A little about me...
Hi! My name is Desiree. I am a certified birth doula, perinatal educator, and birth coach. I am also a birth-center-turned-cesarean mama and an HBAC (home birth after cesarean) mama. And I am someone who genuinely believes in the divine power of birth.
I was born and raised in Northern California, and after a long stint in San Francisco, have settled permanently in the East Bay hills to raise my two daughters with my husband and our loving pittie, Alpha. I am a DIY queen and tend to want to make everything in my own way, which translated into my desire to home birth, to breastfeed, to make my family's food from scratch, and my newest adventure of homesteading!
I became a birth doula after my own birthing experiences showed me the importance of having unconditional support in your choices in pregnancy and in birth. It is my honor and privilege to now step into that role of support, advocate, coach, and partner for other families as they prepare for their own birth experiences.
My philosophy...
I believe in the sacredness of the birthing process and that all the answers we seek in that process lie within your own body and heart.
As your doula, I seek to nurture your belief in yourself and to support you in deepening your connection with your body, your baby, and your intuition throughout your pregnancy and in your birth. I am committed to helping you become the best possible advocate for yourself through education, open communication, and affirmation that you are the keeper of your own body and know what is best for yourself and your baby. Together we will break down any stigma or fear that might be clouding your intuition so that you can move with confidence and clear intention through your labor, guiding the decision-making process with direction that can come only from you and your connection to your baby.
The B-earth-Mama Method is built on three pillars of preparation - mind, body, and soul. As a certified perinatal educator, education is important component of my practice, but what is more important to me is that you are able to apply that knowledge in a way that feels intuitive in moments of high intensity, and that you can find trust in the wisdom of your body's own unique process. We will focus on preparing your body, mind, and soul to be focused, yet malleable, through the twists and turns of birth. In our prenatal visits, we will talk through real life scenarios and come up with strategies for processing information and making decisions from a place of intuition rather than a place of fear so that you feel prepared for anything! My highest hope is that you walk away from your birth feeling proud, powerful, and in complete ownership of the experience.
When I am not attending births, you can find me traipsing around the Bay Area with my husband, our two daughters, and our blue nose pittie pup, Alpha. At home, I am often in front of my mirrors in my home dance studio practicing yoga or belly dancing with my girls beside me. Occasionally, you can find me onstage performing solo, or as a part of the Coven dance company with Zoe Jakes and my favorite band, Beats Antique.
Doula Off-Duty
method
B-earth-Mama
The
The B-earth-Mama Method is rooted in my belief that birth is a holistic process, and that preparing for birth means preparing the mind, the body, and the soul. The purpose of the B-earth-Mama method is two-fold - to strengthen your connection to your body and intuition so you can have an empowering birth experience AND to establish an unshakeable confidence in yourself that can then support you through the early days of parenthood and beyond. With the B-earth-Mama method, it is my hope that you walk away from your birth feeling invigorated by the experience and fully prepared to step confidently into your shoes as a new parent.
Learn more about each of these pillars below.
MIND
The MIND pillar is the educational component of the B-earth-Mama Preparation Method. This pillar is about developing your understanding of the birth process and the ways you can prepare yourself mentally to have the best possible experience, no matter the outcome. It's about knowledge, and the tools to apply that knowledge in real life situations, so that you can approach your labor with complete confidence in yourself, in your body, and your ability to navigate anything that comes your way. This pillar is also about deepening your connection to your own wants and needs for your birth experience. Evidence based instruction married with strategic discussion topics and curated self-reflection helps personalize the information so that you can focus on what birth can mean for you and your family.
Mind
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SOUL
The SOUL pillar is the mindfulness component of the B-earth-Mama method. This pillar focuses on strengthening your connection to your body and your intuition so you can remain present and grounded in your birth experience, no matter how it unfolds. The ability to surrender to the intensity of birth in this way is something that requires focus and training. Personalized breathing practices and active relaxation techniques are key components of this work, as is building out a full toolkit of mental and sensory cues to help us communicate with your body once your mind has been transported to the birth realm. You will have my guidance in designing your practice and integrating it into your routine so that it is not only manageable and enjoyable, but can become a treasured opportunity to bond with yourself and your baby as you prepare for birth.
Soul
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BODY
Body
The BODY pillar is the physical preparation component of the B-earth-Mama Method. The focus is on working with your own unique physiology, both in pregnancy and in labor. This is an investigation, and one that takes into account not only the physicality of your experience, but also goes deeper into how your body has been programmed to respond to stress and intensity, as well as peace and joy. This pillar addresses fetal positioning, pelvic alignment and body balancing techniques, as well as comfort measures and coping techniques. We review the mechanics of labor, how to interpret your body's cues to provide intentional support throughout the labor process, and also how to create simple and effective coping strategies so you can stay relaxed and pliant through even the most intense moments of labor.
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Want to learn more about how the B-earth-Mama Method could work for you?
Qualifications/Experience
Birth Doula Certification, Cornerstone Doula Trainings
Childbirth Education Facilitator Certification, Cornerstone Doula Trainings
Postpartum Belly Binding Training, La Matriz
The VBAC Link Advanced Doula Training
Preparing for an Empowered Birth Course, Creator and Facilitator
Millie Medical Clinic, Pregnancy Guide and Perinatal Educator
Adult/Child/Infant CPR/AED Certified