Berkshire-Columbia Doulas: Ellen Harris-Braun

Ellen Harris-Braun

Location:	Canaan, NY
Phone:	(518) 781-0465
E-mail:	ellen@berkshiredoulas.com

Certification(s) and Experience: DONA-certified labor and birth doula (in practice since 2002, certified since 2003). Experienced childbirth educator certified through first Bradley, then Lamaze (teaching group and private classes since 2000). I am comfortable serving not only married couples but also single mothers, unmarried couples, and lesbian couples.
Coverage Area: Columbia County, Berkshire County, Albany area, southern Rensselaer County, northern edge of Connecticut. I usually work with clients who live within one hour's drive from my home, and I usually attend births in hospitals no more than one hour's drive from my home. This includes Columbia Memorial in Hudson, Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington, Baystate in Springfield, all Albany and Troy hospitals, and North Adams Regional Hospital.
Services Provided:
Childbirth classes: I offer group classes of varying lengths (1-day, 4-week, or 8-week) or private classes tailored to your needs. Birth consulting: Even if you don't want or need a doula at your birth, I can help you plan your birth and postpartum "babymoon," work with you on expectations, anxieties, and family issues, and help you negotiate with your care providers during pregnancy. Doula services for labor and birth: Support for women planning hospital, birth-center, or home births At least two prenatal visits in addition to an initial no-obligation meeting Help determining birth preferences and creating a list of preferences for care providers Suggestions and information about optimal fetal positioning, laboring at home, negotiating with care providers Availability by phone and e-mail before the birth Labor support as soon as the mother feels the need, continuing throughout labor and birth Facilitation of communication between the birthing family and their care providers Tips and suggestions for speeding and easing labor and avoiding unnecessary interventions Support immediately after the birth, until the family is comfortable and the baby has breastfed Help with breastfeeding Photography during or after the birth (your camera or mine) Two postpartum visits to answer questions about the birth and help the family adjust Referrals to community and medical resources if necessary
More information: As an experienced doula (certified through DONA), I support women and their partners in becoming active participants in an empowering, healthy birth of their baby. I provide two or three prenatal visits, then join women in labor whenever they need me, staying until a few hours after the baby is born (or longer if there are complications). After the birth, I visit the family twice to discuss the birth experience, answer questions, and offer breastfeeding support and advice to new parents. I travel up to an hour from my house in Columbia County, NY near Massachusetts. I have experience at many local hospitals, plus birth center births and homebirths. I also teach natural-childbirth classes that follow current evidence and research. My classes focus on making informed choices, partner support, relaxation for labor, prenatal nutrition to avoid complications, and exercises and prenatal strategies to make birth easier. I have two sons, born in 1998 and 2001, and am studying to be a Certified Professional Midwife someday. Article about my philosophy of labor support

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