Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Timeline
Maria Armstrong

Maria Armstrong

Birth Doula And Childbirth Educator
Portland,Oregon
We are made to do this work and it's not easy... I would say that pain is part of the glory or the tremendous mystery of life. And that if anything, it's a kind of privilege to stand so close to such an incredible miracle.
Simone

Summary

Help families embark on their birthing journey with preparation, labor prep & birth support, as well as postpartum readiness. Committed Doula and Childbirth Educator offering 14 years of success educating families with resources and curriculum to facilitate healthy and fulfilling childbirth experiences. Advanced knowledge of labor and delivery practices in the various birth place around the Portland, OR and Vancouver, WA Metro areas. Well-versed in developing evidence-based learning programs to contribute to mission and values.

Overview

15
15
years of professional experience
2
2
years of post-secondary education

Work History

Childbirth Educator

Self Employed Services
Portland, Oregon
11.2021 - Current
  • Educated over 150 doula clients prior to officially certifying as educator (awaiting exam results)
  • Teach four 2-hour interactive and evidence-based childbirth classes covering pregnancy, labor, birth, breastfeeding, bonding, and early parenting
  • Developed curriculum with focus on cultural sensitivity and awareness of family values and goals
  • Provide resources for birthing facilities and methods
  • Provide information on physiologic labor and birth
  • Discuss interventions and their effect on outcomes
  • Discuss when to contact provider during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum
  • Assisted families with objective and informative advice to aid in shared decision-making with informed consent and refusal
  • Promoted available resources and connected individuals with services
  • Developed curriculum with focus on cultural sensitivity and awareness of family values and goals.
  • Assisted families with objective and informative advice to aid in decision-making.

Doula

Baby Nest Birth Services
Portland, Oregon
09.2016 - Current
  • Offered same services as below doula services
  • Participated in over 115 successful births over 5 years.
  • Met with mothers to design individualized birth plans in terms of health concerns, birthing desires and potential problems.
  • Added bereavement services as of 2021:
  • Met to connect and get to know values, beliefs, and care needed
  • Helped with understanding choices for birth and immediate postpartum time
  • Help to prepare to meet baby
  • Assistance and support through birth
  • Shared what has been helpful to others in similar situations
  • Held space to grieve and process emotions
  • Helped create memory box
  • Helped explore farewell celebrations to help with grieving
  • Connected to various resources
  • Supported after birth, from managing loved ones to milk production

Doula

Self Employed Services
Portland, United States
11.2009 - 09.2016
  • Interviewed clients to see how to best support them
  • Offered resources for childbirth classes, providers, and birthing places
  • Met with clients 3 times to get to know them and their values, help them design individualized birth plan, and prepare them for labor, birth, and postpartum time
  • Offered unlimited support via text, email, or phone calls
  • Offered lists of local resources for additional physical, emotional, and psychological support and comfort
  • Met with clients in their home for early labor before going to hospital
  • Supported clients throughout their labor at home, birth center, or hospital
  • Supported clients first two hours postpartum
  • Offered one or two postpartum visits to go over birth story, support breastfeeding and assess mental health, and help around house as needed
  • Frequent check-ins via phone, text, or email
  • Six week contact via email with list of resources for continued breastfeeding support, pelvic floor and abdominal recovery, holistic practitioners, and mental health counselors

Education

SBD - Stillbirth And Bereavement Doula

StillbirthDay, Online
11.2021 - Current

CD - Birth Doula

Birth Arts International, Online
11.2021 - 12.2021

LCCE - Childbirth Education

Lamaze, Passion For Birth And Online
01.2020 - 12.2021

Doula - Labor Doula

Birthingway College of Midwifery, Portland, OR
10.2009 - 12.2009

Skills

Labor and delivery support

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Accomplishments

I developed and still maintain Eats on Feets, a community-based milksharing network that was created in 2010. I helped write an extensive and evidence-based resource for safe community breastmilk sharing that has been cited in various places.

In order to maintain both the network and the information database, I continuously peruse the research, develop my leadership skills in order to support our local admins, and actively promote breastmilk sharing in my community.

I also maintain both the Eats on Feets and the Resource for Informed Breastmilk Sharing websites.

Timeline

Childbirth Educator - Self Employed Services
11.2021 - Current
StillbirthDay - SBD, Stillbirth And Bereavement Doula
11.2021 - Current
Birth Arts International - CD, Birth Doula
11.2021 - 12.2021
Lamaze - LCCE, Childbirth Education
01.2020 - 12.2021
Doula - Baby Nest Birth Services
09.2016 - Current
Doula - Self Employed Services
11.2009 - 09.2016
Birthingway College of Midwifery - Doula, Labor Doula
10.2009 - 12.2009

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Maria ArmstrongBirth Doula And Childbirth Educator