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Susan Smartt Cook Doula Profile

Smartt Birth

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Phone: (423) 802-2177
Type of Practice: On-call doula service
Clients per Month: 1 to 4 births and 1 to 4 postpartum families
Birth and Postpartum Doula
Birth Doula Experience: 5 years and 150 births attended
Postpartum Doula Experience: 5 years and 50 families served
Area of practice: Bray, OK
Travel range: 100 miles
Travel comments/restrictions:
Languages spoken: English

Birth Doula Certifications

DONA (DONA International)

Breastfeeding Certifications

Trained in breastfeeding support through Birthways, Inc.

Other Credentials

CPM (Certified Professional Midwife)
NIA Instructor

College Education

BA/BS

Specialized training or previous experience:

Teens
Over 40
Families conceiving with ART and IVF
VBAC
Home Birth
Multiples
Clients on bed rest
LGBTQ Families
Adoption
Relinquishing mothers
Special needs babies
Prematurity
Twins
Postpartum mood disorders
High risk
Expected stillbirth
Single parents
Cesarean birth
Waterbirth
Survivors of childhood sexual abuse

Special services available:

Placenta encapsulation
Mother blessing celebrations
Belly casting
Cloth diapering education
Babywearing education
Antepartum doula

Attends hospital births? All Hospitals
Attends birth center births? All Birth Centers
Attends home births? Any Home Birth

Birth doula fee: $650 to $900
Postpartum doula hourly rate: $15 to $20
Fee details: I offer free consultations. Birth doula services include 24/7 phone support leading up to and following your birth, unlimited prenatal visits, childbirth education, creating a birth plan, continuous support during your birth, comfort measure, advocacy, immediate postpartum support and guidance around breastfeeding, and a follow-up postpartum visit.

Client Testimonials for Susan Smartt Cook

Angela Valavanis

Susan Smartt was the doula at the birth of my daughter. Susan was unbelievably helpful before and during my labor. She helped calm my fears in the weeks leading up to the birth, soothed me during the pain of childbirth (which lasted 31 hours!), and followed up afterward, when I was struggling with breastfeeding. She even taught me how to use my breast pump. I truly feel like I couldn’t have done it all without her support! By the end of my birth experience, I was thinking of Susan as a dear friend, not just my doula. I highly recommend her.

Posted 2/16/2011

Annie Gill-Bloyer

Susan was an invaluable asset at the birth of our first son. Her calm demeanor and warm confidence were a reassuring presence in our home and at the hospital. She focused on enabling me and my husband to partner together in getting through the harder parts of labor, in such a way that at times we might have forgotten she was there. Her knowledge, expertise, and physical support were a true blessing to us. I highly recommend Susan to any parents-to-be.

Posted 2/15/2011

Zoe Zolbrod

Susan was the doula at the birth of my daughter in 2008. She has a wealth of knowledge and a wonderful personality, effervescent but down-to-earth, and we felt grateful to have her presence at an intimate time in our lives. She was of great help and comfort before and after labor as well as during it. When she walked into the room during my active labor, she acted confidently but with sensitivity to my changing needs and desires. I was able to have the natural birth I had planned for, and it was more comfortable and celebratory thanks to her presence. I can’t recommend her highly enough.

Posted 2/15/2011

Nicky Owski

Susan was my doula for the birth of my son in August 2009. I had a hospital birth with a midwife, and my husband and I attended a Bradley Childbirth course. Susan provided invaluable support and encouragement during my pregnancy. When labor started Susan provided support for me and my husband at home, and also at the hospital when we decided to continue laboring there. I did end up with a non-emergency c-section after 24 hours of labor, as the baby wasn't dropping during pushing, and it turned out that he had the cord wrapped around his neck 3 times, so had no slack. Labor was hard and long, but Susan was an incredible support, and a reassuring presence throughout. At no time did I feel pressured about the birthing process and while I didn't end up with the natural vaginal birth I'd desired in an ideal world, I felt in control and empowered every step of the way, and Susan played a big part in that. In fact, she was also a great comfort to my husband once I chose to go with a c-section, as he was wanting to be strong and supportive for me, and she was someone he could 'break down with' in some fashion at the disappointment he felt for me, especially after having been though the labor process for so long. Susan is very knowledgeable about pregnancy, labor and birth, and has a lot of experience. She is assertive and steadfast, but is never pushy with the mother and father, and has an easygoing personality. She is kind and gentle, and a servant and partner in the labor process. She is appropriately funny, and has the emotional awareness to realize what it is that will make the mother and father feel most comfortable at different times. She is simply a wonderful, trustworthy person, and I think that's the kind of person you want with you when you're doing the monumental work of birthing a baby. I would recommend Susan without reservation.

Posted 2/15/2011

Whitney Drake

Susan provided wonderful guidance, care, and encouragement throughout my pregnancy, labor and birth. I delievered at a hospital and Susan was just the mediator I needed to express my desires when I was focused on labor and on our new baby. She is respectful of the doctors and nurses and yet, with a gentle voice, ensures that your needs and desires as the mother are understood and respected. It was such a blessing to have someone present at my birth that was wholly dedicated to my emotional and physical health. With a doula like Susan, you never feel like you are just a patient or client - she is genuinely invested in the quality of your birth experience and treats you with compassion and respect, truly taking your individual desires to heart. Furthermore, Susan is informed and highly educated in pregnancy, labor and delivery as a certified professional midwife. I often ask Susan to help me understand comments made by my doctor and she is gifted at helping me understand their perspective. I am now expecting my second child and we are blessed to know that Susan will be present at my birth again. She has already been an invaluable resource as I contact her with questions from my doctors appointments and discuss my upcoming labor plans. I hope that Susan will be present for the birth of all of my children as I can't imagine going through labor and delivery without her!

Posted 2/14/2011

Gwendolyn Brainard

In the spring of 2007 Susan Smartt was my doula for the birth of our second daughter. I really wanted to have a VBAC and with Susan's support I was able to have the birth I always wanted. She was warm and kind. I can not say enough good things about her. If you are thinking about hiring a doula you will not find a more compassionate and knowledgeable labor support provider then Susan.

Posted 1/19/2011

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