Rosie Peterson
Birth Blessings Doula Care
Website: rosiedoula.blogspot.com/
Phone: (760) 443-6471
Birth Fee: $1000
Fee Details: $400 is the retainer fee that I receive when I am hired. $600 is the balance due at 38 weeks.
Birth Doula Experience: 12 years and 385 births attended
Doula certification(s) lapsed
Specific certifications for the above: Currently in process of re-certification with DONA
Type of Practice: Solo practiceClients per Month: 1 to 2
Attends hospital births? All HospitalsDoulas provide emotional, physical and informational support to birthing women. Doula's work to support birthing women and in doing so we also support her partner and her other children. Support can look different to different families. I provide information via my lending library, favorite web sites, my extensive experience and referrals in the San Diego community. I provide support during labor in a thousand different ways. This can include making sure the birthing woman and her partner is fed, that her partner takes breaks and is rested and in good shape to meet baby and care for both baby and mom after the baby is born and the doula goes home. Doula's sometimes give support to the grandparents, making sure they know that all is well, keeping them informed on labor progress (if mom wishes). Doula, comes from the Hebrew word meaning "woman's servant". For most women, pregnancy and birth are normal healthy times in a woman's life. If a woman is not high risk, her health care provider will recommend she labor at home as long as possible. I join mom while she labors at home. I help mom relax and breath through contractions. We go on walks around the neighborhood or chat on the patio. Sometimes mom gets into a warm tub or shower. Labor happens best at home, in an intimate setting. Home is where her things are, the things she loves; the baby's nursery, her bed, her bathroom, her food, her garden. These familiar things are comforting and help labor to progress in the most straight forward way. Whenever mom is ready, we leave for the hospital. We continue doing the same things we were doing at home, just at the hospital; more words of encouragement, suggestions for position changes, massage, etc.
Attends birth center births? All Birth Centers
Birth Centers are nice. They have a home like feel. They usually have midwifes that monitor baby by hand held Doppler. Hospitals have EFM (external fetal monitor) strapped onto mom. The Doppler can make a huge difference in the level of comfort a woman experiences. Hand held Doppler allow baby to be monitored in whatever position mom is laboring in. She can be monitored in the water even! Most birth centers have pools or tubs for laboring or birthing and that is another wonderful option and something you should consider if you haven't already. Doulas do all the same things at hospital and birth centers; massage, encouragement, breathing, feeding, offering water, encouraging dad and other family members. We guard the birth space. By this I mean that I am very cognizant of the sounds (that includes the movement of people and their words. Does mom want her music lower, louder, off?), the lights (is it too bright?), the energy (are all the people in the birth room welcome? who mom wants? who are loving and helpful?). I often use aromatherapy at birth because, yes, even the smells in a birth space can make a difference. : ) By the time mom is in labor we have discussed her birth wishes, also known as the birth plan, at prenatal meetings. I know what she wants, who she wants and where she wants to birth. We trust each other. Her partner trusts me. We form a circle of intimacy and as Mom changes her mind about any of her options, her birth wishes, we listen and honor her.
Attends home births? Any Home Birth
Home births are a festive, less medical event. The midwife is trained in medical procedures, and the mom has had excellent prenatal care, the midwife and her assistant are present, monitoring mom and baby, just like at a Birth Center. And like Birth Centers, Home birth acknowledges the celebration of life in a family centered, individualized way. I know all my doula clients very well by the time labor begins. But when I am going to a home birth I also know that my client is well known by her midwife and my client knows and trusts her midwife. I know that my client has been loved by her midwife and spent much more time with her prenatally than a hospital birth care provider. My knowing all of that is reassuring, brings a peace of mind. I can relax more and enjoy the miracle enfolding before me. I do guard the birth space at home births too. I do the same physical, emotional and informational support as hospital and birth center births. The same massage, counter pressure, feeding, walking, and whispering of affirmations is done with homebirth clients as I do with hospital clients. The difference at homebirths is that we don't have to worry about getting into a car and racing down a freeway, getting into another space (building) and into another persons space (nurses) and then trying to get back into our space (the moms birth space). All the birthing hormones are not interrupted by the moving in and out of different energies. The home birth space is well prepared for this little person. The sounds of her home are familiar to baby, the transition from womb to world is usually a very smooth one. Some homebirths are very quiet and some are very much the party theme. Some folks say, "How you live is how you will give birth". I pray you will give home birth consideration.
Childbirth Education Certifications
- Completed UCSD Labor Support Specialist & Childbirth Educator Program. Taught Childbirth Education for three years at crisis pregnancy center. Currently teach privately.
