Doula

Photography @dianarothery

Doula

Birth is an extraordinary sacred experience. Every birth has a unique and special story starring an incredible, strong Mama.

A Doula is a woman who provides comfort to Mama through her birth experience and serves as an advocate for her needs, so that she feels nurtured, safe, and empowered through her journey. Having a Doula on your birth team can add companionship, confidence, focus, as well as helping reduce your anxiety and need for labor-inducing or pain relieving medication, if that is your wish. Your Doula can also be a guide and teammate with any partner, family or friends sharing your birthing experience, which can be quite helpful in facilitating a smoother birth experience. As a Doula, Miki is dedicated to hold space and listen, to support Mama in any way she can, bringing physical and emotional comfort through encouragement and massage. The ultimate priority is Healthy Mama, Healthy Baby, so whatever fluid path upholds this notion, whether natural birth or with medicated assistance, Miki is there to support all informed and grounding decisions along the way. There is no set way for any birth to happen; the most important thing is for Mama to feel supported and empowered in her instinctual decisions.

Miki also offers additional services, including prenatal yoga and massage, in preparation for your birthing experience. She believes that yoga provides useful postures and powerful tools – for focus, breath control, and willpower – to harness during labor and delivery. As well, both yoga and massage are great during the postpartum period to enhance a sense of health, balance and connection when integrating Baby back home with the family.

For the Mamas out there, if you are considering a Doula as part of your birth team, or if you and your partner would like some birth preparation sessions, Miki is honored to meet with you and hear your story, for the opportunity to support you so that you can move through your own special birthing experience with self-empowerment, grace, and love.

Miki became a Certified Labor Doula (CLD) in Hawaii, through MaternityWise International, and has recently relocated to San Juan Capistrano.

  • Miki’s Doula fee:
    • $1500 = Total Labor Doula Fee. Includes 2 prenatal birth preparation sessions, Doula support through your labor/birth experience, and 1 postpartum follow up.
    • $200 = À la carte fee for the 2 prenatal birth preparation sessions.
      • Includes 2 sessions: In your 1st session Miki will discuss your Birth Plan preferences and prepare you to ponder various hypothetical scenarios. She will review with you the education on the stages and signs of labor and birth, and outline potential notes for your Birth Plan. No matter what your preferences are, Miki is always respectful of your wishes. The path is fluid and the ultimate priority is always Healthy Mama, Healthy Baby.
      • In your 2nd session you will have the opportunity to practice laboring, partnering, and birthing techniques, and review how to apply them in each stage of your experience so that you feel ready and empowered for the approaching birth of your Baby. For the Mamas who elect epidural assisted births, it is still helpful to know about the laboring techniques leading up to hospital transfer, as well as positioning for birthing.
  • Prenatal Massage:
    • Experience relaxation in body and mind through a nurturing massage, to release tension, encourage circulation and rejuvenation, ease swelling, and feel at bliss during pregnancy or post pregnancy.
    • Currently Miki resides in San Juan Capistrano and her local rates (San Clemente, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, Laguna Niguel) are $110 [60 min], $135 [75 min], $150 [90 min]. Please inquire about travel rates to other locations.
  • PrenatalYoga:
    • Yoga offers so many tools and techniques throughout pregnancy and prepares the body and mind for birth – through mindful breathing, visualizations, flowy movements to relieve body aches, and to help strengthen core muscles to support your growing baby and tone you for birth and recovery.
    • Miki’s local rates for private yoga sessions are listed on her yoga page, or if you prefer starting off with some pre-recorded classes, check out a few on her YouTube page.

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“Miki is a doula angel! She brings such a calm patient strength to the birthing process. Her additional backgrounds in yoga and massage provide an even higher level of ability and expertise to assist her clients in the best way. We couldn’t have imagined having both our girls without her.”

Malerie Rosenblum – doula client – Marin City, CA