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Jenn Riggs Doula Profile

Nurture and Bloom Birth Doula

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Website: www.nurtureandbloomdoula.weebly.com
Phone: (515) 681-2083
Type of Practice: Solo practice
Clients per Month: 1 to 2
Birth Doula
Experience: 1 years and 9 births attended
Area of practice: Des Moines, IA
Travel range: 100 miles
Travel comments/restrictions: Please contact me for further information regarding travel.
Languages spoken: English

Working towards certification
Specific certifications for the above: I am working toward my certification through DONA. I anticipate being fully certified in early 2012.

College Education

BA/BS

Specialized training or previous experience:

Teens
Home Birth
Clients on bed rest
LGBTQ Families
Adoption
Postpartum mood disorders
Single parents
Cesarean birth
Survivors of childhood sexual abuse

Special services available:

Cloth diapering education
Parenting consulting
Babywearing education
Baby-led weaning
Reduced rates for military members/spouses
Reduced rates for women considering adoption

Relevant volunteer or advocacy work: Central Iowa Doula Association (CIDA)--member, One Iowa--volunteer, Young Women's Resource Center (YWRC)-- Parenting Services Specialist, La Leche League of Des Moines -- member

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

Birth doula fee: $0 to $400
Fee details: I offer a sliding fee scale and I'm also willing to barter. Contact me for more information.

Client Testimonials for Jenn Riggs

Andrea Oleson

I don't even know where to start, so I guess I will begin by saying that Jenn was simply wonderful! She was a fountain of knowledge and information throughout our pregnancy and I don't know what we would've have done without her. Our birth did not end up being the unmedicated, natural birth that we had planned for, but Jenn was supportive during the entire journey. During labor, not only was she incredibly supportive with the choices I made, but she took amazing care of me. Foot rubs, head rubs, helping me to the restroom, and just being my cheerleader to help me get through. I can't thank Jenn enough, she is the most amazing doula!

Posted 3/8/2012

Andrea Mart

Jenn was a fantastic doula! I had a premature child in my previous pregnancy, and she helped a lot with calming my fears about having a second premature child. I also had a long labor (nearly 24 hours) and Jenn was right there with me for support the whole time I needed her. My home birth experience was a lot less stressful with her guidance, she provided assistance with dealing with contractions and pain including heat packs, massages, and encouragement, even when I felt like I was ready to give in and go to the hospital. When it finally came time to deliver my daughter Jenn kept reminding me that even though I was tired I was about ready to hold my baby for the first time like we had talked about during our prenatal visits. At this point I was exhausted so her encouraging words really helped me realize how close I was to meeting my baby for the first time. After my daughter was born, Jenn helped out with breastfeeding tips as well, and forwarded me info to other professionals that could help even more with the issues I'd been having. All in all, I would never birth again without a doula, and if she were available I'd hire Jenn again every time, and I suggest her to anyone looking for a great birthing experience!

Posted 12/20/2011

Andrea, Dustin, and Lauren Shandri’s

The birth of our daughter, Lauren, was an amazing experience. In part, this was due to our wonderful doula, Jenn. She provided hours of preparation weeks and days before the birth and provided a loving, supportive presence during the birth and delivery. Jenn met with us at least three times before our birth and provided us with answers to our numerous questions, insight into typical hospital procedures, and stories from the birth of her babe Neena. We felt very prepared as we stepped into the hospital room on October 22, 2010. However, because of a few non-emergency complications, our birth did not go as planned. Jenn was there to offer kind words and wonderful back rubs! Lauren was born after two and a half hours of labor and I’m happy Jenn was there to share the experience with us. I’m especially grateful for her willingness to take those precious photographs that followed delivery!

Posted 7/28/2011

Molly Riordan

I made the choice of natural childbirth on my own with Jenn’s support. This may seem like a scary decision for some but I felt very comfortable with this choice after our talk. Jenn then lent me literature on the subject, “Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth”, which was excellent for learning about the decision I made and becoming more knowledgeable about natural childbirth. That was the plan until I went to my 30 week OB/GYN appointment and was sent straight to the hospital with severe preeclampsia. At first they needed to run a 24 hour test so I wasn’t sure exactly what was going on or how serious it was. I called Jenn up in the middle of the day and she answered right away and told me she knew of a diet that would help if the preeclampsia wasn’t as serious as it can be. Jenn was very reassuring and supportive which made me feel more comfortable. The next day we found out it was severe preeclampsia and the doctor told me I would need to deliver right away that day. As you know this would scare just about anyone, all I wanted was for my baby to be ok. So I called Jenn and let her know what was going on. Jenn was at the hospital in about 10 minutes. She started doing relaxation techniques and reassuring me that everything was going to be ok. Jenn was just so positive and made me feel comfortable and relaxed. Jenn was by my side during the emergency C-section and told me when they delivered my son. Jenn accompanied me to see my son for the first time in the NICU. After delivery Jenn visited me multiple times in the hospital to make sure I was ok and everything was going well. Jenn used her passionate and positive spirit to guide me through a difficult situation that turned into the beautiful birth of my son Jamez. Jenn Riggs is an amazing person and Doula!

Posted 7/28/2011

Sara, Ben and Owen Nichols

When I was preparing for the birth of my child, I knew that I really wanted to have an intervention free birth. I also knew that the best way to achieve that was to have a doula. So we hired an excellent doula here in Des Moines. Unfortunately, she had a medical emergency and could not be there for our birth. She made arrangements for a backup doula, Jenn Riggs, to be there instead. Our labor was much quicker than expected and by the time Jenn arrived, my contractions were already three minutes apart and this was the first time I was meeting our doula; in the pangs of labor. Jenn made us feel comfortable right from the start. She jumped right in and it felt like we had been working with her for months. It was not awkward at all. It was very comforting to have my husband holding my hand on one side of the bed and Jenn on the other. There were many moments during the labor when I just felt I couldn’t do it. I know I said out loud that I need an epidural. Jenn reassuring me by telling me that I could do it was all I needed to keep going without it. Her words were so helpful for my husband as well. He would repeat what she was saying which really helped him know what to do to be supportive. Jenn was such a calming and positive influence for both my husband and I. It was wonderful to have her there for the birth of our beautiful baby boy, Owen.

Posted 7/27/2011

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