DOULA SERVICES Kate is a certified DONA birth doula. Birth doulas provide continuous, uninterrupted care for a laboring woman and her partner. A birth doula offers physical and emotional support, while also offering education about the birth process. It's important to note that a birth doula is not a replacement for the birth partner. She assists and supports the primary birth partner to better comfort and encourage the mother along her journey. The loving motivation, care and comfort of a doula can help a woman feel safe and empowered, giving her body the signals to relax, open up and give birth naturally.
Kate has been trained in the Body Ready Method of pregnancy support. BRM adds a unique skillset to Kate's work with her doula clients. In the BRM method clients receive a prenatal functional assessment along with the tools and exercises that will help create the balance in their body for an optimal pregnancy, birth and postpartum experience. While she can't predict the birth journey, she can help her clients stack the cards in their favor.
Kate shapes her work to the needs of her clients. Some of the skills she brings include,
• Functional assessment and exercises to support a client's pregnancy and birth.
• Visualization and mindfulness methods to support a timeless and focussed head space.
• Techniques to support optimal fetal positioning.
• Vocal toning and breath work to keep clients tapped into the parasympathetic nervous system.
• Encouraging words to help motivate, affirm and inspire.
• Childbirth education to help clients navigate decisions throughout their birth journey.
• Comforting touch in the form of massage, counter pressure and reiki.
• Meditation and Yoga to help open and surrender.
• Essential oils to nurture mama’s senses and uplift and enhance the birth space.
As woman, mother and birth worker, Kate holds a deep wish for women to empower their own birth process and honor the incredible impression pregnancy and childbirth makes upon their lives as a women and as a mother. Viewing childbirth not only as an offering of new life, Kate also sees childbirth as a sacred threshold or rite of passage marking a powerful stage in a woman's life. Creating a sacred space is a gift of Kate’s no matter where the birth might take place.
DOULA SERVICES INCLUDE
• Two Prenatal Visits
• Functional Assessment & Movement Exercises
• Resources for Pregnancy & The Postpartum Period
• Looking at the ways you want to be supported,
• Reviewing (and possibly editing) your birth plan.
• Creating a travel plan to hospital or birth center.
• Practicing comfort measures and laboring techniques.
• Exploring essential oils for your labor & birth journey.
• Learning movement exercises to help optimal fetal positioning.
• Exploring your ideal birth and processing any fears about labor.
• Reviewing postpartum plans for the first weeks after birth.
• Text/phone/email support for duration of pregnancy and postpartum time
• 24 Hour On Call Support at 38 weeks and beyond.
• Labor & Birth Support (at home & birth center/hospital)
• 1 Postpartum Visit
• Postpartum Support.
• Reflecting on the birth together.
• Reviewing postpartum self care and mama/baby care.
• Learning basic postpartum moves for rehab and wellbeing.
Cost: $1,750.
A $450 non refundable deposit holds your place on Kate's calendar and the total is due at the prenatal visit.
Kate is happy to create payment plans and negotiated rates for clients if needed.
ADD ONS:
Spinning Babies Work - 30 min session $50
In Home Prenatal Yoga - $125 (One 75 min in home session) 5 Sessions - $575
In Home Prenatal or Postpartum Massage - $155 (normally $175)
Childbirth Education - 1 Two Hour Session, $175 • 3 Two Hour Comprehensive Sessions, $450
Kate is available to assist births in the Washington, DC area.
CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION/TRAINING
2005 DONA Birth Doula Training - Penny Simkin PT & Kathy McGrath
2007 ToLabor Birth Doula Training - Therese Hak-Kuhn
2010 DONA Birth Doula Training - Marilyn Hildreth
2012 Awakening The Female Pelvis - Leslie Howard
2013 VBAC & Cesarean Online Training - Gina Crosley-Cororan
2013 Breastfeeding For Doulas - Patricia Ried, PhD, RN, IBCLC
2014 Spinning Babies Workshop - Gail Tully, CPM
2012 Informed Beginnings Childbirth Education Training - Debra Lawrence
2014 Talk on Nitrous Oxide During Labor - Laura Patchin, CNM
2015 Comforting Touch for Birth Doulas - Yiska Obadia
2015 Breach Birth Basics Workshop - Gail Tully, CPM
2015 DONA Postpartum Doula Training - Jackie Kelleher
2016 Labor Support with a Rebozo - Gena Kirby
2018 Nurturing The Mother Massage Training - Claire Marie Miller
2018 When Survivors Give Birth - Penny Simkin PT
2020 Working with Doula Clients Virtually - Penny Simkin PT
2021 Body Ready Method Training for Prenatal, Labor & Postpartum Care
2022 Pregnancy & Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist Certification with Dr. Sarah Duvall
TESTIMONIALS
"Kate was a calming and positive doula who allowed me to find my own way to accomplish the natural birth that I wanted. She worked well with the midwives, and she helped my husband support me. If I were having more children, I would absolutely go back to Kate.”
-- SJ
"Kate went with me to that primal birthing place, which was new territory for me but not for her. She spoke my language there and responded to my needs without me having to verbalize them. She was a calm, strong, comforting presence for me, my husband, and other family members during a very long labor. I am filled with gratitude for all that she did during my daughter's birth."
~ Ashley Widdell Tingstad
“The pain and effort of labor can't be described as a pleasure, and yet it was a joyful experience working with Kate to bring my son into the world. With Kate's coaching and encouragement, I moved my way through an intervention-free birth for my son. She had lots of creative suggestions about how to manage the pain and convince my reluctant baby to enter the world. I'm so glad I had that experience with him, my partner, and Kate.”
~ Carrie Callghan
“After taking yoga with Kate for years, I was so fortunate to have her serve as my doula at the birth of our daughter. I was hesitant to hire a doula the second time around, but definitely made the right decision. Every pregnancy and every delivery are different! What I needed the second time around was very different from the birth of our first child. Kate was sensitive to those needs and was immediately able to help me steer the boat in the direction of the current. Her healing, supportive touch and kind, comforting words were crucial. With skillful awareness, she was able to help me enjoy and marvel at the immensity of labor. I will always treasure my birth experience and her instrumental role. .”
~ Hannah Willman
“It was beyond amazing to have Kate as our doula during the hospital birth of our daughter. She provided the calm, supportive environment both mom and dad needed to get through a first delivery. From the minute she entered the room she had a take charge attitude which greatly relieved the burden on dad and allowed him to focus his time on supporting mom. She knew everything! We were and remain so very thankful for her presence!”
~ Amanda Glass
“Kate was an invaluable source of support during pregnancy, labour, and delivery. I experienced complications during childbirth and am grateful that Kate was with me, providing guidance, comfort, and support. I cannot imagine how I could have taken this journey without her.”
~ Amelia Peltz
"I took Kate's prenatal yoga class and was instantly drawn to her balance and wisdom. So I hired her to be our doula for the birth of my son. I am an Ob/Gyn and wanted someone who could teach me things I hadn't learned in my medical training, who could help me be balanced in pregnancy. She was knowledgeable, warm, grounding, and adaptable to the kind of pregnancy and birth experiences I aimed for. My baby was lying transverse, so despite a slew of osteopathic, yoga, acupuncture, herbal, and biomedical attempts, he would not budge, so I needed to have a cesarean section. I was so grateful to have Kate with us as she helped to make the whole c-section experience calm and family centered, massaging my feet before the surgery, ensuring immediate, unencumbered, skin to skin contact in the operating room and helping to create a nested little space under the surgical drapes for our new little family. After my baby was born, Kate was a strong presence during those tender first few days, helping with breastfeeding and my recovery. As if that wasn't enough, I have soaked up her wisdom on infant development, transition to solids, and other aspects of new parenthood. I cannot recommend Kate highly enough, which I think means a lot coming from a mama who is herself an Ob/Gyn!"
