Tampabay Massage Therapy & Wellness Center, Inc.

Tampabay Massage Therapy & - Healing Body, Mind & Spirit

Birth Affirmations

Click above for a power point of some very beautiful birth affirmations.

Birth Doula Blog

Click on the above link to read my birth doula blog.

Some of my doula babies!

<< Laurel dob June 2, 2010

MaKenna dob February 13, 2010 >>

Azlyn dob February 3, 2010

Important Notice:

Thank you for visiting my doula page. Due to the health needs of my family I am temporarily taking a break from doula services. Since this type of work requires my total attention to you and your needs and the ability to be available to you at any time of day I must take a break as I need to direct my attention to my ailing mother. I appreciate your understanding and direct you to the Tampa Bay Birth Network for a list of wonderful birth providers who I highly recommend.

What is a Doula?

The word "doula" comes from the ancient Greek meaning "a woman who serves" and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the

postpartum period. Studies have shown that when doulas attend birth, labors are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they breastfeed more easily.

Magdelina dob February 8, 2009

Certified Prenatal Massage:

Throughout your pregnancy you may experience a variety of changes in your body that may cause you pain, achiness, and swelling (edema). Massage therapy can help resolves all of those issues as well as helping you feel better emotionally, about yourself, about your body image and more feeling more connected to your baby. Regular massage therapy can also help you prepare for childbirth and help you return to your pre-pregnancy health after the birth. Call me to start feeling better today!

I had my own children at home and it was an incredibly beautiful experience but before I could make that leap from hospital to home I had to read a ton of books. There is so much wonderful information out there. Everyone that is expecting should read up on everything they can get their hands on. Even if you choose to birth in the hospital, this information will be extremely valuable to you and your baby for a healthy and peaceful birth.

Here are some of the books I liked most. For more please go the "Business We Like" page. Thank you and happy reading!

For these and more books, CDs, and products that I recommend please click on the link at the top of the page for my blog. There ismuch more there for you to enjoy!

Why use a doula?

Women have complex needs during childbirth and the weeks that follow. In addition to medical care and the love and companionship provided by their partners, women need consistent, continuous reassurance, comfort, encouragement and respect. They need individualized care based on their circumstances and preferences.

Doulas are educated and experienced in childbirth and the postpartum period. We are prepared to provide physical (non-medical), emotional and informational support to women and their partners during labor and birth, as well as to families in the weeks following childbirth. We offer a loving touch, positioning and comfort measures that make childbearing women and families feel nurtured and cared for.

A Birth Doula

Recognizes birth as a key experience the mother will remember all her life
Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor
Assists the woman in preparing for and carrying out her plans for birth
Stays with the woman throughout the labor
Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint, as well as helping the woman get the information she needs to make informed decision
Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and her clinical care providers
Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the woman's memory of the birth experience
Allows the woman's partner to participate at his/her comfort level

Try HypnoBirthing. Andrea Crouch teaches a HypnoBirthing class. Here is her website: Love Self Hypnosis