100-249
2010
$800+
100-249
2010
$800+
For the past decade, Rachel has served as a DONA-trained birth doula, certified perinatal educator, postpartum doula and placenta encapsulator. She's also an advanced midwifery student, dual-enrolled within National College of Midwifery and Midwest Maternal Child Institute. Rachel has worked closely with providers and birthing families in the metro Milwaukee and Chicago regions, as well as within one of Wisconsin's largest Amish communities - wherein normal, intervention-free, out-of-hospital birth is the norm. Although her special interest is in the normalization of birth and natural labor supports, she is also adept at supporting families navigating higher risk pregnancy and birth, as well as individuals who require, or choose, medical interventions. Whether birthing at home, hospital or birth center, Rachel’s goal is always to assist families in having their "best birth possible", however defined by the birthing person and their partner.
Water Birth trained and experienced. Extensive experience supporting families who choose to labor at home prior to transferring to the hospital for the remainder of their labor and birth. Trained in and honored to support numerous families who have hoped for, and achieved, VBAC (Vaginal Birth after C-Section)
Milwaukee, WI
ART and IVF
C-sections
High-risk
Inductions
Lactation support
Multiples
Special needs babies
VBAC
Hospital
Birthing Center
Home Birth
Training:
DONA International, Midwest Maternal Child Institute, among others.
I am CPR and Neonatal Resuscitation-certified (American Academy of Pediatrics), and in addition to providing doula services I’ve worked as a midwife’s assistant to a number of home birth providers serving Milwaukee, Chicago and Central-WI communities.
I know with certainty, I wouldn’t have been able to get through a vaginal, unmedicated labor and delivery without Rachel. We are thankful for her expertise and guidance along the way.
Our first two meetings we discussed the birth plan. She was helpful in explaining the various options and pros/cons of each. Rachel does a great job of informing without pressing her opinions. She listens well and may give a different perspective but does it in a very graceful, nonjudgemental manner.
When I started to experience labor pains a couple days before giving birth, Rachel was there to talk me through what I could expect next, what I could do to stay calm (my husband too!), and signs to look for that meant I was progressing.
The day of active labor, Rachel was with us at our house and helped me tremendously. Not only did she talk to me and reminded me to breathe/relax during the contraction cycles, she provided counter pressure where I needed it. She was calm, empathetic, and helpful through the whole thing.
My husband is also grateful for Rachel. He leaned on her for guidance and they made a great team.
We absolutely recommend Rachel as a Doula and we will/would work with her again!
Wanted additional support throughout the labor/delivery process.
I can’t say enough amazing things about Rachel! After meeting with several doulas in 2017, my husband and I were excited to hire Rachel to support us for the birth of our first child. She is warm and attentive and very easy to talk with and open up to. During our prenatal visits and back and forth emails, Rachel was very thorough and thoughtful with her responses. We hired her again for the birth of our second child. When I found out I would need a medically necessary induction at 37 weeks, Rachel helped calm my nerves and explained how the induction process might look.
During labor and birth, Rachel was calm and reassuring. She was instrumental in helping me achieve two unmedicated births. She worked hard to make sure that I was being supported exactly how I needed during the different stages of labor and she also made sure my husband felt supported so that he could be the best birth possible birth partner. One of the nurses commented that she wished all laboring women had a doula like her. I agree!
I would hire Rachel again in a heartbeat and I would recommend her without any hesitation!!
We sought Rachel's help to help me reach my goal of natural, unmedicated births.
We sought Rachel’s support in hopes of having a natural, unmedicated birth with our first daughter. After meeting several doulas, we chose Rachel because of her warmth, validation, and knowledge. Her midwifery training ended up being even more of a blessing, as we began to navigate complications that arose in the third trimester of pregnancy – gestational diabetes, IUGR, low amniotic fluid, breech position, and umbilical cord varix. She was very accessible by phone and provided insight and guidance from her experience on how to discuss the complications with our providers. She helped steady us in what became a very stressful pregnancy. For reasons out of our control, our first birth ended up being a c-section. Rachel was there supporting us in preparation for surgery and afterward in recovery. She came to our home for further breast-feeding support following our daughter’s birth.
In the third trimester of my second pregnancy, when none of the same complications were present, I was beginning to feel pressure from my provider to schedule a c-section. I had been weighing the pros and cons of trying for a VBAC, and I knew I could benefit from contacting Rachel. She gave us lots of information to consider and posed thoughtful questions for us to answer. We decided to switch providers to one who was more supportive of VBAC. I honestly don’t know that I would have had the courage to do that and try for the birth I had envisioned without Rachel’s support.
When the big day came, Rachel was by our side as soon as we requested her to be. She helped keep my husband and I calm, working together, and present through the experience. I felt safe and confident throughout labor and delivery, even though I knew that there were potential risks with VBAC. We aimed to labor at home as long as possible, to avoid potential interventions and stalling of labor after arriving at the hospital. She helped us use various forms of movement and natural pain management that I know we wouldn’t have been able to do on our own. She knew signs to look for as to when to head to the hospital, and I felt comfortable trusting her judgment. It couldn’t have been timed better. I was 8cm dilated when we arrived, and a little under 4 hours later our daughter was born. I firmly believe the birth would not have been the same without her. She helped us achieve the birth we had envisioned.
I highly recommended Rachel if you are trying to achieve a natural birth or VBAC! We wouldn’t have wanted to do it any other way.
For support in achieving an unmedicated birth
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