What is a doula? (Advice from www.DONA.org)

Giving birth to a baby is so much more than a physical phenomenon; it engages parents-to-be in a transformational experience, a key life event full of emotion and meaning. A doula who accompanies a woman in labor mothers the mother, taking care of her emotional needs throughout childbirth. A doula also provides support and suggestions for partners that can enhance their experiences of birth. A postpartum doula continues that valuable emotional support and guidance, helping a family make a smooth transition into new family dynamics.

DONA International doulas make the difference. Our doulas are educated and knowledgeable about childbirth and the postpartum experience. They are advocates and a listening ear for birthing mothers, as well as facilitators to her partner. When a family goes home with a new baby, a postpartum doula supports every member and the family unit as a whole.

BabyMatters doulas are all trained and certified/certifying with DONA International to assist parents during birth and/or in the postpartum time.

Gretchen Benson:

Keri Manning:

Katie Pohlman: Katie Pohlman became interested in the birthing world while pregnant for her first child and also as a student at Palmer College of Chiropractic. Chiropractic philosophy states that the human body is born with an intelligence, and if that intelligence is not interfered with it works optimally. This wasn't clear until she was pregnant and starting to grasp the reality of the miracle inside of her. From that point on she started to focus her life toward pregnancy and children. She has attended over 200 hours in seminars specializing in pediatrics, and is still continuing to attend these seminars. Her doula training was done with Debbie Young, owner of BabyMatters. In August of 2006, Katie opened her own Chiropractic office, Small Things Chiropractic, in BabyMatters, to continue to share her passion for women and children. She would love to be involved in your birth as your doula and help make your birthing experience the true miracle that it is.

Tammy Ryan:

Vicki Sink: Vicki Sink began attending births in the 1980's. Friends and acquaintances invited her for her calming influence, and gentle touch. She has attended both home births, and in hospital births. She has attended several childbirth courses, and went through doula training with a DONA-approved instructor. She is currently working on her certification requirements.

She is the mother of six children, all born naturally with the assistance of midwives. She has had wonderful birth experiences, and she would like the opportunity to make your birth special, too. She understands that your birth memories will stay with you for the rest of your life. "Giving birth is like running a marathon: it takes a lot of preparation, and hard work, but the prize at the end is well worth it."

Kristi Thill:

Debbie Young: Debbie Young began working with women in birth during her pregnancy with her second child. After experiencing the joy of a new baby born during a less than wonderful birth experience with her first baby, she decided to take matters into her own hands with the next birth. She became a childbirth educator while pregnant with her second baby in 1987. She started attending births as a doula with couple in 1988. Her passion for helping families in pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period continues to grow even today. She is a certified birth and postpartum doula with DONA International. She is the co-owner of BabyMatters in Bettendorf.

She is the mother of five children born from 1985 to 1994. Each had a different birth adventure in which Debbie learned to trust birth and take it as it comes. She has also offered doula services and childbirth education to more that 600 families since 1987.

Her love of birth and families in the childbearing year is clear and her goal to help women see birth as normal and understand their options is clear on the local, national and international level. She would enjoy helping you with your birth or in the postpartum time in the Quad Cities area. Helping you meet your desires for birth will be her goal.

Kristy Thill, BA, CLC, IBCLC, RLC is a certified Lactation Consulatant and a mother of four breastfed children. She has been counseling breastfeeding mothers since 1998.

Private lactation consultations are available by appointment to help new mothers get off to a good start or to help if any problems arise. Pregnant or new mothers can discuss her needs and concerns and learn practiclal ideas to make breastfeeding more enjoyable. Although breastfeeding is very natural, it is also a learned skill.

Classes are also offered on a variety of breastfeeding topics. Please call for a schedule of upcoming classes.

Debbie Young is a certified Lamaze educator and has been teaching childbirth education for 18 years, initially as a Bradley teacher for 11 years. If you are interested in normal birth with no or few interventions, this may be the class for you.

