Malena Sweers

I offer emotional, physical, and informational support throughout the perinatal process. My commitment ensures that you are not alone during the vulnerable season of birth. I will show up for you as you are, I will notice what you need, remind you that you matter, affirm that your experience is valid, and I will be honored to share a piece of it with you. Ask me any questions about my relationship to birth work or what keeps me trucking along with curiosity and care in a complimentary interview!

All birthing and parenting experiences are informed by our cultural backgrounds. The foundation of effective birthwork is anti-racism, anti-oppression, LGBTQ and BIPOC affirming. Your birth will likely feel safer and more celebratory assisted by someone with a similar background. If that’s not me, I’m happy to help you locate a birth worker who matches this more appropriately.

Working on certification through DONA international, prioritizing trauma informed care. Trained by professionals with 30+ years of experience. Mentored by and working alongside Natasha Joyet https://www.natashajoyet.com/

External support

  • Utilizing external support relieves some of the weight we rely on friends and families to carry. The doula, or "third” person supporting the birth space allows partners to be more fully available for various (often unexpected) comfort measures the birthing person prefers. Additionally, there is no need to perform for a professional. Not attached to your parenting/family unit, I get to exercise unbiased support.

  • Preparing for birth with a professional support advocate increases your sense of preparedness and safety through the entire perinatal process. 

Evidence

  • In 2014 the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynocologists (ACOG) released a statement that the single most important thing someone can do to decrease their change of cesarean is to have "the continuous presence of support personnel, such as a doula”.

  • A 2017 systematic Cochrane review showed that having continuous labor support makes one more likely to have a vaginal birth, shorter labor, less likely to have a cesarean delivery, instrument-assisted delivery (vacuum, forceps), regional pain medication, low APGAR scores, or a negative birth experience.

Equity

  • Hiring doulas for their expertise actively supports a traditionally undervalued and underpaid workforce. Birth workers are mostly women, (historically mostly marginalized women) whose work remains much less valued than men’s. Service work is often vastly under recognized and under compensated for. When you invest in supporting yourself through hiring the assistance of a doula, you invest in equity!