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Joan Bryant, ICCE, CD(DONA), CLE more doulas
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My fascination with birth began when I was a small girl while watching the numerous litters of puppies and kittens born in our house. My mother, who never said a negative thing about birth to us, sat beside the birthing box and explained to all the kids gathered exactly what was happening and why. I thought it was amazing.
Years later, when I became pregnant with my first child, I never doubted my ability to give birth; it was just so natural. My hospital experience did not have the same confidence I did. What should have been an empowering experience turned into a foggy, drugged birth that took place only 3 hours after I arrived at the hospital. Even though I had taken childbirth classes, I was not prepared to advocate for myself, and didn’t know the questions to ask in order to avoid having pain medication administered. My new daughter was whisked away to be bathed and fed in the nursery and I didn’t see her for 10 hours. It was all very upsetting and not what I expected.
Finding myself pregnant with my second child, I was a much wiser woman. I hired a special nurse to attend to me and the baby immediately following delivery, preventing baby from being taken to the nursery. After a very quick labor and easy delivery, this baby girl went immediately to the breast. This was bliss, and a whole lot closer to what I had observed as normal and natural all those years before.
Over the next 10 years, I assisted at friends’ births, and I became more and more convinced that any women giving birth in a hospital should have really knowledgeable and continuous support.
In 1995, I first learned about birth doulas while working with an NPO called Newborn Connections in California, assisting women during the postpartum period. I took a DONA sponsored training as soon as possible and began working as a birth doula in 1996. Since then, I have continued my education and expanded my services so that I can now offer support postpartum doula, childbirth and lactation educator. I am certified with DONA and ICEA.
I moved to Portland, OR in the Spring of 2006, and have continued serving birthing women in here. I also teach childbirth preparation classes both for Kaiser Permanente and privately. I have attended over 200 births and my excitement and desire to support women during this amazing journey is stronger than ever.
My belief is that every woman has the right to decide what she wants and needs in order to make her birth experience as positive and empowering as possible.
Joan Bryant, CD(DONA) ICCE, CLE
Birth Doula, Childbirth Educator, Lactation Educator
Contact the office to request doula support:
office 503.493.7390
hello@renchildbirth.com
To contact your doula directly:
direct: 503.841.5048
email: joan@renchildbirth.com |
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Disclaimer: This site is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for personal medical advice, attention, diagnosis or treatment. If you are concerned about your health or your baby's health, please consult your family's health care provider immediately.
Disclaimer: The doulas who work through Renaissance Childbirth and Postpartum Professionals, LLC are independent contractors. Renaissance Childbirth and Postpartum Professionals, LLC does not assume any liability through the actions of your independent contractor.
Doulas are non-medical professionals who support women and families in Labor and Postpartum. They are trained in the normal course of pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum care. They are not qualified to give medical advice, please use the information on this website as a general guide.
Always check with your Care Provider to be sure that you are doing what will be best for you and your baby.
PHOTO CREDIT: All professional photos provided by Debbie Baxter. Thank you Debbie! |
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