Birth and Postpartum Doulas

LABOR/BIRTH DOULAS

Lin Cook - Mother's Helper - IBCLC, Bradley Childbirth Educator & Labor Doula

Lin Cook has been a labor doula since 1991 and a postpartum doula since 1988, making her the first doula in South Carolina. She believes in the natural process and how birth can empower a woman in other aspects of life. As Lin also teaches Bradley Childbirth Classes, she believes education is key to making informed choices. While she has the most experience working with couples who give birth naturally, she has worked with all types of situations including medicated births and scheduled C-sections. "All women need support, especially in a hospital setting."

In addition to the services mentioned, Lin Cook also offers Infant Massage classes. After assisting breastfeeding women for 22 years, in 2009 Lin became a certified Lactation Counselor and in 2010 she became an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). She spearheaded the effort to pass the 2006 Breastfeeding in Public law and is actively involved in the South Carolina Breastfeeding Coalition. Lin is also a level II Healing Touch student and utilizes energy work whenever appropriate.

"Being a doula is the most honored job I have ever held."- Lin

Contact Lin:
ph: 843-744-4777
lin@mothershelper.biz
Mother's Helper website
availability: available starting October 2011

Adrienne Leeds - Abundant B'Earth - Birth Doula & Licensed Midwife

Adrienne is a Certified Labor Assistant (ALACE/toLabor), Certified Clinical Herbalist, and South Carolina Licensed Midwife. She feels honored to serve women during the wondrous journey of pregnancy and birth, where we may access our innermost power and wisdom. Adrienne gave birth to her first child at home, in the water, in early 2005. Adrienne has also studied birth and women's health with Colorado Midwife Terra Rafael, The Matrona, Ayurdoula Martha Oakes, and Dr. Rosita Arvigo. Other services offered: Herbal and Nutritional Counseling, Waterbirth, Breastfeeding Counseling, Ayurvedic Postpartum Care, Flower Essences, Reiki, Mother Blessing Ceremonies, and Placenta Encapsulation.

Contact Adrienne:
ph: 843-709-8068
adrienne@abundantbearth.com
Abundant B'earth website
availability: on baby hiatus beginning November 2011

Emily Mayer - Sixth Day Doulas - Birth Doula & RN

Emily is a DONA-certified Labor Doula. For the past six years she has been serving birthing mothers and their families as an advocate, educator, and support system through their birth process. She started her journey working with teen mothers as a mentor and counselor in the health department. She was amazed by the empowerment of the birth process, which she believes all women are entitled. Her work with this demographic opened up her eyes to the medicalization of the birth process and the significance of medical interventions.

Now practicing as an ER & Birth Center RN and working towards her FNP, Emily is able to apply her education of the nursing model and evidence-based practice to be the birthing family's advocate. She offers labor progress information, relaxation, massage, positioning, aromatherapy, and acupressure. Additionally, Emily has experience working in various birth settings---hospital, birth centers, homes---and has participated in vaginal, cesarean, and water births. She recognizes the innate strength all women possess and the importance of informed decision-making in pivotal life changes.

Contact Emily:
ph: (615) 336-3655
enmayer@gmail.com
availability: limited availability starting fall 2011

Louise Monteith - Infant Wisdom - Childbirth Educator & Birth Doula

Louise Monteith is the mother of three children -- two born naturally in a hospital setting and one born at home in early 2006. The birth of her first child, a son, was the most profound and empowering of her life and since then, childbirth has been her passion. Louise is a labor doula certified through DONA and CAPPA and believes that attending birth as a doula is an honor and privilege. "The birth of a child is always a miracle and I continue to be awestruck by the life-giving power of women. Being a doula is an amazing way to help women realize how strong they really are."

Louise is also a CAPPA-certified childbirth educator and teaches out-of-hospital childbirth education classes. Her degree in education makes teaching childbirth classes a natural extension to her services for the expectant woman. Louise is also a member of La Leche League and believes strongly in the benefits and bond created through breastfeeding. When her first son was a nursling, Louise was working full-time, so she pumped daily and understands those struggles. In addition to her doula and childbirth education services, she makes beautiful baby slings that can be used to carry children from birth through toddler-hood. Her slings are available for sale at Charleston Birth Place and on her website.

Contact Louise:
ph: 843-814-7782
louise@infant-wisdom.com
Infant Wisdom website
availability: please call or e-mail

Shannon Postell - BirthRite Services - Birth Doula

Shannon is blessed with 4 children. The journey that she has been on from the pregnancy and birth of her first son in 2001, through to the home water birth of her daughter in 2009 has shaped her pregnancy and birth philosophy. She is formally trained through CAPPA but is ever-learning by watching and supporting the motherbaby during one of the most important and transformative experiences of their lives. Shannon believes that every woman has the ability and power within, and is there to help her find it through information, physical and emotional support during pregnancy, birth and postpartum periods. She believes that breastfeeding is a natural and normal extension of pregnancy and is a trained Breastfeeding Peer Counselor. For the past year and a half, she has served as an assistant for home births, and is also available as a birth doula in both birth center and hospital environments.

Contact Shannon:
ph: 843-539-6896
seposte@yahoo.com
availability: please call or e-mail

Mandy Reimer - Rite of Passage - Birth Doula & Massage Therapist

Mandy Reimer's passion for helping women have the birth they desire stems from her own experiences in childbirth. As a mother of three with 2 hospital births and a homebirth, she has experienced labor with and without a doula's assistance. "What a tremendous difference it was having someone there whose sole purpose was to assist and advocate for me. I was able to have the natural birth I had wanted so deeply and allow my daughter entrance to this world drug-free and alert."

Having had such an experience deepened her desire to assist other childbearing women. "I want women to know their options and know that I am there to support their decisions. Childbirth is such a deep psychological experience and needs to be held in such a regard as that it profoundly affects a women's feelings of herself and competency as a parent." Mandy is a DONA trained birth and postpartum doula, a Certified Holistic Doula with La Matrona, and La Leche League Leader. Mandy is also a Licensed Massage Therapist specializing in pre-natal, labor, and postpartum massage.

Contact Mandy:
ph: 843-270-9845
mandy@riteofpassagedoulas.com
Rite of Passage website
availability: please call or e-mail

POSTPARTUM DOULAS

Ashley Snelwar - Postpartum Doula & RN

Ashley is a DONA-certified postpartum doula. In addition to being a postpartum doula, she has been a RN for 15 years with 6 years of home care experience, as well as, 8 years experience as a pediatric intensive care nurse. When she entered motherhood seven years ago, this amazing journey, coupled with her nursing experience, has inspired her to support other women during their own journey into motherhood. She is committed to helping mothers and their families welcome their new baby into the world by providing them with a wealth of knowledge, compassion, comfort and confidence. She provides non-medical support to mom and baby with breastfeeding, nutrition, and infant massage.

Contact Ashley:
ph: 843-276-0306
ashley.snelwar@gmail.com
availability: please call or e-mail