I am a certified birth doula, postpartum doula, lactation counselor, childbirth educator, bereavement support, aromatherapist, and herbalist living in Center City, Philadelphia, and serving the entire Philadelphia region.
BEST DOULA AWARD 2016
BEST DOULA FINALIST 2017
I am an older doula, so if you are looking to be mothered (which is what doulas do), then you have found the right person! Let me care for you with my wide range of services that will inform, inspire, and nurture you from pregnancy to postpartum. One of my clients shared that my care felt like “one-stop shopping!”
I am mother to three, wonderful, grown, children who are all out on their own. This allows me plenty of time to dedicate myself to caring for your family as your doula. I currently live with Honey, my very old Golden Retriever, and my Tortie cat Harvey-Two Face.
My birth philosophy? Over the years I have seen again and again that a safe and calm birthing environment with minimal disruptions allows your body and baby to know what to do to give birth. While this philosophy guides my care for you, my #1 priority is to support you in making informed decisions and honoring your needs and wants for your birth.
Certified Birth Doula, DONA International
Certfied Postpartum Doula, DONA International
Certified Lactation Counseling, Healthy Children Project
Certified Childbirth Educator, Childbirth International
Bereavement Support, Birth Arts international
Certified Aromatherapy, Heart of Herbs
Certified Herbalist, Heart of Herbs
Birth doula care starts in pregnancy with two meetings at 30 and 36 weeks. I like to have all of the education done before 37 weeks so you feel prepared! I am on call for your birth starting at 37 weeks, and will be with you for the active part of your labor and birth, and an hour or two after baby is born to make sure you get your immediate skin to skin contact and support your first breastfeeding session. Our postpartum visit in your first week allows us to process your birth and answer baby care questions. My role includes continuous emotional support for you and your partner, physical comfort measures, information support, and helping you advocate for yourself every step of the way.
As a postpartum doula, I am all about mothering you as a new mother and nurturing your family. Ideally I would be at your home once you get home from your birthplace and send the whole, new, family to bed to sleep, rest, relax, enjoy, feed and bond with your baby. I make sure that you are fed and hydrated, help with breastfeeding, teach baby care like bathing, etc., and take over household tasks until you are recovered and ready to jump back in. Some of the things I do are dishes, laundry, taking out garbage, cooking, running errands, grocery shopping, stocking your diaper changing stations, and just being there to listen and answer questions!
As a lactation counselor, I teach a prenatal breastfeeding class, or I can come to you after you have had your baby to help with any issues that you are running into.
I teach private childbirth education classes in my home or yours, as well as a newborn care class and breastfeeding class. You can even invite friends or family to create a group class!
There are many ways to use aromatherapy and herbs during your pregnancy, labor, postpartum period, breastfeeding and for baby.
Belly binding and sealing have been used to support pregnant and postpartum parents in nearly all traditional cultures around the world.
Interested in learning more about my services or ready to schedule an interview? Please let me know by using the form at right, or contact me by phone or email. I do my very best to get back to all requests within 24 hours. I look forward to sharing more with you!
Certified Doula, Lactation Counselor, Childbirth Educator, Bereavement Support, Aromatherapist, and Herbalist
I delivered a son via VBAC with Christine’s help. My goal was to labor at home for as long as possible for fear that if I went into the hospital too early I would be trapped in bed with all sorts of meds and IVs and not be able to move around. This baby was my last chance to have the vaginal birth that I desperately wanted and Chris was there to help me despite my fears and pain. Please don’t hesitate to hire a doula to assist you in labor (they are heaven sent) and consider Christine to help you.”
Since I have been supporting families as a birth and postpartum doula for about four years now, I have met some great professionals in the field that I would like to recommend. I am a strong believer in taking advantage of all the wonderful care the community of holistic practitioners here in Philadelphia has to… >> Read More
One of my favorite stories that I like to tell is from the first time I was a backup doula for another doula who was away when her client went into labor. I had briefly met with the client and her husband for about a half hour, during their second prenatal meeting. So, needless to… >> Read More
What is a doula? Doula is an ancient Greek word for female who serves. There are two types of doulas. First I will talk about the birth doula. A birth doula is a woman who will help a laboring mother through her labor and the birth of her baby. Many doulas are certified by DONA… >> Read More
“The secret is not that birth is painful, it is that women are strong!”
– Laura Stavoe Harm
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