~ Carolyn Suffrin, MD
Author of Jail Care, Finding the Safety Net for Women Behind Bars
Kate has been trained in the Body Ready Method of pregnancy support. BRM adds a unique skillset to Kate's work with her doula clients. In the BRM method clients receive a prenatal functional assessment along with the tools and exercises that will help create the balance in their body for an optimal pregnancy, birth and postpartum experience. While she can't predict the birth journey, she can help her clients stack the cards in their favor.
Kate shapes her work to the needs of her clients. Some of the skills she brings include,
• Functional assessment and exercises to support a client's pregnancy and birth.
• Visualization and mindfulness methods to support a timeless and focussed head space.
• Techniques to support optimal fetal positioning.
• Vocal toning and breath work to keep clients tapped into the parasympathetic nervous system.
• Encouraging words to help motivate, affirm and inspire.
• Childbirth education to help clients navigate decisions throughout their birth journey.
• Comforting touch in the form of massage, counter pressure and reiki.
• Meditation and Yoga to help open and surrender.
• Essential oils to nurture mama’s senses and uplift and enhance the birth space.
As woman, mother and birth worker, Kate holds a deep wish for women to empower their own birth process and honor the incredible impression pregnancy and childbirth makes upon their lives as a women and as a mother. Viewing childbirth not only as an offering of new life, Kate also sees childbirth as a sacred threshold or rite of passage marking a powerful stage in a woman's life. Creating a sacred space is a gift of Kate’s no matter where the birth might take place.
DOULA SERVICES INCLUDE
• Two Prenatal Visits
• Functional Assessment & Movement Exercises
• Resources for Pregnancy & The Postpartum Period
• Looking at the ways you want to be supported,
• Reviewing (and possibly editing) your birth plan.
• Creating a travel plan to hospital or birth center.
• Practicing comfort measures and laboring techniques.
• Exploring essential oils for your labor & birth journey.
• Learning movement exercises to help optimal fetal positioning.
• Exploring your ideal birth and processing any fears about labor.
• Reviewing postpartum plans for the first weeks after birth.
• Text/phone/email support for duration of pregnancy and postpartum time
• 24 Hour On Call Support at 38 weeks and beyond.
• Labor & Birth Support (at home & birth center/hospital)
• 1 Postpartum Visit
• Postpartum Support.
• Reflecting on the birth together.
• Reviewing postpartum self care and mama/baby care.
• Learning basic postpartum moves for rehab and wellbeing.
Cost: $1,750.
A $450 non refundable deposit holds your place on Kate's calendar and the total is due at the prenatal visit.
Kate is happy to create payment plans and negotiated rates for clients if needed.
ADD ONS:
Spinning Babies Work - 30 min session $50
In Home Prenatal Yoga - $125 (One 75 min in home session) 5 Sessions - $575
In Home Prenatal or Postpartum Massage - $155 (normally $175)
Childbirth Education - 1 Two Hour Session, $175 • 3 Two Hour Comprehensive Sessions, $450
Kate is available to assist births in the Washington, DC area.
CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION/TRAINING
2005 DONA Birth Doula Training - Penny Simkin PT & Kathy McGrath
2007 ToLabor Birth Doula Training - Therese Hak-Kuhn
2010 DONA Birth Doula Training - Marilyn Hildreth
2012 Awakening The Female Pelvis - Leslie Howard
2013 VBAC & Cesarean Online Training - Gina Crosley-Cororan
2013 Breastfeeding For Doulas - Patricia Ried, PhD, RN, IBCLC
2014 Spinning Babies Workshop - Gail Tully, CPM
2012 Informed Beginnings Childbirth Education Training - Debra Lawrence
2014 Talk on Nitrous Oxide During Labor - Laura Patchin, CNM
2015 Comforting Touch for Birth Doulas - Yiska Obadia
2015 Breach Birth Basics Workshop - Gail Tully, CPM
2015 DONA Postpartum Doula Training - Jackie Kelleher
2016 Labor Support with a Rebozo - Gena Kirby
2018 Nurturing The Mother Massage Training - Claire Marie Miller
2018 When Survivors Give Birth - Penny Simkin PT
2020 Working with Doula Clients Virtually - Penny Simkin PT
2021 Body Ready Method Training for Prenatal, Labor & Postpartum Care
2022 Pregnancy & Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist Certification with Dr. Sarah Duvall
TESTIMONIALS
"Kate was a calming and positive doula who allowed me to find my own way to accomplish the natural birth that I wanted. She worked well with the midwives, and she helped my husband support me. If I were having more children, I would absolutely go back to Kate.”
-- SJ
"Kate went with me to that primal birthing place, which was new territory for me but not for her. She spoke my language there and responded to my needs without me having to verbalize them. She was a calm, strong, comforting presence for me, my husband, and other family members during a very long labor. I am filled with gratitude for all that she did during my daughter's birth."
~ Ashley Widdell Tingstad
“The pain and effort of labor can't be described as a pleasure, and yet it was a joyful experience working with Kate to bring my son into the world. With Kate's coaching and encouragement, I moved my way through an intervention-free birth for my son. She had lots of creative suggestions about how to manage the pain and convince my reluctant baby to enter the world. I'm so glad I had that experience with him, my partner, and Kate.”
~ Carrie Callghan
“After taking yoga with Kate for years, I was so fortunate to have her serve as my doula at the birth of our daughter. I was hesitant to hire a doula the second time around, but definitely made the right decision. Every pregnancy and every delivery are different! What I needed the second time around was very different from the birth of our first child. Kate was sensitive to those needs and was immediately able to help me steer the boat in the direction of the current. Her healing, supportive touch and kind, comforting words were crucial. With skillful awareness, she was able to help me enjoy and marvel at the immensity of labor. I will always treasure my birth experience and her instrumental role. .”
~ Hannah Willman
“It was beyond amazing to have Kate as our doula during the hospital birth of our daughter. She provided the calm, supportive environment both mom and dad needed to get through a first delivery. From the minute she entered the room she had a take charge attitude which greatly relieved the burden on dad and allowed him to focus his time on supporting mom. She knew everything! We were and remain so very thankful for her presence!”
~ Amanda Glass
“Kate was an invaluable source of support during pregnancy, labour, and delivery. I experienced complications during childbirth and am grateful that Kate was with me, providing guidance, comfort, and support. I cannot imagine how I could have taken this journey without her.”
~ Amelia Peltz
"I took Kate's prenatal yoga class and was instantly drawn to her balance and wisdom. So I hired her to be our doula for the birth of my son. I am an Ob/Gyn and wanted someone who could teach me things I hadn't learned in my medical training, who could help me be balanced in pregnancy. She was knowledgeable, warm, grounding, and adaptable to the kind of pregnancy and birth experiences I aimed for. My baby was lying transverse, so despite a slew of osteopathic, yoga, acupuncture, herbal, and biomedical attempts, he would not budge, so I needed to have a cesarean section. I was so grateful to have Kate with us as she helped to make the whole c-section experience calm and family centered, massaging my feet before the surgery, ensuring immediate, unencumbered, skin to skin contact in the operating room and helping to create a nested little space under the surgical drapes for our new little family. After my baby was born, Kate was a strong presence during those tender first few days, helping with breastfeeding and my recovery. As if that wasn't enough, I have soaked up her wisdom on infant development, transition to solids, and other aspects of new parenthood. I cannot recommend Kate highly enough, which I think means a lot coming from a mama who is herself an Ob/Gyn!"
~ Carolyn Suffrin, MD
Author of Jail Care, Finding the Safety Net for Women Behind Bars