Website: www.luminarybirth.com Phone: (925) 360-0817 Type of Practice: Solo practice Clients per Month: 2 to 3 births and 1 to 2 postpartum families Birth and Postpartum Doula Birth Doula Experience: 1 years and 8 births attended Postpartum Doula Experience: 1 years and 4 families served Area of practice: El Sobrante, CA Travel range: 25 miles Travel comments/restrictions: Languages spoken: English
Birth Doula Certifications
CAPPA (Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association)
Childbirth Educator Certifications
CAPPA (Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association)
Other Credentials
CAPPA Childbirth Educator Trainer
College Education
BA/BS
Specialized training or previous experience:
Over 40
Families conceiving with ART and IVF
VBAC
Home Birth
Multiples
LGBTQ Families
Twins
Postpartum mood disorders
Single parents
Waterbirth
Survivors of childhood sexual abuse
Surrogacy
Special services available:
Cloth diapering education
Babywearing education
Baby-led weaning
Sibling support (for your older children at the birth)
Miscarriage Support (Before, During or After)
Relevant volunteer or advocacy work: BirthWays Teacher Liaison
Attends hospital births? Some Hospitals Attends birth center births? All Birth Centers Attends home births? Any Home Birth
Birth doula fee: $700 to $1000 Postpartum doula hourly rate: $20 to $25 Fee details: I want to support all families, so some fees may be based on ability to pay. I try to work with you to help make my services affordable.
Client Testimonials for Tabitha Ames CCCE, CLD, CAPPA Faculty
Megan Shinkle
My daughter had a wonderfully special birth, with the help of my doula (and new found friend) Tabitha. My birth was full of interventions because of a pre-exsisting medical condition. A total of 30 hours of pitocin, and I was able to manage the pain entirely medication free, thanks to Tabitha and my husband. Tabitha taught us different pain coping techniques before the birth, reminded my husband of how to use those techniques, and supported both of us by taking over the physical aspects of the pain coping, so my husband could support me emotionally. (She pressed against my back during labor, while my husband held me, stroked my hair, and talked to me.) Tabitha was such a calming presence for the entire time she was with us.
My doctor was wanting to take a more aggressive approach when I wasn't dilating "fast enough." I had been keeping Tabitha in the loop while I was hookd up to the pitocin, and when I did finally ask her to come in so we could talk about our options, her attitude and presence, helped me relax enough to actually start to have some change! I wanted my labor to be as natural as possible, and I got pretty much what I wanted.
I haven't used her postpartum services, but Tabitha is still an invaluable asset to me. Every time I look at my beautiful daughter, I remember all the hard work I did, and all the help Tabitha gave us. If it wasn't for Tabitha, my birth would have a very different story.
Posted 1/12/2012
Laura Howells
Tabitha worked with us as our post partum doula for 15 hours, spread out over 5 days. It was really great to have the extra help since this is our second child and we don't have much family in town. Her focus is definetly on mom and baby but she was willing to help with house stuff too all with my 3 year old following her around and asking to help with everything (I know that takes quite a lot of patience).
My husband and I actually got a few minutes to sit in bed and enjoy our new baby and think up her name while Tabitha was here. This was not easy to come by the second time around. It felt good having someone who really understands what a precious time it is in your lives that you can never get back and to really make time to enjoy those moments since they go by so fast.
Posted 11/25/2011
Samantha Merlin
My first delivery was a c-section. For my second baby I decided to try a VBAC with the help of a doula. Tabitha was amazing, she helped my husband and I to actually enjoy the labor. I mean she was really relaxed, she has a calm presence that really helped me to relax and gain strength between contractions. She was encouraging me the whole time, she helped me to get comfortable during those long hours, remind me to breath and listen to my body and trust my body. She took a really good care of me, before, during and after the labor. The pre-natal visits were so important for us, she gave us lots of tricks to cope with the pain and to relax. Tabitha knows what she is doing and will take care of you throughout your experience. BTW I had a successfull VBAC! Thank you Tabitha!
My daughter had a wonderfully special birth, with the help of my doula (and new found friend) Tabitha. My birth was full of interventions because of a pre-exsisting medical condition. A total of 30 hours of pitocin, and I was able to manage the pain entirely medication free, thanks to Tabitha and my husband. Tabitha taught us different pain coping techniques before the birth, reminded my husband of how to use those techniques, and supported both of us by taking over the physical aspects of the pain coping, so my husband could support me emotionally. (She pressed against my back during labor, while my husband held me, stroked my hair, and talked to me.) Tabitha was such a calming presence for the entire time she was with us.
My doctor was wanting to take a more aggressive approach when I wasn't dilating "fast enough." I had been keeping Tabitha in the loop while I was hookd up to the pitocin, and when I did finally ask her to come in so we could talk about our options, her attitude and presence, helped me relax enough to actually start to have some change! I wanted my labor to be as natural as possible, and I got pretty much what I wanted.
I haven't used her postpartum services, but Tabitha is still an invaluable asset to me. Every time I look at my beautiful daughter, I remember all the hard work I did, and all the help Tabitha gave us. If it wasn't for Tabitha, my birth would have a very different story.