Annie Lee Higdon LM, CPM
Listen. Think. Grow. Birth.
Doula Services
Free Consultation
It is so important to surround yourself with the right birth team. If we are not mutually a perfect fit, then our relationship does not serve your needs. I encourage all parents and partners to interview MANY doulas until you know they are absolutely right for you. If we are not a good match I will be happy to connect you to doulas within the community to help you on your journey.
Phone & Email Support
Once under contract, I am available to you via phone, text, and email to answer any questions that may crop up. During this time I will get back to you as soon as I can. After 37 weeks I am available to you 24 hours a day 7 days a week and I will remain on-call until you deliver.
Prenatal Visits
Depeding on your wishes I like to meet at least once after our initial consultation and discuss your goals for your labor and birth also to get to know you and your partner. I like to meet again (time permitting) to go over any last minute changes, to answer any questions or to just check in and touch base. The better we know each other, the more I can suit your needs.
Important Information
So that I can be available to you when you need me, I like to know when your labor begins, even if it is not yet time for me to come to you. Clear communication can ensure you will be receiving the kinds of support you would like to have.
As a doula I do NOT:
-Make decisions for you
-Speak to Staff on your behalf
-Preform any clinical tasks
-Project any of my own beliefs on to your experience
During labor
Helping parents and partners feel confident to support each other is very important. The intimacy of labor and the sacred space it requires is crucial for coping and allowing the body and the baby to do what needs to be done. Although I am available to you whenever you might like me to support you, some people find the early time in labor offers them a chance to connect to the experience, find peace and share special moments with their partner.
I can meet you at your home or at your birthing location, whichever and whenever you prefer. I can assist you in relaxation and coping and can offer suggestions to make you as comfortable as possible.
When it is time to go to the hospital or birthing center I will travel with you and make sure you have the things you need and want with you. Once at the birthing location I can help you slow down the process of decision making and help you hear the information being presented to you so that you may make informed choices with which you feel comfortable.
I provide support without judgment or personal motive. While I am an advocate for women's rights in birth and within the medical model, the time and place for activism is never a birth setting. I humbley enter your birth with the purest of intentions, only motivated by your wishes and without ego. I conduct myself respectfully and professionally with caregivers and birth attendants in any setting.
Baby’s first feeding Support
I will usually stay with you after the baby is born until you have a first latch and feel comfortable. After you and baby are situated and ready to rest I will take my leave and allow you to get on with the crucial first moments of family bonding.
If you find you are having trouble with nursing I am available to help you find your way. If you need further assistance I am happy to refer you to lactation consultanats or many other birth and infant care professionals who can assist you beyond my expertise.
Postpartum follow-up visit
Within the first 72 hours I like to come back and see how you are settling in together and to answer any questions you may have. If you are encapsulating your placenta I will bring it to this visit and explain the indications to you.
Childbirth Education
Early Pregnancy Workshop
This class helps prepare moms for the birthing year. From pee stick to postpartum the journey can be overwhelming and it is hard to know where to start. From books to providers, decisions are at every turn.
Unveil the myths surrounding pregnancy "dos and don'ts" and take comfort in mother-lead-pregnancy. Find out how focused attention on nutrition plays a huge part in maintaining your and babys health. Learn about healthy lifestyle choices and exercise.
Discuss care provider and birthing location options. Develop ideas about how you would like to birth your baby. Learn about support in labor and look at the different ways you can surround yourself with safety and strength throughout the birthing process and postpartum. Start building your community, resources, and gathering information that will carry you and encourage you as you step into your role in the parenting world.
Birthing From Within® 6 week Series
Welcome birth as a journey in an open and engaging, relaxed environment. Each week we look at the specific questions and goals of the group to uncover the information each person needs to help them prepare for labor and birth. In this course based on Pam England's Books, discover a path through childbirth information that is sure to address the worries, concerns, and questions that all parents face.
You will learn the options available to you in pregnancy, labor and in birth and the basic anatomy and physiology involved. Identify and examine emotions and fears using birth art and discussion. In each class we practice techniques to develop the coping skills and the ability to use valuable information that will prepare you for the birth you would like to have, while understanding the deviations that can and do, most often, occur. Prepare yourself so that you can make informed decisions that empower you toward embracing your journey and the ways in which it finally unfolds.
Childbirth Education Intensive
This class covers the basics of childbirth, designed to provide information for parents and partners in one or two sessions. This course covers the essential Anatomy and Physiology of labor, positions that can be helpful and effective, and information about the different birth options available in any setting. We will go over basic infant care, breastfeeding, as well as valuable information, helpful for pregnancy and postpartum.
Other Services
Placenta Encapsulation
The use of placenta in Traditional Chinese Medicine is a practice spanning thousands of years. Nearly all mammals consume the placenta after birth. It has high levels of prostoglandin and oxytocin which are both crucial in allowing the body repair itself and both help the uterus return to a smaller size and restore tone. Placenta capsules have been known to relieve the effects of post partum depression, improve mood, stimulate lactation and increase energy.
I offer two preparations, raw and the Traditional Chinese Medicine method. I use vegan geletin capsules. I will also provide you with a tincture.
Talk to me about your lifestyle and we will find which options are the best fit for you.
Birth Tub Rentals
If you are planning a home birth, intend to labor at home, or if your hospital allows you to labor in-room with a tub, this is a great option for you! I will supply you with everything you need and give you plenty of set-up instructions. Typically the tub is delivered to you at 37-38 weeks and you may have it until you deliver. I will come and pick everything up when you are finished. Easy!
Postpartum Meals
One of the best gifts you can recieve after baby is born is food! The early weeks are difficult and everyone is scrambling to get into the groove of new life. It is so important for baby to be fed on time but it is equally important to feed yourselves.
Let me make you dishes that you can either save and heat or that come to you ready and warm. I cater to your specific dietary needs and provide you with meals that are seasonal, organic, and ideal for giving your body the strength it needs to recover after the challenges of birth and the first days.