Safe Haven Doula Services

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Bellingham, WA
Safe Haven Doula Services

Empathetic, non-judgmental caring support during pregnancy and birth

08/09/2021

I almost wasn’t going to post for but honestly for women who want to breastfeed, I want you to know that I 💯% behind you.

Anyone who has ever tried or successfully breastfed knows what a hard journey it can be. I don’t care if it’s your first baby or your 5th each baby is a new journey every time full of unique highs and lows.

It makes my heart so sad to read statistic that only 1/2 of women who WANT to breastfeed are still success at only 3 months.

Why are so many women giving up?

Let’s face it, we’re up against a system where “fed is best” is the high bar. Where supplementing with formula and fortifiers are easy “fixes”. Where doctors hardly have time to listen or maybe don’t even have personal experience.

Women need SUPPORT, they need a tribe of people cheering them on, access to lactation specialists and support groups.

I have breastfed all 3 of my babies.
Wit always easy? Heck no!
Was it worth it? Absolutely!
Could I have done it on my own? No way!

I was SO proud when one of my birth clients over came so many obstacles with breastfeeding after the hospital told her baby was “too small to breastfeed”. We spent hours on the phone encouraging and trouble shooting, and with a lot of determination and lactation support she transitioned to 💯% breastfed 👏🏻

If you want something, fight for it! You deserve support and encouragement.

❤️

08/02/2021

I meant the sweetest gal the other night and as we were chatting I told her that I am a birth doula.
“Oh that’s fantastic!” She replied, and then in the very next breath said

“Can I tell you something that has bothered me for 11 years?”

“My first baby was a planned cesarean, I was so disappointed but everyone kept telling me “at least you have a healthy baby… it still really bothers me.”
11 years later and she is telling a total stranger. That is birth trauma.

1 in 3 women experience birth trauma.
I find that completely unacceptable.
We can and should do better.

Birth Trauma is not exclusively when something ‘goes wrong’, poor outcomes, infant loss, severe hemorrhage, or bodily harm.
It is much bigger than that.

“Your trauma is valid. Even if other people have experienced “worse”. Even if someone else who went through the same experience doesn’t feel debilitated by it. Even if it “could have been avoided”. Even if it happened a long time ago. Even if no one knows. Your trauma is real and valid and you deserve a space to talk about it. It isn’t desperate or pathetic or attention-seeking. It’s self-care. It’s inconceivably brave. And regardless of the magnitude of your struggle, you’re allowed to take care of yourself by processing and unloading some of the pain you carry. Your pain matters. Your experience matters. And your healing matters. Nothing and no one can take that away.
-Danielle Koepke

***Continued in comments***

07/30/2021

This has been a though question for me this year.
People ask, and most of the time I don’t know what to say.

Honestly, this year has been hands down the saddest year of my life.
I have been walking a path of deep pain and grief, and it’s been really hard and there have been many tears and there will be many tears to come.

It’s made posting on social media feel blank. But I want you to know I am still here. Loving families, celebrating birth and encouraging mother’s along their own journey.

Grief has been a incredible teacher. I have learned (and still learning) more of myself through this process.

💔 I love being a doula, the more I whiteness the pain and joy of motherhood, the more I reviere being a doula and believe this path was chosen for me.

💔 Grief is unpredictable and uncontrollable.

💔 The “right words” are not really necessary. More importantly is the ability to hold space for someone’s emotions, to just be present.

💔 Women are remarkably courageous creatures. Motherhood requires great courage, loving someone more than ourself takes great courage, having to say goodbye takes great courage and continuing to go on takes great courage.

Sweet friend if you read this…
You are Courageous and full of strength even when doubt fills your head. And you are loved.

06/07/2021

Happy National Home Birth Day!

I am fortunate enough to have welcomed 2 of my babies into my arms at home (one came so fast I don’t think my husband could have convinced me to get into a car 😊).

Although I love home brith and view it as a peaceful safe option for many women, I truly support all birth. How a woman is treated, respected and made to feel during her birth is the paramount, location is secondary.

But here are some bonuses to having a home birth (IMO)…

🌸 familiar, comfortable and relaxing. When we the most relaxed and feel safe, our body is feee to open to the process it was designed to do.

🌸 Your whole birth team comes to you! It’s an amazing feeling, no wondering when to go, no breaking of your rhythm or relaxed state, they come to you!

