Jessica English, CD(DONA), LCCE
Jessica first got interested in natural birth as a student at Kalamazoo College, where she spent three months of her senior year researching and writing about midwifery. After earning her bachelor's degree in English from K in 1994, she went on to a career in marketing, public relations and journalism.
Originally certified as a Bradley Method instructor, Jessica found that her philosophies evolved and broadened as she taught and attended births. In 2008, she transferred her affiliation to another organization, and began teaching her independent course, "The Best of Natural Birth." Jessica is also certified as a doula by DONA International, and she attends many of her students' births. Because she is so often with women during birth, Jessica can speak knowledgeably about what to expect with various midwives and doctors. In 2009, she trained with world-renowned doula Penny Simkin to become a DONA birth doula trainer, and she plans to offer her first birth doula workshop in Kalamazoo in early 2010.
In addition to birth work and her role as a mom, Jessica is also a freelance writer and a marketing and public relations consultant. She publishes an e-newsletter about natural birth (subscribe). Her writing has appeared in publications around the region and the state, on topics as diverse as parenting, business and education. Those communication skills inform and enrich her teaching.
Jessica is an active member of La Leche League International, the Kalamazoo County Breastfeeding Coalition, and Natural Families of Kalamazoo, as well as organizer of the annual Kzoo Baby & Family Expo. She has served in leadership roles on the boards of directors of Goodwill Industries, Girl Scouts of Glowing Embers, Professional Women Communicators and the Kalamazoo Area Women's Festival.
Jessica and her husband Keith have had two natural births. Keith caught their son Aidan at Bronson Hospital in 2003, and their son Quinn at home in 2006. She teaches from the heart—sharing the natural birth techniques that worked for her and that she's seen work for countless other women. Jessica feels incredibly blessed to help other families bring their babies into the world.
Kind words:
"I can't thank you enough for the time you spent teaching us and helping us prepare for our birth. Your class was so amazing and I felt so ready and informed going into this birth... it really helped to draw away the fear of the birthing process. The birth was such an intimate time for David and I, and we both walked away from it amazed at each other, with a greater level of respect for one another and just more in love. Wow! Thank you so much for helping to empower us."
- Cristina, mom to Amalia, born at Bronson Hospital
