MOMSQUAD NAPA VALLEY
Midwives, Doulas and Lactation Support
Below, you will find information explaining some of the differences between midwives, doulas and obstetricians. Check out our "Resources" tab for more information, including hospital-based and community prenatal, postpartum and parenting classes, mental health support and home visitation.
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Scroll down for some thoughts on breastfeeding, lactation laws and local lactation support, some informative videos on latching and newborn cues, and a list of local midwives, doulas and lactation supporters. Additionally, our Facebook Page is a great place to pose your questions for other moms to share recommendations, tips and tricks. While none of the following info replaces the need to follow the recommendations of your medical providers, we believe knowledge and support are crucial in making decisions with confidence as a new parent.
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Read more at MedicineNet
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“Breast is Best” vs. “Fed is Best”
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"Breast is best" was a slogan adopted by the World Health Organization, Unicef and countless other respected health bodies, who say babies should be fed exclusively with breast milk for the first six months of their life because of the health advantages to both children and their moms.
The "Fed is Best" Foundation works to identify critical gaps in current breastfeeding protocols, guidelines, and education programs. They aim to provide families and health professionals with the most up-to-date scientific research, education, and resources to practice safe infant feeding with breast milk, formula, or a combination of both. They believe to be fully informed, parents must be taught the risks of insufficient breast milk intake when supporting exclusive breastfeeding in order to prevent hospitalizations for insufficient feeding complications. "Fed is best" advocates strive to eliminate infant feeding shaming while prioritizing perinatal mental health.
As an expecting or new parent, you must choose what is most optimal given factors crucial to the well being of you and your child. Parents who cannot breastfeed, or do not want to breastfeed, or children who cannot breastfeed, deserve the best substitute nutrition available as well as the best support available that is inclusive, informative, unbiased and encouraging.
When we acknowledge the nutritional benefits of breast milk, we push society to develop even more nutritious formulas and greater access to donor milk for all. Likewise, when maternal health, mental health and newborn care providers are educated on cultural humility, maternal mental health and trauma-informed care, the birthing, bonding and feeding discussions are respectful and supportive, improving outcomes for all.
Latching Issues?
Informative video on finding the correct attachment
Baby Language
Learning to recognizing newborn cues
Doulas, Midwives & Lactation Consultants
We believe people deserve access to information to make informed decisions. For persons seeking these types of specialized care, here is an incomplete list. MomSquad does not endorse or recommend any particular professional or service, whether specifically or generally. Consumer discretion is advised and professional advice should be sought in relation to all health and treatment decisions. Talk to your healthcare provider about options and find out more from the following organizations: California Association of Licensed Midwives, Mindwives Alliance of North America, North American Registry of Midwives, Doulas of North America and Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association.
Rose
Registered Nurse, Postpartum Doula, Lacation Specialist. Hello, I'm Rose. My journey began supporting women over 15 years ago as a Birth Doula. I am also an RN and Lactation Specialist and provide Birth, Breastfeeding and Postpartum Care to women and their families as they bring a new child into this world. Women deserve to be empowered and nurtured during this major life transition. I am here to help educate, advocate and care for you during this time. I offer a calm grounded presence and have the knowledge and experience to help you birth and parent with choice. Check out my website for more information. roseburnsdoula.com
Brittny
DONA Certified Birth Doula, Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, Spinning Babies® Certified Parent Educator. I’m Brittny ‘Bee’ Johnson, I’ve been a doula for over 10 years and I have two sweet daughters. I have deep respect and trust in the birth process which translates to my doula work as a calming presence in your labor room. The day you bring a child into the world has a huge impact on your psyche and my goal as a doula is to protect your memory of this day and ensure that you are respected, in control of your body and your birth, and that you come to know your power and feel confident as a parent. I am certified through DONA international and I have extensive Spinning Babies training that helps me guide my clients down the smoothest birth path possible!
Brittny ‘Bee’ Johnson CD(DONA), LCCE, SpBCPE(707)494-4873
Sophia
Hi! My name is Sophia – and I am a birth junkie. I am located in northern California in a beautiful little town called Forestville. Sonoma County is our home and my fiancé and our two young children love to explore. I like being active and going on hikes and dancing. My family is large, welcoming, and we love getting together. I have a degree in child development and was a nanny for more than 13 years. I am now a midwife, monitrice, doula, and published photographer. Since I was a child, I’ve been strongly interested in all aspects of pregnancy, birth and babies. I first learned about doulas and midwives when I was a nanny for a family who had a home birth. That experience changed my life and I have never looked back. My interest in natural living carries over into my career. I support breastfeeding for all babies and am trained in lactation support. I have traveled to a number of cities, helping to teach people that routine infant circumcision is unnecessary and dangerous. sophia@sophiabirth.com
Aly
Hello, I am a professional birth and postpartum doula as well as a lactation specialist. My goal is to create an environment that is safe, respected, inclusive, meaningful and supported. My focus is to help individuals and families feel confident as they experience the birth of their baby and transition to becoming a family.
