I trust birth. I trust you.
We live in a culture where birth is often viewed as a medical event that is painful, traumatic, and frightening. At Resilient Birth & Botanicals, we believe there is another way to experience birth. Birth has the potential to be a transformative, sacred event where we undergo the deep work of moving into parenthood. Ideally, we should work toward a birth that is a welcoming, loving, and warm experience. Birth can look different for each pregnancy, but our ultimate goal is to help you experience a birth where you were heard, respected for your choices and desires, and feel empowered as you enter parenthood.
We believe all birthing people have the choice to birth where they feel safest and will be most supported to welcome their baby, whether this be a hospital, birth center, or at home. We also believe that a return to honoring birth and babies is one of the key transformations that must take place to move toward a sustainable, Earth-centered culture. We are firm believers in the saying that “Peace on Earth Begins with Birth”.
We are passionate about helping people to understand their options, communicate effectively with their providers, and to build a list of birth preferences that helps them reach for their ideal birth, while knowing that we can never predict everything that will happen. We are here to provide non-judgemental support along the way and act as an educational guide, coach, and support person. We have seen and experienced birth, know the terrain, and want to help walk beside you so that you feel great about your birth experience!
Why Choose a Doula?
A doula is a professional trained in childbirth who provides emotional, physical, and educational support to a mother who is expecting, is experiencing labor, or has recently given birth. The doula’s purpose is to help women have a safe, memorable, and empowering birthing experience (American Pregnancy Association).
Read more about the Evidence for Doulas.
Research shows that women who use a birth doula are:
- less likely to need Pitocin
- less likely to have a cesarean birth
- less likely to use any pain medication
- more likely to rate their childbirth experience positively
Am I the right doula for you?
I believe there is a doula for every birthing person no matter what type of birth experience you are expecting or planning. However, choosing a doula can be a very personal decision. Here are some things that may help you to decide if I am the right choice for you:
- You want a doula who has experienced birth personally and can understand what you’re going through
- You are looking for someone who is sensitive and attuned to your emotions
- You are motivated to have a natural birth, even though you know this may change based on a variety of circumstances (and you will never be judged for whatever choice plays out!)
- You are looking for someone to help educate and inspire, but you are also motivated to do research and learn independently
- You like someone who has experience with rebozo, Spinning Babies, prenatal yoga, etc.
- You are a first time mom looking for extra support, direction, and comfort
- You are a looking to achieve a VBAC.
- You are wanting a different experience than you had with your first birth
- It appeals to you to have someone well-versed in complementary modalities like herbs and aromatherapy
- You are looking for someone who is open and inclusive to all people and family types
- You are ready for someone kind and experienced to support you during this life-changing experience
Communities we serve
Resilient Birth & Botanicals is located in Geauga County in Chardon, Ohio. We attend births as your doula in the greater Cleveland area at your home or hospitals such as Hillcrest Hospital, University Hospital MacDonald Women’s Hospital, UH Geauga Hospital, Tri-Point Hospital, Lake West Hospital, UH Robinson Memorial Hospital, Ashtabula County Medical Center, St. John Medical Center, Fairview Hospital, Southwest General Hospital, and Metro Health Hospital.
My Doula Journey
After the birth of our first daughter, I became passionate about helping people reclaim their sacred birthright to find joy and love in the pregnancy and birth process. After becoming pregnant the first time, I was shocked that despite my years as a women’s health advocate and with all my knowledge of natural health, I still knew so little about pregnancy and birth in our culture. I didn’t even know that there were midwives that worked in hospitals! Needless to say, I dove deep to learn as much as I could so that I could have an empowering birth experience. I learned a lot about birth, including some of the ways that I think we can serve birthing people better in our country’s maternal health system. One way is to ensure that all people have a doula to support their pregnancy and birth process. I had doulas at both of my births, and I am committed to providing the same non-judgemental support to others. This includes functioning as a full-spectrum doula for all matter of birth choices that occur throughout the reproductive cycle.
