About Lauren
I completed my full spectrum doula education with Birth Advocacy Doula Trainings. A full spectrum doula is trained to support clients through preconception, pregnancy, birth, postpartum, abortion, miscarriage, stillbirth, and adoption. A full spectrum doula places reproductive care at the very center of a just and loving future.
As a clinical hypnotherapist, I received specialized training in the use of hypnosis for childbirth and postpartum recovery. I am a member of the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners. I love weaving these tools into my birth work practice to offer effective, multi-dimensional support before, during, and after labor.
Unlike anything else, birth work puts me in deep contact with the mystery, sanctity, and wondrous physicality of being alive.
Before I gave birth to my daughter, I worked for over a decade as a nature-based educator, building connection to wild places with young people of all ages. I hold a Master of Science in Education for Sustainability from the University of Vermont. Alongside motherhood and birth work, I’m a musician, a storyteller, a gardener, a fabric artist, and devout reader of high fantasy, mystic poetry, and 19th century female British authors.
About Doula Care
A doula is a non-medical birth worker committed to supporting the unique way you choose to navigate the birth journey. This means that no matter what unfolds, a doula is there to support your connection to what matters most.
I believe that each and every birth asks us to show up in ways we can’t predict, and I believe that’s a gift. In the vast landscape of birth, interventions can have an important place. That said, here are some statistics that demonstrate what the support of a doula can do.
Research shows that doula support results in:
39% decrease in the risk of Cesarean
15% increase in the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth
10% decrease in the use of any medications for pain relief
Shorter labors by 41 minutes on average
38% decrease in the baby’s risk of a low five-minute Apgar score
31% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience
Lowered rates of postpartum depression (Source: from Evidence Based Birth)
About Hypnosis for Pregnancy, Labor, and Postpartum
Hypnosis offers safe and effective tools to soothe the nervous system, center us in the part of the brain in charge of autonomic functions (like labor!), increase the flow of oxytocin, and interrupt the fear-tension-pain cycle. These elements weave together to create a “green light effect” for labor progress, breastfeeding, and healing the body after birth.
Hypnosis can also open the door to intuitive insight, establish new communication channels between you and your baby, and strengthen your connection to spiritual sources of support.
I work with birthing people (and their partners!) to create a personalized program that attends to their unique needs and desires.
Here are some helpful articles on the use of hypnosis during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum:
Hypnosis for Pain Relief During Labor by Rebecca Dekker from Evidence Based Birth
Services
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Labor doula services include:
Three, one hour long, prenatal visits to ask questions, explore your birth plan, and reach a shared understanding of the best way I can support you.
Unlimited access via phone/text/email from the day we begin working together
On call 24/7 from 38 weeks gestation
Continuous in-person support from the moment you need me in labor to 1-2 hours post-birth
A 1-2 hour postpartum visit after you’ve returned home to reflect, process, and honor all you’ve experienced
Access to my 4-session hypnosis for childbirth class is included for all doula clients
Cost: $1,250
I offer a labor support only package for $850
Add a 3-session hypnosis package: $195 includes personalized, download-ready recordings.
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Postpartum doula services include:
1, 30 minute to 1 hour prenatal session to map out a postpartum support plan.
Food prep and meal planning
Laundry and light housework
Newborn care
Support for breastfeeding and bottle feeding
Running errands
Spending time with siblings
Attuned emotional support for the birthing person and their partner
Non-biased, evidence based information about the postpartum chapter of birth
Homemade bone broth and lactation cookies
I charge $45/hour for a maximum of 6 hours/day. I’m happy to come for shorter periods of time for those who live within 30 minutes of Burlington.
Add a 3-session postpartum hypnosis package to support integration of the birth experience, breastfeeding, sleep, and more. $195 includes personalized, download-ready recordings.
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A 3-session personalized program that attends to your unique hopes and challenges, and gives you the skills to effectively use hypnosis when and where you need it most.
Hypnosis offers safe and effective tools to soothe the nervous system, release fears, activate the part of the brain in charge of autonomic functions (like labor!), manage pain, increase the flow of oxytocin, and integrate overwhelming birth experiences. These elements weave together to create a “green light effect” for labor progress, breastfeeding, and healing the body after birth.
These same tools can also open the door to intuitive insight, establish new communication channels between you and your baby, and strengthen your connection to spiritual sources of support through the entire perinatal period.
3-session package: $195 includes personalized, download-ready recordings.