Welcome! My name is Heather Yanovitch, and I’m very happy that you’re here. I’m a perinatal doula, offering support throughout pregnancy and birth, as well as in those first several weeks postpartum. I’m certified with DONA International and am also a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) so I can give you guidance in breastfeeding your little one. I have additional trainings in VBAC, Spinning Babies techniques, and the Natural Breastfeeding program. I’m here to support you and your family through your birth and postpartum journey. The Coast Guard brought me and my husband to New England, and we’ve enjoyed living and working in eastern Connecticut for the last 30 years. I’m grateful to be the mother of nine wonderful kids who are heading out and starting households of their own – although I still spend a good deal of time chasing after my youngest! And I’m now blessed to be called ‘Granny’ as well. When I was pregnant with our first, my mom shared a book about the Bradley method of natural childbirth. As I read about the whole process of pregnancy and birth, I began to wonder why we’d ever call it anything OTHER than natural…and why it’s often treated more like a medical condition than a finely-balanced function of our bodies. I’m truly grateful for medical interventions. Many of us wouldn’t be here without them, but ‘intervening’ has so often become routine. It’s so important to ask questions and get clarification from your medical care providers. They’re the experts in medical management, but you’re the expert on what you think is best for you and your baby! I learned a lot through my own birth experiences. Some were easier than others. Some came with complications, longer hospital stays, and weeks in the NICU. But my best memories are of those times when I felt heard and supported – like what I was doing was important. Every mom should feel this way…routinely. I was drawn to the doula profession, because I believe there’s a great need for that traditional role of women supporting other women…especially during these huge life events! Certifications: DONA International – Certified Birth Doula, Rhode Island Certification Board – Certified Perinatal Doula. 6 years experience, 40 families served.
