Who I Am

My name is Ellen.  I am a mother of three (with another baby due in the spring), a birth doula, and a childbirth educator.  These are all vocations for me – by degree, I am a systems engineer (a completely different world, though both involve finding the best solution given a set of tools and some circumstances that are beyond your control).

My Story

My call to help other families with birth came with the addition to my own family of our first child, Jordan, in 2004.  As two very motivated new parents, my husband and I did all manner of reading, research, and education to figure out how best to bring our child into the world, keep her in the world, and introduce her to the world.  We decided that Bradley childbirth classes were the best approach for us.  With the help of our Bradley training, a great care provider, and our own desire to give the best to our children, we gave birth naturally in the hospital to our beautiful, healthy daughter.  

I learned a great deal from our birth experience, both the thrills and the difficulties.  The two primary lessons that I took away were: 1) birth changes you forever, and not just physically – it affects both a family’s bond and a woman’s self definition; and 2) education, physical training, and support are incredibly important in determining the outcome of a birth, particularly in a hospital setting.  

The lessons from my first birth inspired me to become a doula and a childbirth educator.  I feel called to support mothers, babies, and families in this miraculous process; to share my experiences, my education, and my energy as a map and compass to guide others as they find their way to their own best destiny as a family. 

My Philosophy

In five words or less, birth should be joyful.  I have a deep faith in the natural process of birth and a mother's inherent ability to birth her own child in a healthy, supportive, loving environment.  I believe that birth is one of the most important defining moments in the life of a family, and that every person honored to share that moment - whether a family member, a medical care provider, a doula or a friend - is called to respect the wishes of the family and to help create the ideal environment for birth.

To the classes I teach and the births I support, I bring:

Knowledge. In addition to my own personal research and experience attending births, I have been through rigorous education and training to become a childbirth educator and a doula, including academic requirements and intensive training workshops by both DONA International (the premier organization for doulas) and the American Academy of Husband Coached Childbirth (which trains and certifies teachers of the Bradley Method of natural childbirth).  My training has focused on the natural process of birth and how to work with it, non-drug comfort measures for labor, and common variations and complications that may occur (and what these mean for the needs of mother and baby).  I also certified through Lamaze in 2009, and continue to develop myself professionally through continuing education, research, and practical experience.

Compassion. A mother myself, I have an understanding of what the pregnant or laboring mother is going through.  This enables me to help her keep from feeling alone when she is having a complication or questions in pregnancy, or a long or difficult labor.  It also helps me to anticipate questions or concerns, and to be prepared to offer needed support.

Strength. Participating in the process of birth - in any role - requires strength, both of body and of character.  As a doula, particularly if the mother asks me to act as her primary birth coach, I may be on my feet for hours, massaging a mother's back until my thumbs are about to fall off (husbands or other family members acting as coaches may be called upon to have this sort of physical strength as well, which is why I train coaches very well in my classes), or many other physically strenuous activities - and I don't leave a laboring mother unless she asks me to.  Birth can also bring unexpected situations, medical routines that do not comply with the mother's wishes, etc - in these situations, it is my responsibility to stay calm and positive, support the mother (and her birth partner when necessary), help her communicate her wishes to others (while not speaking for her), and above all respect the mother's wishes even if I would not make the same decision for myself.

Enthusiasm. My love of birth and faith in the birth process help to create a positive environment that will make pregnancy more joyful and labor easier for a mother and her birth partner.

Why WellBegun?

Just as parents spend a great deal of time thinking about the best name for their new baby, I spent a great deal of time thinking of a name for my childbirth service business - for much the same reasons.  I wanted it to convey a message, to be memorable, and to have a good sound to it.  I thought about what I valued, and how I could try to cram all of that into a compact name.  When I thought of WellBegun, the first thought that came to my mind is "well begun is half done."  This conveys a truth that I believe is often ignored.  New parents already start to think about their child's college education, and many times don't realize that some of the most important decisions they will make - the ones with the biggest impact on their child's life - are made before that child is born.  Where and how the child will be born.  Who their birth attendant will be (often the single most important decision, as their care provider's philosophy will drive many attributes of their birth and thus the baby's health).  What they put into their bodies while pregnant and nursing.  How they respond to their babies needs.  And so many other important choices.  As I thought more about WellBegun and sounded it out in my mind, another thought came to me - the psychological/social phenomenon called the "Lake Wobegon Effect" (note the audio similarities).  This was inspired by Garrison Keillor's novel about memories of life in Lake Wobegon, where "all the women were strong, all the men were good looking, and all the children were above average."  Birth memories are just as strong, and just as permanent.  What will you remember about your birth?  Will your child be a WellBegun baby?

My best wishes to you as your family grows!