Birth Kalamazoo: Birth Doulas

Meet Our Birth Doulas

Jessica English, CD(DONA), LCCE, BDT(DONA)
It's been more than 15 years since Jessica wrote her senior college thesis on midwifery, and her passion for birth and families has only grown in the years since. A former Bradley Method childbirth instructor, Jessica now teaches her own curriculum, "The Best of Natural Birth." A graduate of Kalamazoo College, Jessica has had a long career in marketing and public relations. She is the organizer of the annual Kzoo Baby & Family Expo. A widely published writer, she publishes an e-newsletter about childbirth. (subscribe) In 2007, Jessica and Kendra Petersen co-founded Birth Kalamazoo, which Jessica now owns and operates. She is certified as a doula through DONA International and is also a certified childbirth educator. In 2009, Jessica trained with the world-renowned doula Penny Simkin to become a DONA birth doula trainer, and she now offers training to new doulas from around Michigan and the Midwest. She has been invited to speak at national conferences on a variety of birth topics. Jessica has had two natural births, with a doula supporting her on both journeys. Her husband Keith caught their first baby, Aidan, at Bronson Hospital, and their second son, Quinn, at home. The heart of her doula calling is to support families on their unique birth journeys so that parents can welcome their babies in the most positive, loving way possible. Contact Jessica

Valerie Erlandson, CD(DONA)
As a certified massage therapist, Val developed a caring touch and a passion for working with women at all stages of life. When she became a mom herself, she began to explore how she might support other women on their birth journeys. Val's own birth experiences have shaped her work as a doula. At 41 weeks pregnant, she discovered that her first daughter, Olivia, was breech. Just hours later she went into labor, and Olivia was born by c-section. For her second birth, Val and her husband Chris took independent natural childbirth classes and chose to work with a doula. Her second daughter Hannah's birth was an empowered, informed, natural VBAC. And she had a second amazing VBAC when her son Grady was born two years later. Not surprisingly, she has a special passion for working with moms planning a vaginal birth after cesarean. She facilitates Birth Kalamazoo's Cesarean and VBAC Support Group, offering women caring support as they process their c-sections and plan for future births. Val is a graduate of Kalamazoo Center for the Healing Arts and her doula certification is through DONA International. Contact Val

Beth Hawver, CD(DONA)
Beth's background as a social worker and therapist prepared her well for her work as a caring, attentive doula. Her earlier professional work often included advocating for her clients, which translates beautifully to her work advocating for birthing families. Birth advocacy wasn't really on Beth's radar until two close relatives had c-sections. By the time she got to the third trimester of her own first pregnancy, she knew she wanted to maximize her chances for an empowered, natural birth. Beth and her husband Joe took an independent series of natural childbirth classes, and their son John was born naturally after 22 hours of labor. John's little sister Lucinda was born several years later, this time at home. She has a passion for helping couples have a positive, loving birth experience, wherever their path leads. Beth is certified as a birth doula through DONA International, and she has begun the process of certifying as a childbirth educator. She is co-leader of Birth Kalamazoo's Birth Matters group. Beth assists Jessica in teaching The Best of Natural Birth childbirth classes, and also offers private childbirth education for her doula clients and others. Beth on maternity leave through the end of 2012, please contact her if you are due in 2013 to discuss her availability. Contact Beth

Jody Swank, CLE, CLD
A former elementary school teacher, Jody began pursuing an active role in the birth community more than five years ago. She and her husband have four daughters and have spent their 20-year marriage mostly in the South. They were both raised in Michigan, however, so it felt like “coming home” when the family relocated to Kalamazoo in July 2010. Her personal experiences as a mom have included pregnancy loss, a cesarean birth, three VBACs (all very different births), breastfeeding challenges and bouts of postpartum depression. Those experiences led her to pursue her passion – coming alongside mothers (and dads!) on their birth and postpartum journeys, sharing her experience, education and resources. Jody was certified as a breastfeeding educator by CAPPA in 2005, and has enjoyed leading breastfeeding support groups. In 2008, she expanded her scope and was certified as a labor doula by CAPPA. Jody co-leads Birth Kalamazoo's Birth Matters group. Contact Jody

Andrea Augustine, CD(DONA)
Andrea has always loved supporting women. She was a resident of the Women's Resource Center while studying biology at Kalamazoo College, and has enjoyed volunteering, including women's health advocacy and Spanish translation. Since the births of her two daughters, Ella and Chloe, she's been especially excited about helping women and families through childbirth as well. She had amazing support with both of her births, and her personal experiences with both an unmedicated labor and a cesarean birth enrich her doula work. Andrea has attended two sessions of an independent natural childbirth course and a series of hospital-based classes. She is certified as a birth doula through DONA International. Andrea is on hiatus and accepting ONLY repeat clients in 2012. Contact Andrea

Kind words:

"I could not imagine my long labor without Val. She was always on-point, neutral in stance but informative with my options and a quiet presence that uplifted me when I was down and rubbed my legs when I was tired. She was not only a support to me but for my husband and my mother during the long haul. All in all, we are forever grateful. Thanks again Val."
- Chelsie, mom to Grayson, born at home

Jessica, thank you for all of your support during this beautiful, emotional, challenging process of bringing Zackary into our world. We have been fortunate in receiving your gifts of time, kind words, informed advice and gentle presence. Please know your strength and assistance has helped both Mike and I remain centered and grounded.
- Angela, mom to Zackary, born at 32 weeks, by cesarean at Bronson Hospital