🌸 you don’t necessarily need to arrange for childcare for older children. The majority of births happen at night, siblings wake up to the best surprise in the morning or let your kids be apart of the process. I love witnessing births where older kids are tenderly loving on their laboring mama, so sweet.

🌸 Baby (and you) are not exposed to foreign bacterial abs viruses outside your home.

🌸You get to sleep in your own bed (and no one comes in and bothers you) and eat your own food, in your own bed, it doesn’t get better than that.

The list goes on and on…
If you have ever thought about a home birth but had questions, please send them my way, I would be happy to chat. ❤️

04/26/2021

What IS Hypnobirthing?
I get asked this question fairly frequently. As strange, as the name sounds, it’s actually not hippie or far out.
Hypnobirthing is a way of learning how to relax very deeply and almost automatically. In this deep state of relaxation you are still fully aware of your surrounding and in complete control of your body but your mind can filter out preserved discomfort or danger.
Life is so face-paced it’s difficult to truly slow down and absorb the moments, days and weeks. But the truth is our bodies ENJOY a deep state of relaxation and if you practice you can learn to relax, quickly and deeply and your body will come to crave that state, it will want to go there and it’s a beautiful thing.

In labour the more relaxed we are the easier and quicker out baby can be in our arms. When we relax and surrender, we allow our body to do what it was designed to do. When we panic, tense up or fight the process, we limit our body’s ability to do the work.

Hypnobirthing incorporates positive birth affirmations and helps clear away fears and process previous traumas so that you can approach your birth with a fresh positive mindset.

How did I find hypnobirthing? Truth... I was a skeptic a BIG skeptic. But during my second birth, my sweet midwife told me “Dana, I need you to try to relax”.
It was wonderful advice but in that moment I was helpless, I did not know how to relax! Fast forward 2 years and I found myself pregnant again ponding on that moment, realizing I still didn’t really know how to relax.
So I read a book that I was sure I was going to think was ridiculous. It wasn’t. And for the first time in my life I learned the art of mindful relaxation and it has served me well.
So, if you’re thinking “is hypnobirthing for me?” Well the answer is probably yes, but it takes practice, lots and lots of practice but I can assure you the rewards are huge.

I love connecting, so if you are looking for some guidance, resources or frankly just how to get started, call, text or send me an email, I am always available.

04/23/2021

Happy Earth Day.
I never imagined I would ever be a serious gardener, here I am at 36 and loving my special place come rain or shine.
One of my favorite people in the whole world has patiently been reaching me how to combine colors and textures. I am slowly learning that the joy of gardening is not about perfection but rather taking chances, learning and growing.
If I am not doing birthy things, chasing my wild kids or enjoying sweet friendship, you will find me sweaty, dirty and smiling somewhere in the yard. 🌸

04/11/2021

When your bestie just GETS YOU!
I am all feels over here, feeling loved.
Thank you you’re simply the best. 💕

03/21/2021

I have been distant from social media for the past month.

I have been deeply grieving a loss.

My tribe, my people, my community have held me up, shared the weight and the tears.
They have reminded me how BRAVE STRONG & SPECIAL women are.

Birth is like grief, it is best done in community.

03/12/2021

It’s true, I have the sweetest clients ever!

02/14/2021

Happy Valentine’s Day... may it be filled with many little things and an overflowing heart.

02/10/2021

A peaceful walk in early or mid labor can be just the right thing to:
🌿 Reset your mind

🌿 Progress labor

🌿 Connect with you partner

🌿 Allow baby shift into a better position

02/01/2021

Hello everyone,
It’s been awhile since I introduced myself to the new faces here. But instead of a long written post, I want to just share more life with you over the next coupes weeks and introduce you to well...me.
But to get things stated, here are 10 things about me:

🏔 I am a PNW gal.

🐓 We are new to backyard (or in our case woods) chickens and I un-expectantly love it so much.

🌴 I lived in Florida for 5 amazing years.

🌱 Gardening brings me joy

🍷 So does wine.

🏕 I love backpacking.

🧬🩺 I LOVE human anatomy and have a degree in Vascular Technology.

🌧 We use rain water catchment for all our water.

🐐 I dream of being a goat mama.

🏃🏻‍♀️ I dread competitive sports.

Address

Bellingham, WA

Telephone

+13602012678

Website

https://www.northcascadedoulas.com/

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