth, hospital birth. By Barbara Harper, Inner Traditions, 1994.

  • Heart & Hands: A Midwife’s Guide to Pregnancy and Birth. By Elizabeth Davis, Celestial Arts, 2004.

  • Homebirth. By Sheila Kitzinger, DK Pub, 1991.

  • Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth. By Ina May Gaskin, Bantam Books, 2003.

  • Special Delivery: A guide to creating the birth you want for you and your baby. By Rahima Baldwin, Celestial Arts, 1990.

  • The Birth Partner: Everything you need to know to help a woman through childbirth. By Penny Simkin, Harvard Common Press, 2007

  • The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth. By Henci Goer and Rhonda Wheeler, Perigee, 1999.  

After the Baby’s Birth

  • After the Baby’s Birth: A complete guide for postpartum women. By Robin Lim, Ten Speed Press, 2001.

  • Natural Health After Birth: The complete guide to postpartum wellness. By Aviva Jill Romm, Healing Arts Press, 2002.

  • The Year After Childbirth: Enjoying your body, your relationships, and yourself in your baby’s first year. By Sheila Kitzinger, Fireside, 1996.

    Breastfeeding

  • The Breastfeeding Café: Mothers share the joys, challenges, and secrets of nursing. By Barbara Behrmann, The University of Michigan Press, 2005.

  • The Nursing Mother’s Companion. By Kathleen Huggins, Harvard Common Press, 1999.

  • The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers: The Most Comprehensive Problem-Solution Guide to Breastfeeding from the Foremost Expert in North America. By Jack Newman and Teresa Pitman, Prima Lifestyles, 2000.

  • The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. By La Leche League International, Plume, 2004.

    Parenting

  • The Attachment Parenting Book: A commonsense guide to understanding and nurturing your child. By William Sears and Martha Sears, Little, Brown, 2001.

  • Everyday Blessings: The inner work of mindful parenting. By Myland and Jon Kabat-Zinn, Hyperion, 1998.

  • Natural Family Living: The Mothering Magazine guide to parenting. By Peggy O’Mara, Atria, 2000.

  • Naturally Health Babies & Children: A commonsense guide to herbal remedies, nutrition, and health. By Aviva Jill Romm, Ten Speed Press, 2003.

  • The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle ways to help your baby sleep through the night. By Elizabeth Pantley, McGraw-Hill, 2002.

  • The Baby Book: Everything you need to know about your baby from birth to age two. By William Sears and Martha Sears, Little, Brown, 2003.

Books for Children

  • I Watched My Brother Being Born! Including children at birth. By Anne Vondruska and Katarina Vondruska, Trafford Publishing, 2005.

  • Nasce um Bebe... Naturalmente (A Baby is Born... Naturally). By Naoli Vinaver, Mercuryo, 2005.

  • Welcome With Love. By Jenni Overend, Kane/Miller Book Publishers, 1999.

  • My Mommy’s Midwife. By Trish Payne and Hayley Holland.

  • A Ride on Mother’s Back: A day of baby carrying around the world. By Emery Bernhard, Gulliver Books, 1996.

  • I’m Made of Mama’s Milk. By Mary Olsen.

  • Breastmilk Makes My Tummy Yummy. By Cecilia Moen, Midsummer Press, 1999.

Herbs/Homeopathy

  • A Woman’s Book of Herbs: The healing power of natural remedies. By Deb Soule, Citadel Press, 1995.

  • Everybody’s Guide to Homeopathic Medicines. By Stephen Cummings, Tarcher, 1997.

  • Herbal Healing for Women. By Rosemary Gladstar, Fireside, 1993.

  • Homeopathy for Pregnancy, Birth, and Baby’s First Year. By Miranda Castro, St. Martin’s Press, 1993.

  • Homeopathic Medicine at Home: Natural remedies for everyday ailments and minor injuries. By Maesimund Panos, Tarcher, 1981.

  • Homeopathic Medicine for Children and Infants. By Dana Ullman, Tarcher, 1992.

  • Mommy Diagnostics: The naturally healthy family’s guide to herbs and whole foods for health. By Shonda Parker, Loyal Publishing, 1999.

  • Rosemary Gladstar’s Family Herbal: A guide to living life with energy, health, and vitality. By Rosemary Gladstar, Storey Publishing, 2001.

  • The Herbal for Mother and Child: Essential home remedies for a healthy pregnancy, a trouble-free birth and everyday childhood ailments. By Anne McIntyre, Thorsons, 2003.

  • Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year. By Susun Weed, Ash Tree Publishing, 1985. *Note: This is a classic herbal for pregnancy, childbirth, lactation, fertility, and birth control. However, some recommended herbs have since become endangered and only cultivated varieties should be used.

Women’s Health/Fertility

  • The Garden of Fertility: A guide to charting your fertility signals to prevent or achieve pregnancy – naturally – and to gauge your reproductive health. By Katie Singer, Avery, 2004.

  • Our Bodies, Ourselves: A new edition for a new era. By The Boston Women’s Health Book Collective, Touchstone, 2005.

  • Taking Charge of Your Fertility: The definitive guide to natural birth control, pregnancy achievement, and reproductive health. By Toni Weschler, Collins, 2001.

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