I am trained and certified as a doula through Birth Arts International and I have taken several courses with Sacred Pregnancy. I have a Master’s degree in Biology, a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Women’s Studies, and I have a certificate in Herbalism. I like to blend my scientific understanding of health and biology with my intuitive understanding of wellness to offer wholistic advice and education to my clients.
Training / Certification / Education
Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a Minor in Women’s Studies (College of Wooster – 2007)
Master’s degree in Biology (Case Western Reserve University – 2012)
Herbal coursework through Wise Woman University with Susun Weed (2011-2012)
Art & Science of Herbalism Herbal Certificate with Rosemary Gladstar (2016)
Birth Arts International Doula (Trained – 2017; Certified – 2019)
Healthy All Year: Herbal Medicine for Kids with Dr. Aviva Romm (2017)
Gena Kirby Rebozo Certified (2017)
Midwifery Assistant Course with The Farm Midwives (2018)
Basic Life Support Provider (2019)
Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certified (2019, 2021)
Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training (2019)
Spinning Babies Training (2020)
Registered Kangaroula (2020)
Physiologic Baby Care with INNATE Traditions (2020)
Know Your Rights: Legal and Human Rights in Childbirth (2020)
Introduction to Midwifery Studies with AAMI (2021)
Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator (2021)
Certified Body Ready Method Pro (2022)
Student Certified Professional Midwife, Phase 2 (current)
Herbal Medicine for Women student with Dr. Aviva Romm (current)
Learn more about my service options and prices
Additional Resources
Learn about Midwifery options in the hospital or at home.
Visit my list of Resources for the Childbearing Year. This includes internet links, books, and video.
Herbal Remedies for a Peaceful Postpartum is an E-book that has helped indivduals to have empowering postpartum experiences. Filled with tips, tricks, and do-it-yourself recipes, you will feel more prepared to embrace common postpartum concerns from a natural perspective. Learn more and grab your copy here.
Read more about me here: About Christine
You can also read my birth stories here: The Birth of Baby Light Footsteps & Sage’s Homebirth Story
Resilient Birth & Botanicals offers several doula packages and add-on services. Learn more here.
Certifications
Communities that we serve
Resilient Birth & Botanicals is located in Geauga County in Chardon, Ohio. We attend births as your doula in the greater Cleveland area at your home or hospitals such as Hillcrest Hospital, University Hospital MacDonald Women’s Hospital, UH Geauga Hospital, Tri-Point Hospital, Lake West Hospital, UH Robinson Memorial Hospital, Ashtabula County Medical Center, St. John Medical Center, Fairview Hospital, Southwest General Hospital, and Metro Health Hospital.
Testimonials
Thank you for all your support. I truly may have not done it [achieved a natural birth] without you.
Thank you for being there! Having you was really helpful/comforting. Especially wandering the hallway of the hospital to facilitate things.
Even though my labor was very short and I didn’t get to fully utilize Christine’s talents in labor, her advice and knowledge helped prepare my husband and I for my birth, her presence at the birth helped calm and reassure me with my quick progress, and her help directly after as well as her follow up visit was also helpful in my recovery.
Knowing that my husband and I didn’t have to “know it all” and that we had support and options really reduced my stress levels during pregnancy. Then during delivery Christine was an amazing support. Peppermint essential oil for the win!
I am seriously so glad that you were there for me. Who knows how things would have been without you! Thank you for being my voice when I couldn’t speak!
Christine helped us feel more at ease and in control of our birthing process. She gave us the tools we needed to have a successful natural birth; this helps us to heal from our first birth story and create a new and beautiful one.
Thank you so much for your help with everything! I know it’s not the same as we both had planned [because of COVID] but I truly cannot thank you enough for helping me be mentally prepared for everything and for you to come over and help me through the tough part prior to pushing!
Want to see more testimonials? Find them here: Doula Match Testimonials