Doula Registry - Birth, Baby & Beyond

Birth/Labor Doula Service Registry

Birth doulas provide emotional support, physical comfort, information to assist decision-making and non-medical support that moms and families need during pregnancy and the birth of a baby. She will stay at your side throughout your entire labor and birth offering back rubs, positioning suggestions, an encouraging word, and information about decisions you will make. She is also there to support your coach. 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. 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.

Our registry has several Cedar Rapids area doulas to recommend.

Your Birth, Baby & Beyond doula will provide the following care:

· a free, no-obligation, consultation visit

· prenatal visits

· assistance writing a birth guide

· basic childbirth education as needed

· phone and e-mail consultations throughout pregnancy

· continuous emotional and physical support during your labor

· access to a back-up doula

· referrals to community resources, as needed

· a postpartum visit

· a written birth record

Join us for Meet the Doulas, an informal time to learn more about our area doulas and how they can support the birth experience you want to have.

Postpartum Doula Service Registry

Postpartum doulas help new and growing families get off to a good start with information, knowledge, compassion, comfort, confidence, and assistance in the home after baby arrives. A postpartum doula provides reassurance, support, and the belief that parents can and will be successful in nurturing their family including the newborn. Her support and information extend to all family members equally in her role of nurturing the family. A postpartum doula's role is always changing to meet the needs of the specific family she is working with. The doula is a teacher and a source of information. She will provide reliable, evidenced-based information on maternal care, infant feeding and care, as well as ideas for integrating a baby into the family. She offers practical support with meal preparation and light household organization. The postpartum doula has a thorough knowledge of services, products, and professionals available in her community and offers quality referrals when they are needed. Birth, Baby & Beyond has a doula registry with doulas to recommend for the postpartum period. Doulas offer a free interview to interested clients.

Tammy Bayer, CD(DONA), LCCE

As many moms-to-be do, I became interested in birth during my first pregnancy. My husband and I recognized a need for extra support so we had a doula to support us during the birth of our daughter. After her wonderful birth, I became engrossed in the world of childbirth. I knew that I wanted to assist other women with their birth choices. I've supported many families as a birth doula and postpartum doula in the Eastern Iowa area since becoming a doula in 2003. I continue to take classes to satisfy my appetite for learning about pregnancy and birth. I've completed the Lamaze Certified Breastfeeding Support Educator training to better prepare expectant families for their birth experience. I would like to help you achieve your birthing goals and assist you in getting the most of out your birth experience. I am also a Lamaze Breastfeeding Education Specialists, well prepared to assist you as you learn to breastfeed your baby.

E-mail: TammyBayer@BirthBabyAndBeyond.org

The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. -Gandhi

Tammy Bayer, postpartum doula

When my daughter was born I did not have postpartum support. I had spent so much time planning for my birth that I didn’t take time to contemplate having additional help afterward. My husband was able to take two weeks off from work, but even after that I felt alone and unsure of what to do for my baby. This difficult time led me to help new parents during this adjustment period. I am a DONA trained postpartum doula. I have served many Eastern Iowan families as a postpartum doula since 2003. I am currently working on my postpartum certification, since I feel that certification and continuing education is invaluable.