Denver Doula

I am very excited to announce a new development in my practice. Beginning in early Winter 2011, I will be working in a partnership with another highly skilled doula, Kristen Tamblyn. This team approach to doula care affords benefits to me personally and allows me to offer a greater depth of service and commitment to expectant families.

Hello From Kristen
After a life-long interest in childbirth, I finally decided to pursue my goal of becoming a doula after the birth of my daughter in January 2009. I had to abandon my plan for a home birth when I developed preeclampsia at 37 weeks and had to have a hospital induction that same day. I learned from that experience that you can still have an empowering birth experience that is radically different than what you had envisioned as long as you are informed about your choices and have a good labor support team. It is now my pleasure to be able to help other women to have a joyful and empowered birth experience as well.

I received my doula training through a Doulas of North America (DONA, Int'l.) certified instructor. In the summer of 2010, I completed the Advanced Practice Doula Training with Mountain Midwifery Center. This was a very thorough training that focused on the unique role that a doula plays in the birth center environment, but the knowledge is applicable to all birthing environments. I am a part of the on-call doula program at Mountain Midwifery and a part of their Headed Home short-term postpartum doula care program. In fall 2010, I also began classes in Advanced Midwifery Studies at Ancient Art Midwifery Institute with the intention of becoming a homebirth midwife. I am so excited to be forming a partnership with Ann this coming winter. I believe that the partnership will allow us to offer more to our clients while achieving a better work/life balance for each of us and our families.

How Does our Partnership Work?
Kristen and I work together as a team throughout the whole scope of our care, including prenatal appointments, support during pregnancy, birth attendance and postpartum follow-up. Most of our work is done in tandem, and we are in excellent communication with each other throughout our clients’ pregnancies and births.

1. Prenatally:
a. Appointments: We prefer to conduct our prenatal meetings and interviews together and make sure that both of us know our clients and their wishes in detail. This allows us both to get to know our clients and for them to be comfortable with both of us equally.
b. Throughout your pregnancy: As you may have already experienced, pregnancy can often come along with lots of questions and needs for new resources. To help you navigate the path to parenthood, both of us are available whenever you need us to help answer any questions, give information, and direct you to further resources.

2. At your birth: When it’s time for your baby to make his/her arrival, whichever of us is on-call at that time will be the doula who attends your birth. Sometimes birth can take a long time and in that circumstance, we can always call on each other to help make sure you always have a well-rested and ‘fresh’ doula.

3. Postpartum: After your birth, Kristen and I provide at least one postpartum visit. Some parents elect to have both of us attend this meeting, while others prefer to visit one-on-one with the doula who attended their birth.

What are the benefits of our partnership to our clients?
Clients who have used a doula team have found it very beneficial. A partnership offers a well-rested and well–prepared doula to a laboring mom, even during long labors. During pregnancy, every good doula will be there for her clients to provide information and support while they prepare for birth. Having two doulas means you also have twice the sources of information, twice the wealth of experience to draw from, and twice the perspective to help you approach all aspects of birth preparation. Finally, because there are two of us working for you, the odds of having to call in a backup doula for your birth are practically negligible. You can have confidence knowing your doula will be able to attend your birth, and because we meet with you together throughout your pregnancy, no matter which one of us gets to be there for the big day, you can be assured she will know you and your wishes intimately!

Kristen’s contact information
website: http://www.birthnurturer.com
email: kristen@birthnurturer.com
phone: (303-345-4024)