Other Relevant Certifications
- Neonatal Resuscitation Certified (American Academy of Pediatrics)
Specialized training or previous experience
- Teens
- Over 40
- Families conceiving with ART and IVF
- VBAC
- Home Birth
- Multiples
- Clients on bed rest
- Spanish Speaking
- Twins
- Postpartum mood disorders
- High risk
- Expected stillbirth
- Single parents
- Cesarean birth
- Waterbirth
- Survivors of childhood sexual abuse
Special Services Offered
- Mother blessing celebrations
- Belly casting
- Elimination communication education
- Sibling support (for your older children at the birth)
Languages spoken: English
Client Testimonials for Rosie Peterson
Jo
I love Rosie's calm energy and simple commitment to my birth dream. For my last baby, I wanted the birth to be everything I dreamt of and more. I wanted to create a memory and an experience to never forget. I had my baby at home and could never have done it without Rosie. She was the gentle but yet strong force we needed so much. I so wanted to give up at the end with sheer exhaustion and needed to "stomp" to get my baby from 9 cm- ready to go. Rosie helped me find the super human energy I needed but had lost. She inspired me. I appreciate the fact that Rosie never pushes her own agenda or birth ideas which must be so hard since she is such an expert. Lots of doulas do that and that is why Rosie is special. She is simply there, to help us in our journeys ..And we are eternally grateful for her. Rosie was always available to us and even helped with a lovely blessingway. I owe my beautiful birth experience to Rosie and still fee terrible for shouting at her during labor. She is incredibly knowledgeable and kind. She is patient and loving.
Posted 1/24/2012
Robin Baker
When I was in junior high I used to spend the night at Rosie's house...I was friends with her daughter. Who knew that over 15 years later she would be our Doula? Rosie was the guest Doula speaker at our Bradley Class and my husband and I realized that she was the mother of 3 of our friends! Wow! It was a match made in Heaven and the Lord provided us a wonderful Doula in Rosie. After using her services for our firstborn, we knew we'd never give birth again without her. So far we've had 3 hospital births all attended by Rosie. She is wonderful at reading the mother and switching up the action for whatever mood arises. All 3 of my labors were different and she read what I needed and provided for me emotionally, physically, and spiritually. She is not just our Doula, but our family friend. We love you Rosie!
Posted 2/3/2010
Megan Wilcox
Rosie was my doula at the birth of my 2nd and 3rd child. She is a phenomenal physical and emotional support to laboring moms (and their families too) ~ I really cannot imagine having a child without having her there! Her vast birth wisdom shines through and will lift you up when you need it most. During the most dfficult points of labor, she helped me to get on top of my contractions, to feel like i could do the impossible, to know that she was right there with me supporting and guiding me through. Her calmness, her trust in birth and birthing women, her love of birth will all leave you feeling blessed and thankful to have had her at one of the most important days of your life.
Posted 2/3/2010
Zsuzsi Khoury
When I was pregnant with my 4th child, I found a website on the internet where I could look at introductions of doulas in the SD area. The minute I saw Rosie's picture I knew that I wanted to meet her. I sent her an email and we set up a time to meet. We it it off, signed the contract, gave Rosie a deposit. We continued meetiny, talked on the phone and emailed. A few months into my pregnancy my husband got a major paycut at work. We looked at our budget and realized we will not be able to afford a doula anymore :(. I sent Rosie an email explaining our situation. She's replied saying that she understands and that she doesn't care about money, she does what she does for the love of life, birth, babies. I was shocked, couldn't believe that she would do this for us, free. Rosie suggested that we keep meeting as planned, she came over to our house, she even held a "class" to our kids! The morning I went into labor my husband called her and she rushed to be by our side. She massaged my lower back and helped me breathe through my contractions. It was a Saturday and I know she had plans with her family, but she did not even make a phone call, she gave her full attention to us. We laughed a lot, listened to U2 and made fun of my husband who fell asleep in a rocking chair :). Rosie helped me make decisions, she gently instructed the nurses what to do, but was not pushy or bothersome. My son was born healthy and adorable :). Rosie stayed with us while I nursed my baby, helped me to the bathroom, I had to finally send her on her way, so she wouldn't have to cancel her plans for the afternoon. She would have stayed all night if I needed her to. I will forever be greatful to her and will think of her as an amazing person, someone who loves God, loves people and the miracle of life!
