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About Me
Jennifer McCormick CD(dona)
Just a little about me, (or a lot)
I am a homemaker and a homeschooler. I married my best friend Michael in 1997. We have 5 amazing children who all had very different births. I have run the gambit of labor and deliveries which has lead me to this journey of helping empower women in their birth experience. In 2014 I started my own business Birth By Design Doula Services.
Why I Became a Doula
I'm Jennifer McCormick, when you read about my births you will understand how I came to my decision to become a doula.
I know I have shared a lot and still there is so much more to each story. After following the "traditional birth checklist" twice at the hospital, and not getting the births that I wanted, I chose to change my environment and my way of thinking. In May of 2014, I began training and became a certified doula, who also offers breastfeeding support. I am happy to provide doula service at the Rapid City, and Spearfish hospitals, Appletree Birth Center and homebirths in between. As a doula I have helped support women in amazing home and hospital births. I am thrilled that we have 3 homebirth midwives in our area to support moms in their homebirth options as well.
A Heart for Birth
Talk to me for 5 minutes and you will know I am passionate about birth, breastfeeding, and supporting families. A Doula makes an invaluable addition to your support team. Whether you are using a Doctor at the hospital or a home birth midwife, I welcome the opportunity to visit with you about the benefits of doula support. I will help your support person know how to help you, I will help you transition into becoming a mom, or support you through the journey of adoption. As an expectant mother you want to have every resource in your hands to have the birth that is the best for you and your baby.
My Personal Birth Experiences
#1
#1
#1
A) is our first born and first baby girl.
When I went into labor with our first child I did everything I was told. I thought that the staff must know what was best for me, my baby, and my body. This led to an IV antibiotic for Group B Strep, 2 shots of Pitocin to speed things up, 2 shots of Nubian to calm things down. I laid in bed and had nothing but ice chips for about 8 hours. I delivered with my feet in stirrups. with a hospital midwife. In the end we had a beautiful baby girl who was born with meconium and was whisked to the nursery and I didn't get to hold her for 2 hours. Breastfeeding was a struggle.
#2
#1
#1
(EZ) is our second born and first boy.
Two years later we had EZ, same hospital, same midwife, different birth. I was induced a week early with 5 bags of Pitocin and 1 shot of Nubian. I was again given IV antibiotic for the Group B Strep that I did not have, and yes delivered in stirrups. (I didn't know there was any other way to deliver, nor was I given any other option). I delivered a healthy baby boy, and went home to find that I had Thrush from the antibiotic that I did not need, and again struggled with breastfeeding.
#3
#1
#3
(AP) is our third born, and second baby girl
This time 4 years later, I did a lot more research and knew that laying around, delivering in stirrups, and not eating or drinking would slow things down. We traveled, while in labor, an hour and a half to another state to deliver with a home birth midwife in a motel room. ( I did not added that for shock factor but so that you see my absolute desire to have the birth I wanted). I walked, sat on the birth ball, took baths and delivered a healthy baby girl naturally with no medications. Breastfeeding was getting better but still a struggle.
#4
#4
#3
(R) is our fourth born and second boy.
Three years later I was expecting again. After a 6 week search I found a midwife names Carrie that would come to Nebraska to deliver my baby. With this labor I sat on a birth ball, ate, walked around, rested, and delivered (R) in a squatting position. My water broke as he was delivered. I was unmedicated and felt amazing. (R) was my best labor and delivery. He nursed well, and yet there were times that I still struggled.
#5
#4
#5
(V) is our fifth born and third boy.
Well we were done, that is until 4 years later when I got pregnant again. We had moved to South Dakota and Carrie now lived in Idaho. I delivered at the Black Hills Birth Center. The day I went into labor we drove 45 minutes to the birth center, and I finally got my natural water birth. The experience was amazing and (V's) birth was a close second to (R's). It was during my visits that my midwife encouraged me to becoming a doula. Breastfeeding was much better this time around, but I still feel that more support would have helped me earlier on.