I work in the following areas: The Greater St Louis area and Metro East.

You can reach me at 314-210-7152.

My e-mail address is briana@stlouisdoula.net

I usually take 3-5 client per month. If I am booked for the month that you are due, I will help you find another doula who would support the choices you are making for your upcoming birth.

My training includes: Certified Doula (DONA), CAPPA Trained & Experienced Doula (Certification Pending), PlacentaBenefits.info Specialist, AAMI student #1988

Here's more about my qualifications/experience:

I completed my training with the Academy of Certified Birth Educators and Labor Support Professionals (ACBE/LSP) and became a Certified Doula through DONA International. I am also currently working on a dual certification with CAPPA, carry American Heart Associations Medical Provider CPR certification and am studying traditional midwifery with Ancient Art of Midwifery. I have accompanied over 80 families on their journey through pregnancy and childbirth. My experiences have included VBAC’s (as well as VBAMC’s & HBAC’s), medicated & unmedicated births, waterbirths, induced labors, cesarean deliveries, multiples, premature births, high risk pregnancies, teens and more in both hospital and home settings. I have experience working with families who’ve taken HypnoBirthing, HypnoBabies, The Bradley Method, Birthing From Within, independent out-of hospital childbirth and in-hospital childbirth classes. After the birth of our second daughter my husband and I decided to combat the fatigue and 'baby blues' of the postpartum period by using my daughters placenta. After the wonderful experience my family had with placenta encapsulation, I went on to learn the Traditional Chinese Medicine methods of preparation to be able to provide the service to other women. Postpartum 'Baby Blues' affects nearly 80% of all women, but is not recognized as a disorder. The 'Baby Blues' is a result of elevated hormones during pregnancy suddenly dropping to below pre-pregnancy levels shortly after the baby is delivered. For most women this corrects itself within 2-4 weeks. For some moms it doesn't and goes on to become Postpartum Depression. While studies have not concluded a specific cause of postpartum depression there are some findings, such as fatigue and iron, that may play a role. For thousands of years the Chinese have used placenta to treat fatigue and lactation issues. In Traditional Chinese Medicine the placenta is considered a very powerful organ. By replacing the lost nutrients that a mother excretes during labor she can replenish the lost iron and hormones therefor preventing the 'Baby Blues.' In 1956 an obscure Eastern European concluded in a double blind study that dried and encapsulated placenta did in fact increase a new mothers milk supply. 86% of the mothers in the test group (dried placenta) saw a dramatic increase in their supply, while 33% of the control group (ground beef) saw an increase in their breastmilk supply. The researchers believe this was a placebo effect, what they didn't conclude was why this worked. While this study was not perfect, it opened many doors and questions as to how and why mammals, but not humans, consumed their placentas after birth. Many other studies followed, including iron content of the placenta, decreased pain from amniotic fluid, Rh sensitivity studies and currently a UNLV study that is in progress and will look at this specific method of placenta preparation and it's benefits of preventing postpartum depression. Many eastern medicines and traditions have come into trend in the western world, including acupuncture, many herbal remedies and now placenta encapsulation is becoming increasingly common amongst postpartum women. My family consists of my loving, supportive and extremely understanding husband, our 2 daughters, the first joined us via cesarean, the second was a home water birth after cesarean (VBAC) just 14 months later. We share our home with a boston terrier and a non-specific tabby cat; both were rescues. While I am a San Francisco Bay Area native, my husband was born and raised right here in the Metro East. After living in Las Vegas for several years we met at introduction of mutual friends and married shortly thereafter

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