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Are you expecting a baby in Orange County?

I’m a birth and postpartum doula as well as a childbirth educator and IBCLC lactation consultant serving Orange County. I’m based in Irvine, and willing to travel in a 50 mile radius. I’m available for private, in-home childbirth classes, hospital, birth center and home births, postpartum support and lactation home visits. I’m also a trained psychotherapist in cognitive-behavior therapy and self-relaxation methods, though I am not licensed to practice in California. But I can still teach you relaxation and self-hypnosis methods to help with your birth experience! 🙂

What is a doula and how can she help?

Read testimonials, or what some of my clients have to say about my work.

Prenatal consultations

If you have questions about your pregnancy, questions about your birth options, private concerns about birth itself, also offer one on one meetings if there’s anything you’d like to discuss.  Contact me for more information.

The discussion menu

Last month of pregnancy: what to expect, common symptoms and feelings, comfort techniques in the final month, getting ready physically and emotionally, preparing for birth and the arrival of the baby, what is an NST, CTG, Bishop score, and what do they mean?

How does labor start? When to call your doctor or head to the hospital? Due dates, inductions, premature labor, post-dates labor. Braxton-Hicks, breaking water, mucus plug, false labor, etc.

Stages of labor: Early labor, active labor, pushing, placenta, golden hour

Pain management options, pain medications, labor variations: precipitous labor, average labor, long labor, ecstatic labor, premature labor, cesarean section.

Movie: Organic Birth

Newborn baby care: what is normal newborn baby appearance and behavior, how to dress, clean and comfort a baby, normal and accepted intake and output, vaccination schedules, baby sleep patterns, ensuring optimal development

Postpartum self-care: How to take care of yourself physically and emotionally after the birth of your baby. What kinds of changes can you expect in your relationship with your partner, your family and your friends? Do you have a postpartum plan?

Breastfeeding: why you should breastfeed, how to get started with breastfeeding, good breastfeeding practices, how to avoid or solve common breastfeeding problems, when/how to introduce bottles, solids, formula

C-section: A class specifically for those who know they are going to have a c-section. Topics covered: what to expect during a c-section, what are the indications for a c-section, what choices do you have in a c-section, what happens during a c-section, how can a helper help during and after a c-section, how to breastfeed successfully after a c-section

VBAC: vaginal birth after cesarean, what are the professional guidelines, who is it recommended for, what are the recommendations, who can have one, how to best prepare to maximize your chances of having a VBAC.

Labor support

I will support you and your partner during labor. This means being on call 24 hours a day from week 37 of your pregnancy until you give birth. I will accompany you during labor, provide non-pharmacological pain management, offer ideas and suggestions on how to make your labor more comfortable for you and your partner. I can translate and communicate for you with members of the medical community. I will support the choices you and your partner make concerning the birth. I can also offer breastfeeding information and support immediately after birth. Labor support also includes 1 post-partum visit. Read more about  how a doula can help.

Postpartum visits

I can provide postpartum support by visiting you both in the hospital or at home to provide any kind of assistance you may need, including practical tips on how to dress, bathe, hold, carry, calm or feed the baby.

Lactation consulting

I am an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). If you have any problems or concerns about breastfeeding, I can offer on-site support and solutions. Need help with a baby who can’t latch well? Do you have sore nipples? Does your baby refuse the breast? Do you want to increase your supply? Is your baby crying on the breast? We can work together to find solutions that fit your individual situation.

Contact me

12 + 5 =

Réka provided prenatal classes, prenatal consultations, birth attendance, breastfeeding help and home visits following the birth of our first child. Giving birth in a foreign country and coping with a new baby without access to your local support network can be a challenge. Réka was a knowledgeable, calming and reliable supporter through the process . I would recommend her to anyone considering making use of her services.

Jacki