Aly Sidjakov
Family Focus Doula Care
707-280-2777
www.familyfocus-doulacare.com
Emily
PhD, Developmental Psychology, Elected rotations in OB Nursing, Maternal-Child Public Health, Neonatal Intensive Care, Neonatal and Pediatric Feeding Disorders, Certified Postpartum Doula. Emily now works for CLEO as a family support specialist and will be launching her own consulting practice later this year. Stay tuned
Emily
If you have ever had the unique opportunity of having an uninterrupted conversation with a Mother of young children you may have heard her refer to her pre-child years as her "past life". This expression really resonates with me. In the short years since since my eldest was born I have done more living, more loving and more growing than in the squandered decades that preceded. I never could have imagined how truly different my life would be once I became a mother. It was in fact my own passage into motherhood which called me to support other women on their mothering journey by providing education and resources for tending to their physiological and emotional needs. My work is to provide women with the knowledge, skills, and support systems for optimal healing after pregnancy and birth, regardless of if its their first baby or tenth baby.
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I believe in community support and postpartum care as potent preventative medicine in woman’s health.
Amy
As your Doula, I will provide continuous non-judgmental
support for you and your family, in a caring and respectful manner. I engage in my work with warmth, humor, enthusiasm and a wealth of knowledge. I will listen to your thoughts and desires, and implement them as much as possible on your journey. I build a bridge to connect your care team and play the critical roles of educator and supporter, so you and your partner can enter birth with confidence, clarity, and a stronger bond than ever. Some of my training includes:
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- DONA International
- International Postpartum & Placenta Association (IPPA)
- Birth Arts International
- Postpartum Doula Certification program
- Childbirth Education Certification program
- Lactation Specialist Certification program
- Spinning Babies workshop
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I have studied extensively about nutrition, taken a course for Hypnosis for pregnancy and birth & have also completed many additional classes on breastfeeding support. I trained as a massage therapist over 15 years ago, so I bring that type of knowledge and comfort to all my laboring and birthing families, as well.
Amy Heaney
209-556-2107
Heather, Bee & Kristina
Licensed and Certified Midwives At Napa Valley Midwives we have trust in a woman's innate ability to have a natural and gentle birth. Women’s bodies are tremendously powerful, complex and wise. Napa Valley Midwives, Heather Hilton, Bee Lauher and Kristina Parks seek to empower and educate the women they work with. They take great care in nurturing the entire family by guiding them to make informed decisions with the best up to date, evidence based information available. Bee, Heather and Kristina deeply believe in protecting the sacred art of gentle birth through empowered, informed and consensual collaboration and trauma-informed, LGBTQ + friendly and holistic care. With information rooted in the juxtaposition of traditional midwifery practices and the latest scientific advancements and evidence-based research, Napa Valley Midwives support the health and wellness of both mama and baby throughout the pregnancy, birth and postpartum experience.
Paula & Michelle
Better Beginnings for
Babies
Napa Valley
Breastfeeding Coalition
Paula is passionate about protecting the birth process. Her desire is that everyone will feel great about their birth experience. She remains current in evidence-based practices and works hard to protect and support each couple's desires and personal plans for the birth of their baby. She recognizes that no two mothers or babies are the same, and guards each experience as the unique event it is. Paula is a mother of five daughters, three of which were born at home. Paula has been attending births for over twenty years and is a California Licensed Midwife and a Certified Professional Midwife. She remains current in BLS CPR and Neonatal Resuscitation. Paula loves guiding women on their path toward motherhood and would be honored to share in your birth journey. She is a member of the Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA) as well as the California Association of Licensed Midwives (CALM) and actively attends workshops and conferences to further her knowledge in all areas related to women’s health. One of her daughters, Michelle Ochoa, has attended many home births with Paula, is a practicing doula, and is currently in the process of becoming a licensed midwife. www.themidwives.com
A nonprofit in the heart of scenic Santa Rosa, Better Beginnings for Babies is dedicated to improving the care of mothers and babies. Better Beginnings for Babies was formed after a group of Sonoma County activists recognized a need to bridge the gap between these ideal wellness standards for families, and the resources available to them during this critical time of development. Since its inception in 2008, Better Beginnings for Babies has assisted many families by providing emergency doula services to laboring mothers, raising awareness of birth options, and engaging in numerous dialogs to reframe discourse about maternal and pediatric health. www.betterbeginningsforbabies.org
Our mission is to optimize the health of families in our community by promoting breastfeeding as the normal feeding method for babies. The Napa Valley Breastfeeding Coalition is dedicated to bringing the best information possible to the perinatal and professional community in Napa County. To this end we seek to provide up to date evidence based information and examples of best practices that serve to enhance our community as we strive to collaborate across disciplines. Napa Valley Breastfeeding Coalition is a 501(c)(3) organization.
International DONA trained Postpartum & Birth Doula. Lactation Specialist.
As a postpartum doula I enjoy providing seamless care for both parents and baby alike because the health and wellbeing of the entire family is essential and shouldn't be a hierarchy or a competition. I am happy to offer one day of care to one year of care for babies of all ages. I am here to help raise up families by providing in-home support, be it house chores, caring for babe while you shower or helping support healthy feeding options. I am also a trained Lactation Specialist, having spent countless hours providing support at a local breastfeeding clinic, breastfeeding my own children and providing 1-2 hour visits to many local families - sourcing any latch issues and helping create healthy and individualized goals. Breastfeeding, along with all that becoming a parent encompasses is truly a practice and I am happy to help teach you a few bits of wisdom and help you to define your own goals and manifest your vision of your birth & postpartum time. www.rootandblossom.org
707-806-8817
Also, check out
Doula Care Collective Meet The Doula Nights. www.doulacarecollective.com