Event Photos

See what's been up and what's coming up. If you've been involved in our activities, keep an eye out to see if YOUR picture pops up on our pages!

NOTE: Photos of recent events have been lost due to an incident involving my 17-month old son, my digital camera and our fish tank. Need I say more?

Did you see the the labor support display at the Dupont branch of the Allen County library in December 2001? Doulas from Bedside Manners, Noble Birth Services and Special Delivery had a tabletop display featuring client photos, labor support tools, pregnancy/birth/
breastfeeding books, dads and doulas information, description of doulas and their services and the benefits of labor support

Did you stop by to look for a picture of you or your baby, sign up for the door prizes and get some free samples? Don't worry if you missed it, so did Janis! She was at a birth and would much rather miss the Baby Fair than miss little Sarah making her grand entrance!

The AquaDoula is the original portable spa developed specifically for labor and waterbirth.
Featured nationwide on documentary programs such as the Learning Channel's "A Baby Story", the AquaDoula, for years, has helped mothers and babies worldwide experience a gentler birth. Easily set up in minutes with minimal assembly, the AquaDoula is soft, yet sturdy, and comfortably accommodates mother and partner.
I used this myself in my last birth and loved it! It was far superior to inflatable pools or a standard bath tub.

Janis attended a Gathering for Indiana chapter of Doulas of North America February 12 in Indianapolis on the topic of waterbirth and August 17 in Topeka to visit the New Eden Care Center, a free-standing birth center.

Check back to see what doulas do when they get together!

She also attended the Indiana March of Dimes Perinatal Educators conference in Carmel April 25 titled "Creating Options for a Magical Birth" featuring noted author and speaker, Henci Goer. Click on the March of Dimes logo for more information about this organization.

In April 2006, Janis attended a Neonatal Resusitation Program geared toward homebirth attendants at New Eden Care Center, a birth center in Topeka, IN, and is now certified in neonatal resusitation.

In May 2006, Janis officially returned to school to complete a Mater's Degree and become a Certified Nurse Midwife.

This table scene is from a blessingway given September 2002 for a client.
A blessing way is an ancient Navajo ceremony to celebrate a woman's transition as a mother, a ritual that embraces the pregnant mother in her journey on the path of womanhood as she passes into motherhood. It is one of the most sacred ceremonies associated with pregnancy. Our modern culture is so fast-paced that we forget to stop in order to honor and celebrate the transitions of life. As we mark these transitions with rituals such as this that are designed to enhance and enrich our lives, thereby acknowledging the changes and growth that we experience, we learn to listen to ourselves. When we proclaim the importance of these changes, we deepen our sense of self and discover a new understanding of what makes life meaningful, so that we can begin to positively affect our sense of self, our family and, ultimately, the community we live in.

Although society seems to have trivialized birth so that baby showers are often commercially-bent without much reference to the sacredness of the birth experience, we can choose to gather with women to honor the work of the mother and recognize birth as the transforming experience it is. The intention is always to create an atmosphere of reverence and love. We gather to create a space that is sacred but joyous, striving to give the mother we honor strength for the deeply spiritual rite of passage she is about to encounter during her birth.

Have a look and see for yourself! Picnic gathering at Memorial Park for sun and fun... Click on the picture to the right for Indiana Group's web sites.

Janis participated in the Babies R Us Baby Fest Weekend Saturday, May 4th, 2002.
June 19 and 20, 2002 Janis presented about doulas to the labor and delivery staff at Parkview North New Life Center. In November 2002 she presented twice again to the New Life Center staff on comfort measures and labor support techniques to kickoff the New Labor Support Tool Box program, a free supply kit for birthing families donated to the hospital by Janis.
April 25 Janis attended the Indiana March of Dimes Perinatal Educator conference in Carmel. Topics included: massage, aromatherapy, music in labor and birth, episiotomy prevention and the illusion of choice in childbirth.

She also attended a CAPPA (Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association) conference November 2-3, 2002 in Nashville, Tennesse where topics included choices in chilbirth, pain issues, breastfeeding, inductions and teaching methods. For more information, visit CAPPA Website