Andrea Augustine, CD(DONA)
Andrea has always loved supporting women. She was a resident of the Women's
Resource Center while studying biology at Kalamazoo College, and has enjoyed
volunteering, including women's health advocacy and Spanish translation.
Since the births of her two daughters, Ella and Chloe, she's been especially
excited about helping women and families through childbirth as well. She
had amazing support with both of her births, and her personal experiences
with both an unmedicated labor and a cesarean birth enrich her doula work.
Andrea has attended two sessions of an independent natural childbirth course
and a series of hospital-based classes. She is certified as a birth doula
through DONA International. Contact
Andrea
Jessica English, CD(DONA), LCCE
It's been more than 15 years since Jessica wrote her senior college
thesis on midwifery, and her passion for birth has only grown in the years
since. A former Bradley Method childbirth instructor, Jessica now teaches
"The Best of Natural Birth" classes at the Kalamazoo Center for
the Healing Arts. A graduate of Kalamazoo College, Jessica has had a long
career in marketing and public relations. She is the organizer of the Kzoo
Baby & Family Expo. A widely published writer, she publishes
an e-newsletter about natural childbirth. (subscribe)
In 2007, Jessica and Kendra Petersen co-founded Birth Kalamazoo, which Jessica
now owns and operates. She is certified as a doula through DONA International
and is also a certified childbirth educator. In 2009, Jessica trained with
the world-renowned doula Penny Simkin to become a DONA birth doula trainer,
and she plans to offer birth doula workshops around the state beginning
in 2010. Jessica has had two natural births, with a doula supporting her
on both journeys. Her husband Keith caught their first baby, Aidan, at Bronson
Hospital, and their second son, Quinn, at home. The heart of her doula calling
is to support families on their unique birth journeys so that parents can
welcome their babies in the most positive, loving way possible. Contact
Jessica
Valerie Erlandson, CD(DONA)
As a certified massage therapist, Val developed a caring touch and a passion
for working with women at all stages of life. When she became a mom herself,
she began to explore how she might support other women on their birth journeys.
Val's own birth experiences have shaped her work as a doula. At 41 weeks
pregnant, she discovered that her first daughter, Olivia, was breech. Just
hours later she went into labor, and Olivia was born by c-section. For her
second birth, Val and her husband Chris took independent natural childbirth
classes and chose to work with a doula. Her second daughter Hannah's birth
was an empowered, informed, natural VBAC. And she had a second amazing VBAC
when her son Grady was born two years later. Not surprisingly, she has a
special passion for working with moms planning a vaginal birth after cesarean.
She facilitates Birth Kalamazoo's Cesarean and VBAC Support Group, offering
women caring support as they process their c-sections and plan for future
births. Val is a graduate of Kalamazoo Center for the Healing Arts and her
doula certification is through DONA International. Contact
Val
Beth Hawver
Beth's background as a social worker and therapist prepared her well for
her work as a caring, attentive doula. Her earlier professional work often
included advocating for her clients, which translates beautifully to her
work advocating for birthing families. Birth advocacy wasn't really on Beth's
radar until two close relatives had c-sections. By the time she got to the
third trimester of her own first pregnancy, she knew she wanted to maximize
her chances for an empowed, natural birth. Beth and her husband Joe took
an independent series of natural childbirth classes, and their son John
was born naturally after 22 hours of labor. John's little sister Lucinda
was born several years later, this time at home. She has a passion for helping
couples have a positive, loving birth experience, wherever their path leads.
Beth is trained as a birth doula through DONA International, and she has
begun the process of certifying as a childbirth educator. She assists Jessica
in teaching The Best of Natural Birth childbirth classes, and also offers
private childbirth education for her doula clients and others. Contact
Beth
Kendra Petersen
Kendra has always been interested in birth, but her passion blossomed after
her son Layne's natural birth. She is certified in clinical nutrition and
has a special interest in herbal remedies. Kendra is the owner of Country
Way Natural Foods in Otsego. Although she is not currently accepting her
own doula clients, she continues to serve as a birth advocate and trusted
back-up for the other doulas in Birth Kalamazoo.
Kind words:
"I could not imagine my long labor without Val. She was always on-point, neutral in stance but informative with my options and a quiet presence that uplifted me when I was down and rubbed my legs when I was tired. She was not only a support to me but for my husband and my mother during the long haul. All in all, we are forever grateful. Thanks again Val."
- Chelsie, mom to Grayson, born at home
Jessica, thank you for all of your support during this beautiful, emotional, challenging process of bringing Zackary into our world. We have been fortunate in receiving your gifts of time, kind words, informed advice and gentle presence. Please know your strength and assistance has helped both Mike and I remain centered and grounded.
- Angela, mom to Zackary, born at 32 weeks, by cesarean at Bronson Hospital
