Birth Focus

Kind words for Martina Szarek

elizabeth — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:32:53 +0000

“We were so fortunate to have Martina as our birth doula. She has such an amazing energy and touch that helped us stay calm, confident and focused throughout the entire experience. From early labor through delivery, Martina was there for us every step of the way. I’ll never forget after 27 hours of labor, she was there by my side cheering me on and continuing to give me the support I needed despite being utterly exhausted. We were so happy to share our birth experience with Martina – it wouldn’t have been the same without her!”

– Carrie, Kris and Baby Jaxon (born 11/23/11)

Kind words for Rachel Rachlin

elizabeth — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:53:51 +0000

“Truthfully, had my doctors not insisted I hire a doula I probably would not have. Lucky for me I followed their advice and found Rachel who made a tremendous difference in my birth experience. From our first meeting to our final post-partum one Rachel brought a soft confidence to our every encounter. She was expert in grounding me during labor, knowing when to step back and when to get involved, with ease. She was very hands on, used lots of techniques for pain management and knew when to change things up. She read my cues well and reacted accordingly – Rachel is an intuitive woman which is critical during such an intense experience. And, she travels with a stash of dried mango! I would highly recommend Rachel as both a labor and post-partum doula. ”

-Joanna Garnett Raeppold

“Rachel has been a tremendous help to me and my family during my transition from maternity leave to work. She’s very tuned in to my needs, and finds ways to help without me having to ask. Rachel has helped me at home, at doctor’s appointments, and in between. She’s a great resource for information on breastfeeding and child development, and provides a calm and supportive presence.”

-Stephanie

Kind words for Rachel Rachlin

elizabeth — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:52:48 +0000

I wanted to try to have a natural birth with little or no interventions but when the pain became too intense for me I opted for an epidural. Rachel made me feel comfortable and supported my decision, which really made me feel comfortable with what was going on. She supported me both mentally and physically during my labor and really made my birth experience a happy one.

Rachel was there for me not only during my labor but also leading up to my birth, offering loads of advice on back pain, inducing labor naturally, pediatrician referrals and just any questions I had she was able to share her knowledge and experiences. I’m so grateful for Rachel – I have always said although I know baby Micah would have come out eventually, I don’t know if I would have been able to get through my labor with out her. She is a beautiful caring person and anyone would be lucky to have her there for the birth of their little bundle or bundles of joy!”

- Katherine

Happy New Year!

elizabeth — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 16:56:05 +0000

Happy new year everyone!

Wow, 2011 was a BIG year for me, on a personal level, and for BirthFocus also!

I’d like to share a bit of reflection and invite you to do the same, if you’d like. Part of the goal of BirthFocus – in addition to providing amazing services to the women and families of NYC – is to provide a supportive community of doulas who know each other on a personal level and can grow into a strong and supportive community. We are well on our way to that as I have watched each of our doulas provide generous support and words of wisdom to each other many times this year.

As for my personal year.… many of you know, I returned in May from a year-long sabbatical (to read more about my adventures visit our other blog). That voyage taught me much about marriage, relationships, my own needs for a community, and a LOT about birth around the world. I spent a lot of time processing how I’d like my own doula practice to be upon my return and visions of ways to enhance BirthFocus kept my mind occupied many a mile!

I returned to NYC refreshed and ready to hit the ground running – both in terms of starting a family myself and enhancing BirthFocus! I began a rigid routine of acupuncture; first at the Brooklyn Community Acupuncture center and then at the YinOva Center for fertility in Manhattan. And, after many visits to a fertility doctor to ascertain exactly where my 39 year old body is on the fertility spectrum and having a doctor share that we have a 7-8% chance of getting pregnant on our own….I got pregnant in early November! That said, it was a rough beginning and I found out at 7 1/2 weeks that there was no heart beat and that the pregnancy was not viable. I waited for my body to take it’s natural course and just this past week experienced a miscarriage that, to this day, has been the most physically demanding experience of my life! I had been working with homebirth midwife, Kimm Sun, and she came over and attempted to give me an IV (although, I was too dehydrated for it to take), and ended up giving me some acupuncture, general nurturing, and the great care of a loving and supportive woman by my side. I am continuing to bleed; but, the worst is over (knock on wood) and I am looking forward to moving into 2012 to continue our journey for creating a family.