This is not your mother's Lamaze Class. We do not learn the old breathing patterns and distractions techniques. Instead, we learn how your body works and how you can work with it to enhance your birth experience. The class runs for 4 weeks, 12 hours total.

You will also get hands-on practice with relaxation techniques and comfort measures for easing the discomforts of labor. Find out more about options you have available to you at your birth place and how to ask questions to make informed decisions.

Learn about normal variations in birth and how to handle them. Interventions are discussed, including epidural, along with ways to avoid them or decide if they are medically needed for you.

Nutrition, exercise, newborn needs, and breastfeeding are also covered.

Tammy Ryan is a certified Cascade Christian Childbirth educator and she serves on their board.

Prepare for the arrival of your little blessing with this 4 week class that covers all aspects of childbirth, including stages of labor, birth plans, comfort measures, conquering fears and a hospital tour. This approach to giving birth gives the glory to God and puts trust in birth right into His hands!

Tammy Ryan is a certified Prenatal Parenting instructor and the Iowa State Representative for the organization.

This 4 week program gets parents emotionally in touch with their unborn children so they begin properly parenting their child during a important period of their emotional development. Pregnant mothers are the brain architects of their developing babies. The brain centers that create and control our emotions are present before birth.

Come learn how to enhance your baby with a peaceful brain and calm, tranquil temperament.

Using sign language with your baby has many benefits. Babies who sign are less frustrated, speak earlier, have higher IQs (10-12 points higher), and develop larger vocabularies than those who don't. Our class teaches parents and other caregivers to use signs so the baby will begin to use them, even before they can talk. A good time to start using signs is at 6 months.

Tammy Ryan is a certified instructor for Happiest Baby on the Block classes.

Using Dr. Harvey Karp's method you will find ways to strengthen the bond between you and your baby, to help create a happier, healthier, and more loving family. Learn to create a womblike atmosphere for your newborn outside the womb, to access the calming reflex that will help baby quickly sooth fussing and crying, understand the 5 S's to turn on your babies calming reflex, and learn how the cuddle cure calms even colicky babies.

Heather Zeidler, RN is a Certified HypnoBirthing Practitioner. She will teach this 4 week class to help you experience natural, unmedicated birth while reducing unnecessary interventions.

You will learn to experience a naturally induced state of relaxation similar to daydreaming, totally relaxed but fully in control. This will help eliminate fear and tension that can cause pain in your body. This self-hypnosis technique helps produce a shorter more comfortable labor.

Partners learn to help the birthing woman as she finds her full level of relaxation in birth.

Bringing home a new baby creates changes in almost every aspect of your life. These classes will help you learn to ease your way into your expanding family. Useful suggestions and sharing with other new parents will help you get off on the right foot with a new baby in the house. This 4 week class works on a rotating basis and can be started whenever you and your little one are ready to get out of the house.

Topics include: Feeding the baby, Mom and household, Mothering the mother, Safety first, Sibling rivalry, and other topics.

Debbie Young, a certified childbirth educator, offers this unique class to help big brothers and sisters understand basic ideas surrounding birth and about their mother bringing home a new baby. Begin discussing how things will change before the baby comes home. Encourage the child to become involved in the new activities and decide on special times for the older child also. Extra material will be offered for a sibling attending the birth.

Debbie Young, a certified childbirth educator, offers this unique class to help grandparents understand new ideas surrounding birth and new parenting. Things have changed. Come to understanding the difference that your children face as they birth and begin parenting.

LaKeisha Holloway is a Certified Bradley® instructor. The Bradley Method® stresses the importance of Healthy Baby, Healthy Mother and Healthy Families. Couples are taught how to have natural births with techniques that are simple and effective. Bradley® classes cover it all: nutrition, exercise, being more comfortable during pregnancy, the coaches role, introductory information about labor and birth, advanced techniques for labor and birth, complications, postpartum care, breastfeeding, caring for your new baby and much more.

It is hard work learning, preparing, and birthing… but thrilling beyond imagination to experience this MIRACLE!