Birth & Postpartum Doula
Krystal Martin, SBD
Every woman has the RIGHT to the birth she chooses.
About me
My Story
My Philosophy
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Birth is a normal process, not a pathological ‘problem’ to be solved
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You have the right to be an active participant in your own birth experience; that means being allowed to make informed choices about your practitioners, your birth setting, interventions (or lack thereof), attendees, etc.
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Partners are as emotionally invested in their children’s births as laboring women are; they too need support in order to minimize anxiety and feel involved/engaged with the birth process to the extent that they and their partner wish
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Having a doula is the best way to ensure a satisfying birth experience, that is, one in which the laboring woman feels respected, in control and supported
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I can and will help you to self-advocate before and during your labor and birth, but I cannot be your voice
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I believe in evidence-based practice
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My #1 goal is your satisfaction, confidence, and comfort – I recognize that your birth is not my birth and that your choices may be different from my own. My pledge to each of my clients is that I will always respect your choices and support you 100% in making them. I will never judge you or make you doubt your instincts. I know that you are strong
I am a Doula serving women of Hampton Roads. I believe that all women have the right to the birth they want.
After years of infertility, I was finally blessed to be able to bring a beautiful baby boy into my family.
I realized after going through the birth and post-partum process, that my birth story was not what I had envisioned it to be. I had planned on an all natural birth, but with my son breached, we had to do a c-section. Needless to say, this was not what I had planned and it was then that I realized that I could be there to help women through the birthing process.
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I felt that I was called to be the support for women during this beautiful time and started my training to become a Doula.
With a support system that included my own wonderful family and friends, I was able to leave my job and focus on starting the training needed.
I learned more than I thought possible about the pregnancy and birth process. I feel that with everything that I have learned, it has made me even more dedicated to my desire to help women through this wonderful time in their life. The training wasn't always easy, especially with the more sad aspects of childbirth, but I came through it with not only a better understanding of childbirth but a renewed dedication to helping women and their families in all walks of life. I believe every woman has the right to write the birth story they want and will look back on with good feelings.
I feel that all women and their families should have a birth story that they can look back on and feel good about. My goal is to facilitate that process as much as possible. My desire is to make sure that every woman and their partner walk away from birth with the best possible feeling.
My Training
Certified Labor Doula
Active training for Postpartum, Child birth educator &
Lactation Counselor
Madriella