Bringing a baby into the world is an amazingly powerful and intense event, and I am deeply honored to be a part of each birth I've attended. I believe that women and their loved ones deserve to be treated with the utmost respect and given unconditional and nonjudgmental support throughout their pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. I strive to give my clients confidence by helping them get all the information needed to make the best decisions for themselves, and work with compassion and gentleness during the ups and downs of labor and any unexpected circumstances. Your birth is your birth and will be unique to you, your beliefs, and your preferences. By getting to know you well and developing a relationship with you, I hope to help support your birth so that you are able to feel confident and empowered as you begin parenting your new babe.

Several years before getting pregnant with my son, I learned about doulas and knew immediately that next to mothering, birth work would be my life's work. Supporting women and their families in childbirth has been the most powerful and rewarding "job" I've ever had. My own birth experience left me feeling incredibly empowered and confident as I entered my new role as a mother. My son's birth was definitely not textbook perfect and had lots of ups and downs, but we had two doulas supporting us throughout the process which made all the difference in the world for both my husband and me. I discovered the wisdom my body holds and a power and fortitude within myself that I never knew I had.

Services / Skills

We will meet two to three times to get to know each other, talk in depth about your pregnancy and upcoming birth, practice comfort measures if you wish, and create or go over your birth preferences. I am available by phone and email 24 hrs a day from the moment you hire me. I am certified as a prenatal fitness educator so we can also talk about fitness and specific exercises that will help support your body during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. I have a lending library of books, dvds, cds, and birth balls for you to use at any time. I also work with a group of Madison based doulas, and you will be invited to our monthly meeting where you can meet the other doulas with whom I work, other expectant parents, and discuss birth and baby related topics.

During labor, I offer massage and other comfort strategies, position suggestions, relaxation/visualizations, acupressure, sibling support, photography, and make sure both the laboring mom and her partner/family have the support they need and information throughout the labor and birth.

After the birth, I can help with lactation, refer you to resources you may need with your new baby, post-partum doula referrals, cloth diaper advice/information, and provide information for exercises to help your body recover after you have your baby.

Education /Experience

Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from Butler University, patient support at Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital in Lebanon, Indiana (fall 2004), lactation support classes (spring 2008 and summer 2010), Bradley Natural Childbirth classes (spring 2010), completion of DONA approved birth doula training (fall 2010)and Certified as a DONA birth doula (fall, 2011) Madison Birth Center Natural Childbirth classes (winter 2010), private lesson on acupressure for labor progress and pain relief (winter 2010), Certified Prenatal Fitness Educator through ICEA (spring 2011).

Births attended

Self, one; as doula, 17; other, two.

Heather can be reached at 608-395-4764 or heather.doula@yahoo.com. View her website at: heatherbernhard.com.