Andrea Welch

Andrea Welch The Wise Woman Collective

Certified Birth Doula - CD(DONA)

Wondering what a Doula is??DONA (Doula’s of North America) defines a birth doula as.. “a trained professional who provid...
04/28/2024

Wondering what a Doula is??

DONA (Doula’s of North America) defines a birth doula as.. “a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to their client before, during, and shortly after childbirth to help them achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible.”

It’s easy to misunderstand the role of a doula, in fact most people think we are just birth attendants! Here are some things that I offer as a doula 👇🏼
✨ prenatal visits where we will go over childbirth education, create a birth plan, discuss breastfeeding, infant sleep, risks vs benefits of interventions, labor techniques, pain management, hospital registration, what to pack for birth, postpartum supplies and plans, etc.
✨ access to me via text or phone call for questions
✨ resources and referrals to other providers if needed
✨ being on call to attend your labor and delivery
✨ help with advocating for yourself
✨ postpartum visits to support breastfeeding (if desired), troubleshooting, check in on mental health, debriefing after birth, referring out for other support, etc.

Doulas are not medical professionals. We do not perform clinical tasks or take measurements, etc. We do not speak on behalf of our clients. Instead we empower parents to communicate their needs while helping to accomplish their vision of a healthy, positive birth experience.

What helps you to feel most comfortable during labor? I’ve recently seen posts circulating around free birth or birthing...
10/21/2023

What helps you to feel most comfortable during labor?

I’ve recently seen posts circulating around free birth or birthing alone. It had me thinking about how much I love having the support of other women during pregnancy + labor and delivery, and of course postpartum.

My midwife has become someone I look forward to seeing. She hugs me when I arrive to my appointments, she spends at least an hour with me almost every appointment. I feel that I know her well and she’s not just a medical provider to me, she’s a friend. I feel comforted by her presence during labor knowing she’s supported many women and children through the journey of motherhood. I feel the same about the doula I had at my last labor as well, her encouraging words and wisdom around making labor a smooth process really helped carry me through. The women that showed up for me postpartum, I will never forget.

It’s so important to build a village and lean on the women around you for their wisdom and support. Maybe those people are your friends, sisters, mother, or a close relative?

This is my little family. We’re not perfect but we love each other well. I guess I’m not sure how to formally start an i...
10/08/2023

This is my little family. We’re not perfect but we love each other well.
I guess I’m not sure how to formally start an introductory post. So I’ll start with this,
Motherhood has had a profound impact on me.

I started this account in hopes to support women through their journey of motherhood and beyond. After quickly realizing how little education and informed consent were offered during my first pregnancy, I became a birth doula. I know what it’s like to look back on your first labor and delivery experience with regret and I don’t wish this for any woman. Through my pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experiences over the last several years, I have been working hard to build a service that will leave you feeling educated and empowered in your decisions.

A little more about me,
I am a Mom to two little girls, with another surprise due to arrive in January. We live in a small town in the UP of Michigan. It’s beautiful here year round, but I especially love the colors of the maple trees in October and the way all of our lakes sparkle in the summer. You can always catch us outside no matter the weather. When I’m not outside you can find me starting another diy project (and by “me” I mean my husband) or pretending to be an interior decorator while watching HGTV or browsing Pinterest. I am also a dog Mom to a yellow lab and pitty. I joke that if I were an influencer, I would be influencing people to bake with sourdough or drink raw milk. I have a love for the gym, and if you’d like to read more about my past as a personal trainer and background in health and fitness or how I ended up in women’s health as a doula..
Check out my milkshake in my bio!

- Andrea 🤍

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Iron Mountain, MI

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