Oh the Halperts; the beloved power couple of the Dunder Mifflen Scranton branch. Jim and Pam seem to be the guideposts for healthy human behavior in the circus of personality disorders that makes up the staff of the fictional tv show, The Office. However, in Season 6, Episode 17, when Pam goes into labor, we find out that Jim and Pam have unfortunately strayed from their typical path of making sound choices when it becomes apparent thatthey've neglected to hire a doula(and one could deduce that at least Jim neglected to take a childbirth education class.)The Halperts are not alone amongst unsu ..read more

GR Doulas is proud to partner with Annica Marie Photography to offer birth photography (and much more). We asked Annica to tell us a little about her background and the value of professional birth photography. Do you have photographs of your birth? Comment below with your favorite image!What lead you to start photographing birth?My work as a birth photographer started when I met and became dear friends with a German birth photographer when we both lived in the Philippines. Her work inspired me, her photographs moved me, and I couldn’t get enough of learning about what it means to be a birth ph ..read more

2017 has proved to be another exciting year for the GR Doulas team! In addition to serving over 150 families, we’ve had been some big changes and exciting adventures in our business. Here are the highlights!We added two new doulas to our team this year! Christie Salazar joined us in July. Christie offers birth doula services and brings a worldly quality to the team - she began her doula career in England! Do you have any questions about the one of the newest pain relief options in Grand Rapids: Nitrous Oxide? Ask Christie all about it, it’s used regularly in England. Brooke Henning is the newe ..read more

This is the second half a two part blog about my own recovery from my Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs). To read part 1, click here.This post is a personal story and is intended for inspirational and informational purposes only. While I hope you find the many resources linked throughout the post beneficial, the following is not intended to be used as a treatment plan. Please seek guidance from a qualified health care professional if you have concerns about your mental or physical health. 8. Postpartum Doula - I didn’t know what a postpartum doula was before I gave birth. I first hea ..read more

“Cassie is a fighter,” my mother told my therapist. It was a cold March day in 2011 and she had come in with me for the last few minutes of my session. Fighter. Yes. I’d been fighting my collection of postpartum mood disorders since giving birth to my first baby 6 months prior. Fighting each day, so that I could make it to the next day. Fighting to live so that I could...keep fighting. I knew that making it to the end of the day would mean I would wake up the next morning (if I'd been able to sleep that night) with the same despair weighing me down. The day after that, and the day after, would ..read more

”You say that now but you just wait!! You'll be begging for all the drugs.” “Why in the world would you want to do that?!” “There's no reason to be a hero, just get the epidural!!” "You wouldn't have surgery without drugs, would you?!"If you desire to have a natural (aka unmedicated) birth, and have mentioned it to anyone....chances are you've heard one of these responses! With epidural rates as high as 90% or more in some hospitals, it is no surprise that expressing your desire for a natural birth could be met with less than supportive comments.At GR Doulas, we believe in supporting every bir ..read more

Here at GR Doulas, we practice what we preach. That means that when it’s our turn to give birth, you know we are utilizing doula services! Here is my own story of having a doula, Megan for my second birth, a planned cesarean.Name: Cassie SchultzChildren: Girl, 7 and Boy, 3What were your reasons for hiring a doula?With my first birth I had an almost but not quite complete support network. I had my amazingly supportive husband who was my rock, a sweet care provider and my loving family close by, popping in out to offer encouragement. During labor I felt very well supported but afterward when I w ..read more

Name: DanaChild: Boy, 7 weeks oldPlace of birth: St. Mary's Mercy Health / Downtown Grand RapidsWhat were your reasons for hiring a doula?My husband and I are the first "kids" in our families to have a baby, and among the first of our friends to have kids as well. We wanted a knowledgeable person to go to for questions, support and encouragement before, during and after baby's arrival.How was your doula most helpful during birth? How about during postpartum?Cassie was most helpful by reminding me and my husband about our options during labor/delivery and encouraging us to ask the nurses/doctor ..read more

It was October of 2016 when Spectrum Health Butterworth opened it's first natural birthing suite. A second suite became available for use in December and since then, hospital staff tell us 74 babies have been born in these rooms!Considering the hospital is the birthplace of about 8,000 babies annually, these special rooms have been used by very, very few women in the Grand Rapids area.As we work with our clients, especially during early pregnancy when they are making their choices about where they will birth, and who will catch their baby, we've heard some interesting rumors about these rooms ..read more

Name: AndreaChildren: Son, 4 years old & Daughter, 1 year oldOccupational: Therapist1. What were your reasons for hiring a postpartum doula? Hiring Cassie as my postpartum doula was initiated by a dear friend during my pregnancy with my second child. Honestly, at the time, I don't think this was a something I would have asked for for myself. This dear friend and Cassie setup a postpartum gift registry for me, and asked for the support on my behalf. What would have been preventing me from seeking postpartum doula support was feeling like "I should be able to handle it" on my own...and also ..read more