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I'm curious if this story resonates with you at all.
When I was coming into my own body and figuring out how to manage my cycles, I did not have many resources available to me. There was a lot of mystery, no one really spoke about what was going on within their bodies. There was Midol, bad jokes and ice cream binges.
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Not much changed in the landscape around me as I became a young adult. But I started getting curious. Was the pill the only way to avoid getting pregnant? Was the food I was eating affecting my overall health and my cycles? Were there alternatives to western medicine, which didn't seem to answer all of my questions and concerns? And when I decided to have children, was I really going to be ok with a birth like I saw in movies or TV, or all those intense birth stories I'd heard growing up?
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My curiosity for a greater health and connection to my body was bubbling, but a substantial shift had not yet occurred. It would take time, trying a few things on and getting to know myself more deeply.
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Does any of that sound familiar to you? Did you feel lost as you were coming of age in your body, having to navigate the complexities of your hormones all on your own? As an adult, does the appeal of living a more wholesome life, in flow with your body and hormones, sound good but the reality seems a bit far fetched? As a pregnant woman, do you envisage a positive, powerful birth but are also feeling nervous because no one you know has given birth that way?
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These are feelings and concerns that many of the individuals and families I work with express. There is a great desire to be in the flow with themselves, to achieve their health goals more completely. There is an undercurrent of belief that says, "I am worth it! . . . But I'm not really sure how to get where I want to be."
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I believe there is a deeper knowing in each of us that we have learned to quiet, even ignore. It just needs a little
help rekindling though. For those of us with female bodies, that means learning to understand and appreciate our bodies and getting really clear on our health goals. Allowing ourselves time and space to get comfortable with where we are and nourishing ourselves, because we are worth it.
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From a fertility perspective, it means getting familiar with your cycles and reading your body's cues. Being open to making changes in your life that will support your optimal health and well-being, will lead you on a path of self-discovery and appreciation.
If you are working through the added challenge of infertility, it may mean finding support that complements your medical treatment, so that you can feel in control and at peace. Getting really familiar with all of your options, learning how to cope with the myriad of decisions you'll be faced with and how to advocate for yourself.
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For those who are pregnant, it means finding a provider who is in-line with your desires, learning what your options are based on your chosen place of birth and, again, learning how to advocate for your care. You'll find that the world wants to give you tips and tricks on everything related to your pregnancy, and your job will be to sort through all the junk mail to find those gems of truth. (For a deeper delve into birth, read on below).
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As a Doula offering comprehensive reproductive support, my job is to facilitate your exploration of your fertility, pregnancy and postpartum needs. Approaching doula work from this perspective allows me to share my passion for reproductive health and rights with you, and hopefully support you in getting clear on your truest needs for wherever you are in your journey.
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I hope to walk along this path with you,
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Continue reading for some thoughts on birth and Arielle's bio. Explore service offerings, reach out for more information and to set up a complimentary consultation.
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Getting to know you will be such a pleasure!
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Labor is intensely challenging. Birth works. And babies find the breast and latch on their own. Together, it's a process that unfolds on its own without much need for outside help. Your body knows what to do when it comes to creating, birthing and feeding its own baby.
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Cut through the noise of scary birth stories, inauthentic representations in our media and entertainment, and fear based how-to books and websites and what do I see? I see people, immersing themselves in birth and postpartum literature that supports their inner strength and builds up their self-confidence. I see couples and family members investing time, effort and resources into their pregnancies and newborns, together, as a team.
They see the value of evidence based information, which gives them control over their births because they are informed. They are choosing low intervention births, sometimes medicated, sometimes not, because they understand that birth evolves on its own. They've learned that the more you mess with birth, the messier it gets.
I see babies who are loved, marveled at and supported at birth. They are born knowing perfectly how to get the golden milk they need, their heads bob around and root for the breast. Given the space and freedom, they show us how truly amazing they are.
I see all these things happening, right now, in our highly technical and managed medical world. It's possible regardless of where people are birthing, don't think this is just a homebirth fairytale. But it does takes effort, dedication, support and above all trust in birth. None of this occurs without first trusting your body, your birth and your baby.
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It's a challenging path with a few switchbacks, but one that brings great satisfaction, has healthier outcomes for mother and baby, and sets parents onto their new role in life with a deep inner sense that they know best how to care for their family.
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Ready to join me on this path? Your positive and powerful birth await . . .
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Arielle brings her calm energy, innate compassion and vast knowledge of fertility, birth and babies to each interaction with her clients. Her goal is to foster a sense of curiosity and exploration in her clients. Encouraging them to trust in their own bodies, and babies, she helps build confidence in their own intuition and skills. Without judging the process, she guides expectant individuals, women, couples and families in claiming their fertility, birth and postpartum experiences as their own. She loves birth in all its forms, is endlessly curious about how the human body works, and she is not easily surprised. Three characteristics that make her a great doula.
Arielle’s path to doula work was born out of her own pregnancies and birth experiences. Blessed to be cared for by three homebirth midwives at her first birth, Arielle was deeply touched at the dedication with which these women served her. This was her first experience of women serving women, wholly and without reservation.
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And there sparked a wonderful idea: what if one day she could be a birth worker?
Arielle has since supported families through their births at home and in hospital. She has worked alongside them in postpartum as they adjust to their new family life. Arielle has also honed her skills as a childbirth educator, bringing evidence-based information to couples planning for positive, empowered births and mindful parenting options. And most recently, she's delving deeper into the fertility and infertility side of the equation, with the goal of serving individuals at every level of their reproductive lives.
Doula work aside, Arielle is a mother to four amazing kiddos, and a small menagerie of animals. A lifetime reader, there's always a pile of books on her bedside table. An artist of her own making, her creativity is mostly sparked painting, crafting and working outdoors as a gardener determined to put kale in as many dishes as possible, if the aphids don’t get to it first that is! (If you have a foolproof, organic solution to keeping aphids off kale, do let her know . . . she’ll likely share her harvest with you!)
QUALIFICATIONS + CERTIFICATIONS
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2021 - Fertility Specialist (training in progress), BeboMia
2020 - Certified Childbirth Educator, ICEA
2016 - Still Birth Day Training
2016 - Rebozo for Birth Professionals, Gena Kirby
2015 - Certified Labor and Postpartum Doula, Cornerstone Doula Trainings
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LANGUAGES SPOKEN
French, fluent
Spanish, conversational
Proudly serving families in the San Francisco Bay Area since 2016
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Arielle offers comprehensive Doula Services from preconception through postpartum. All families are welcome and deserving, no discrimination is made. We hope to walk on this journey with you.
Our services are offered in the following cities and surrounding regions of Marin, Sonoma and Napa Counties: Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Sebastopol, San Rafael, Novato, Marin, Napa, Sonoma.
