CURRENT STATUS: Certified Labor Doula
BUSINESS NAME/AFFILIATION: Inspire Doula Services
SERVICES PROVIDED: Labor, Postpartum & Infant Care Doula Services, Placenta Encapsulation Services, Infant Feeding Education Services and Childbirth Education Classes
AREAS SERVED: Livonia, Michigan
CONTACT INFO:
Email: office@inspiredoulaservices.com
Phone: (248) 919-8182
Website: http://www.inspiredoulaservices.com
Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/inspiredoulaservices
Lifetime Certification
Background/Experience that you think is beneficial to Doula work: I am thrilled to bring cumulative knowledge and experience to my role as a birth professional, with a master's degree in counseling and certification as a lactation consultant. My expertise extends to being a Body Ready Method Certified Professional and a Body Ready Birth Certified Instructor, allowing me to support clients through the physical and emotional aspects of childbirth. Additionally, I am trained as a Stillbirthday and Hypnobabies doula, enabling me to provide compassionate care through various birthing experiences. Each certification and training has equipped me with the skills to offer comprehensive and empathetic support to expectant parents. Although these trainings and more have prepared me to support the INSPIRE families, it is my heart and compassion for their individual situations that keep calling me back to the profession I love.
What led you to become a Doula?: About 16 years ago, I was supporting my best friend during the birth of one of her children. I was solely there to take pictures to document this life-changing moment. And then, that is when things started to change quickly and the obstetrician asked if I could put down the camera and give him a hand. Well, of course! That moment changed the trajectory of my life and I started to research what profession could be there with the birthing family and also have knowledge about birth. The rest is history...I love being a doula and supporting each INSPIRE family.
What are some positive comments made about you by other people?:
I can’t recommend Angela highly enough! She went above and beyond all expectations. She came to the hospital at 7am to help us advocate for ourselves and help us decide between an induction or repeat c section at just 34 weeks. We chose induction and sent her home for a while as we knew it was going to be a long day. She kept continuous contact via text and made the call to come back on her own once my waters had broken. At that point I was handling contractions great, but within an hour of her arrival they intensified quickly, like she knew exactly when I would need her. She was a continuous calming presence for me, helped my husband in supporting me, and provided a barrier between me and the constant interruption of doctors and nurses checking in. When baby started having scary heart decels she remained calm and warned me a lot of people were about to come into the room and what was happening. Despite knowing things weren’t going the way I wanted her demeanor helped me remain calm. The call was made to have a repeat c section. Angela accompanied us to the OR for a 2-ish hour surgery as I had so much scar tissue from prior c sections. Our preemie was born an hour in and my husband followed her to the NICU. Angela stayed with me holding my hand and telling me what was happening almost the entire time, only leaving my side when I requested her to get an update on my baby. She followed me to recovery and stayed until I was ready for her to leave. My husband had been concerned about whether a doula would be “worth it” in the event of a c section, and I can confidently say she was worth every penny and I would do it all over again. In fact, if we didn’t live so far away (almost 2 hours) I would hire her for postpartum care as well. She has continued to remain in contact during our NICU stay, checking in on me, my healing, my mental state, and asking about baby. We love Angela and are so grateful for the love and care she provided us through this beautiful and scary experience.
Angela was our saving grace through a rough delivery! My original plan was to have a natural birth in a birthing center with no medications. Due to the size of our son I had to be induced a week early which meant my original birth plan went out the window. With Angela by our side the whole labor and delivery I was able to get through induction and she was the reason we didn’t have to have an emergency C-section when they realized my son’s shoulder was stuck in my hip. She helped to keep my husband and I both calm and empowered through the whole experience. We will always be thankful for her support, presence and expertise!
Angela was an incredible support during my labor and delivery, both physically and emotionally. She was available to answer questions and concerns whenever I had any at all during my pregnancy. She is so calm, reassuring and has a wonderful sense of humor (which I love). I would definitely recommend her services! We loved having her as our doula!