I’m deeply aware that often we don’t talk about miscarriages and/or pregnancy loss in our culture. I want to change that. As a doula, many people asked me if it’s been hard to be with laboring mothers or women expecting children of their own soon as I go through my own journey of wanting a baby myself and of losing the potential of a baby. The truth is that being with laboring mothers and/or new mothers has only encouraged and inspired me. I’m conscious enough to understand that my own time will come and know that when it does I will have gathered the strength, the wisdom, and the kind nurturing from each of the women with whom I have worked and my family of friends and loved ones. Miscarriage and pregnancy loss is a part of this amazing circle of life and I know that my time will come. For now, I continue to be in awe of the incredible support I have received throughout this experience and desire to return the support to women and families.

I’m taking this opportunity to share my personal journey as a way to explain my inspiration for some the new services BirthFocus will be offering this year - “Circle of Life” support groups for healing through miscarriage and fertility issues, support groups for the first trimester, and doula care for miscarriage/loss. Please visit our brand new website for more information on these (and other) amazing new services!

As for 2011 and BirthFocus…. we had a very exciting year!

Our practice has grown to 23 doulas total and we are continuing to add more to each level as it would be ideal to have between 4-5 doulas per level.
We have continued and formed new partnerships with OBGYN (Dr. Corbettt et al and Village Obstetrics) and midwifery practices (Kimm Sun – SunRising Midwifery) and forged a new relationship with the Museum of Motherhood!
We served a total of approx. 120 women (the highest yet since I have been a part of BirthFocus beginning in 2004)
We launched our new website (as of today – check it out!!!)
We co-produced and directed and acted in an amazing play - “Birth”! (contact us to order your copy now).

We had an incredible year and I am so much looking forward to 2012 and all of the exciting changes to come!!! Thank you to each and every one of you for being a part of the BirthFocus family!

All the best for a healthy and BLISSful new year!

Crucial part of the birth process

admin — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 03:25:31 +0000

“Our Doula was an incredibly important part of the birth of our child. She helped keep me calm and focused, she anticipated my every need, and her mothering touch got me through the most difficult contractions. I can’t imagine having gone through labor without her.”

Kind words about Elizabeth Mangum-Sarach:

admin — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 03:24:05 +0000

“Having Elizabeth assisting at our baby’s birth was the best decision we could have made. I truly don’t know what we would’ve done without her. Her experience and knowledge in the process gave us the strength to do it our way. We are grateful beyond measure.”

Karyn M, new mother

Kind words about our “Eat, Drink, DOULA” events:

admin — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 03:11:06 +0000

“I was at the midwife today and saw another woman from the meeting who also hired someone and was very happy with the process as we are. I had never had a speed-dating experience before. It really is a clever way to meet several doulas.”

1st time Bklyn mama

“We loved the open house. I know for us it definitely helped my husband see why having a doula at our son’s birth is important. I think that the information beforehand was informative for him and reassured me that we were making a correct step in our birth plan.”

Vienna, 1st time NYC mama

Kind words about Wendy Ledesma:

admin — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 03:09:39 +0000

“Wendy was an incredibly important part of the birth of our child. She helped keep me calm and focused, she anticipated my every need, and her mothering touch got me through the most difficult contractions. I can’t imagine having gone through labor without her.”

Casey, NYC mama

Kind words about Aliya Caler:

admin — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 03:08:45 +0000

“I had wondered whether having a doula might diminish my role during delivery. In fact, I found it to be the opposite. Aliya’s support in the delivery room made it possible for me to be face-to-face with my partner during the entire labor. While Aliya was behind my partner applying pressure to her back and hips, I was able to talk to my partner, counting with her and helping her to breath through contractions. It was an incredibly intimate experience and we are grateful for her help.”

Jared, first time dad to Felix

Caitlin Wyatt – apprentice level 1

admin — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 02:57:04 +0000

Caitlin has been passionate about moms, birth and babies since childhood. After working as a nanny to new mothers in New York City, she realized her unique ability to comfort both the babies AND the mothers. She did a lot of soul searching (and google searching!) and returned to her childhood passion by becoming a doula. Caitlin’s training with Debra Pacali-Bonaro in 2011, was an eye-opening, thrilling experience and made her more convinced than ever about supporting laboring women. Caitlin helps a woman to find her inherent ability to birth; a birth that is uniquely her own. She believes in equipping women with information, so she can create a birth to be remembered; a birth that is empowering, loving and life-altering! She is confident in her capacity to nurture and comfort mothers throughout the labor process. Additionally, she is an actor, writer, an avid runner and a novice cook. She looks forward to sharing her warm spirit, positivity and humor with expecting couples of NYC.