Hi, I’m Laura.
Welcome to Beautiful Beginnings!
My name is Laura Laird and I am a childbirth educator (BCCE) and childbirth doula (DONA). It is my goal to help expectant parents feel prepared, supported and honored through pregnancy, labor and delivery.
Beautiful Beginnings offers virtual and local, in-person childbirth education classes and doula services. Take a look around and see what I have to offer and please reach out to connect for more information.
What is a doula and why would I need one?
According to Dr. Christine Morton, author of the book Birth Ambassadors, a birth doula is a companion who supports a birthing person during labor and birth. Birth doulas are trained to provide continuous, one-on-one care, as well as information, physical support, and emotional support to birthing persons and their partners.
Science has shown that when a mother is supported by a doula she is significantly more likely to achieve positive birth outcomes.
Dr. Rebecca Dekker of Evidence Based Childbirth says, “doulas nurture and support the birthing person throughout labor and birth. Their essential role is to provide continuous labor support to the mother, no matter what decisions the mother makes or how she gives birth. Labor support is defined as the therapeutic presence of another person, in which human-to-human interaction with caring behaviors is practiced (Jordan,2013).
Importantly, the doula’s role and agenda are tied solely to the birthing person’s agenda. This is also known as primacy of interest. In other words, a doula’s primary responsibility is to the birthing person—not to a hospital administrator, nurse, midwife, or doctor.”
A doula is present at birth to support YOU, the laboring person through whatever labor may bring to help you feel equipped, cared for, heard and supported.
To learn more about the science and evidence regarding doulas visit Evidence Based Birth: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/the-evidence-for-doulas/
Childbirth Doula Services
Prenatal Services:
Free initial consultation interview.
Two to three prenatal visits with you and your birth partner
Review your birth preferences
Discuss and encourage the involvement of your partner
Revisit the pregnancy and labor process
Discuss relaxation and comfort measures
Discuss pain management options
Practice a variety of positions for labor and delivery
Make a plan for the immediate post partum period
Talk about newborn care and share resources
On call period for two weeks on either side of your due date.
Labor Support and Post-Partum Services:
Available for phone and text support 24/7 during on call period
Will come to your home or birth location whichever, whenever you prefer
Continuous labor support throughout labor and birth
Offer a variety of comfort measures to assist with labor including: relaxation techniques, encouraged movement, a variety of positions for labor, and massage.
Provide emotional support continuously through reassurance, comfort, and encouragement.
Provide advocacy by helping you to make informed decisions about your care.
Will remain with you for 1-2 hours after birth until you are comfortable and ready for quiet time alone or with family
1-2 postpartum visits at your home 2-3 weeks following your birth
“There were people telling me to avoid childbirth classes in general, thinking it was just lamaze/breathing techniques... it is WAY more than that - loved learning about ways to help me in my 3rd trimester, different ways to go about delivery, all the choices/decisions I have in my labor/delivery, newborn and postpartum care... I learned so much & my husband was really engaged and found it beneficial as well - he kept talking about how much he feared he would be "dead weight" when I was in labor... now he knows how he can help! I felt like I could ask any question under the sun and felt other mother's were wondering the same things I was wondering.”
-Talia Mercier, Prepared Childbirth student