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Mountain Laurel Birth Services
Supporting West Virginia Families for a Positive Pregnancy and Birth Experience
WELCOME
I am a West Virginia based doula tailoring my support to meet each family’s individual needs. I’m pleased you are here and welcome you to take a look around. Please get in touch with any questions you may have. My goal is to support you well for a safe and positive pregnancy and birth experience. Let’s talk about what that looks like for you and your family.
ABOUT ME
Jessi Collins
Birth Doula | Postpartum Doula | Placenta Encapsulation Specialist
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/793826_b830213acb3a4551b5c0406b6a149295~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_230,w_2146,h_2120/fill/w_605,h_598,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/793826_b830213acb3a4551b5c0406b6a149295~mv2.jpg)
Hello! I am Jessi. Birth doula, postpartum doula, and placenta encapsulation specialist serving families throughout West Virginia and offering virtual support too!
I would love to meet you, hear your story, and share more of mine! Here are some fun facts about me and a brief overview of how my journey as a birth doula started:`
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I am a West Virginia native who loves living in this beautiful adventure state
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I am married to the love of my life with a toddler and baby on the way
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I have held a deep interest in pregnancy and birth for as long as I can remember. I have memories of studying my mothers pregnancy books and memorizing the photos of infant development in elementary school.
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I received my birth doula certification through A Woman Who Serves
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I am a certified Placenta Encapsulation Specialist through Brilliant Birth Academy
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I am precertified as a Fertility Health Coach through Brilliant Birth Academy
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I am up to date on my NRP, CPR, and ALS certifications.
![Motherhood](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/53cfbe6773dc4a14b6fd50face01b690.jpg/v1/fill/w_854,h_580,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/53cfbe6773dc4a14b6fd50face01b690.jpg)
SERVICES
What We Offer
Labor Support
Complimentary consultation
Two prenatal visits
Unlimited communication during the pregnancy, birth, and early postpartum period
Access to my ever-growing lending library
Labor and birth support
Immediate postpartum support following the birth
One postpartum visit
Birth Planning Session
A 2-hour consultation with families who are looking for guidance and information regarding the formation of a birth preference sheet and hospital/care provider expectations.
Postpartum Care
An in-home service available anytime within the first year of your baby's life. Support catered to your needs, which may change by the day! Some examples include:
- Light house keeping -
- Overnight care (so you can sleep!) -
- Snack/meal prep -
- Objective and non-judgmental support and help navigating the various parenting choices -
- Referrals and resources to help you in your parenting journey -
What do you need to care for your family well? It's my job as a postpartum doula to provide it!
Placenta Services
Your placenta can be used in whatever way best fits your needs and desires! Examples of processing types include:
- Placenta encapsulation -
- Healing placenta salve -
- Placenta tincture -
- Placenta Print -
To learn more about your preservation options and the benefits, click here!
![Tiny Feet](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_3a006edeba1f4124a4dd4e50937053c9~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_820,h_560,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/11062b_3a006edeba1f4124a4dd4e50937053c9~mv2.jpg)
Doula
What does that even mean?
dou·la (noun) - a woman who is trained to assist another woman during childbirth and who may provide support to the family after the baby is born.
The word “doula” is a greek word meaning “servant of women.” A doula is considered to be a non-medically trained birth professional who provides emotional, physical and educational support to women and their families throughout pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period. This could look different for every mom and family. Sometimes this looks like a calm presence in the room, reassuring you that everything you are experiencing is normal. Other times a doula is able to provide the birth partner with a nap, lunch break, or instruction to best support mom during labor. And then sometimes, a doula can help mom and partner to better understand the medical lingo and any intervention that might be suggested so that they can make an informed decision about their health and the birth of their baby.
I’ll let you in on a little secret. You don't need a doula to have a beautiful, empowering birth. However, having someone there who was familiar with birth, has the tools and knowledge to help facilitate your plan, and the information to guide you through any surprises or unexpected changes in labor can make things completely different. Studies have shown that having a doula’s support during birth there is:
31% decrease in the use of Pitocin
28% decrease in the risk of Cesarean
12% increase in the likelihood of spontaneous vaginal birth
9% decrease in the use of any medications for pain relief
14% decrease in the risk of newborn admission to special care nursey
34% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience
Among things like relaxation techniques, emotional, physical, and postpartum support, a doula does not replace your partner but actually enhances the partner’s experience by encouraging them in different ways to be able to provide support to the laboring mother.
![Holding the Belly](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_c091d7a8a3cf49d487d8a3c871ddf9e6~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_651,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/11062b_c091d7a8a3cf49d487d8a3c871ddf9e6~mv2.jpg)