Posted 1/31/2010
Kristin Bischoff
When I became pregnant we knew we wanted to attend a Natural Birth Class and chose the Bradley class series. During the course of the classes, we decided to hire a Doula and found the perfect match after a couple of interviews. Her name was Kayti. When labor started at night, I took my time to call our doula because I still felt comfortable alone and with my husband. After 12 hours of labor, I was ready for the support of my doula and she did an amazing job. On that day her cold got really bad and we decided it was best for all of us if she went home to rest and we would labor alone for a while, this was at hour 24 of my labor. At hour at hour 43 of my labor, my husband, best friend and of course I were so exhausted that I was literally begging to receive a back up doula ASAP. Rosie arrived within an hour. We had never met her and were too tired to even worry about that. As soon as she entered the house, the energy shifted. She talked to my husband in a soothing and warm hearted voice giving him new strength and taking off a big chink of the pressure he was feeling. When she entered the bedroom where I was laboring at that time, she helped me relax and said calmly that I needed to sleep between contractions to gain some strength again. Mind you, my contractions were only about 2 minutes apart, sometimes less, sleeping in between contractions? Sitting on a birthing ball, I leaned into my husband during the contraction and back into Rosie's chest afterwards and she didi her magic and made me fall asleep. After only half an hour I was ready to go to the hospital. She made the car ride a "walk to the beach" working with visualization. She helped me breathe right through harder contractions and the urge to push when I was not ready for it yet and just 3 hours after we arrived at the hospital, I was ready to push. She helped me let go and and surrender. She was so comforting and loving, like a mother. I would recommend Rosie to anyone!!
Posted 1/31/2010
Jerusha Foltz
I first met Rosie through the Hearts & Hands program for UCSD Birth Center. I was seeing a midwife through the birth center and they mentioned I could request a free doula. I wasn't really sure if needed one, but it seemed like a nice idea and why not get as much help and support as we could? Even though Rosie was doing this on a volunteer basis, she came to our home ahead of time and got to know us, and she even met us at our home when I first went into labor. On the drive to UCSD she called ahead for us and got their one birth tub reserved and filling up for us. She was awesome throughout the birth, supporting me through standing and swaying labor, giving my husband's back a break. She also caught some really great snapshots for us, which I was thrilled to have afterwards. My husband and I both knew that the next birth, we would be calling Rosie directly and hiring her for our doula.
So some 3 1/2 years later when I was pregnant with my son and planning a home birth, we looked up Rosie and signed her up! It was so nice to have someone we already knew and had had doula for us before. She was again supportive and helpful. Being at home, it was nice to have someone there before the midwife needed to be called, and Rosie helped us determine when to make the call. We had a beautiful home water birth.
I've never regretted having a doula and am so glad I got introduced to the idea through Hearts & Hands. I would heartily recommend Rosie! She's got a warm and tender approach. We'd hire her again in a heartbeat.
Posted 1/31/2010
Kendra McCall
Initially, I wasn't sure I wanted a doula but as my pregnancy progressed, and I became more educated about the birth process, I decided to get one. I picked Rosie, and boy am I glad I did! From our first sit-down together both my husband and I felt completely comfortable with her. Rosie gives off this warm, maternal energy that puts you right at ease. She made herself completely accessible to us and was ready to go (and enthusiastic!) when I called her over to our home in the wee hours during my early labor. My husband and I took Bradley classes but, being first time parents having a hospital birth, were still a bit overwhelmed with the process. Rosie was there for both of us. She always had a new idea to keep me comfortable and breathing just when I needed it, freeing my husband up to just be there for me. I labored for over 24 hours and she stuck through it all with us. When my husband and I had decisions to make she gave her input and helped us have the confidence to make those decisions. My own mother couldn't be there for the birth but it was great to have a knowledgable female advocate there for me, and my husband, and our beautiful baby boy. We can't imagine having gone through the experience without Rosie...and she takes AWESOME pictures too! :)
Posted 12/28/2009
Robert Phoenix
My wife and I were first time parents, with no family in the San Diego area and decided that we could really use a Doula to help us with some late, pre-natal and hands on care, during our delivery. By the grace of God, we found Rosie.
We had done everything in our power to ensure that we were going to have the type of birth that we had dreamed of. From hypnobirthing, to one of the few water birth facilities in North America, we were all set to have a wonderful, alternative birth experience. Something happened on the way towards achieving our ideal. My wife couldn't dilate any further after twenty hours of contractions. We eventually had to scrap our plans to have water birth and go directly to a hospital. Rosie was with us, every step of the way, helping us transition from our litttle water bubble world to a regular hospital, comforting us with our dissapointment. While the doctors debated as to whether my wife would get a C-section, Rosie, myself and the lead nurse breathed and pushed along with my wife over and over again, as my wife finally dilated enough for doctor to bring our child into the world without the C-section. Rosie was a great source of strength and provided us with ample experience as we welcomed our little boy.
She was invaluable.
Posted 12/28/2009
Birth Availability
= Available. Calendar last updated: Updated 5/17/2013
