HI THERE,
I'm Simone
Raised in rural Berkeley County in South Carolina, R. Simone received her Bachelors of Science degree in Psychology from the College of Charleston. After over 15 years in business administration, Simone pursued her interest in birth services. As owner and DONA trained birth doula for Birthing with Purpose, LLC., Simone is also a Certified Lactation Counselor, Placenta Encapsulation Specialist, Choose Well Certified Family Planning Health Worker, Community Champion for Berkeley Early Education and Care Collective and Nurturing Parenting Facilitator with Berkeley County First Steps. Most recently, Simone became a Certified Reiki Master / Teacher.
I'm so happy you're here
Simone believes the experiences we have during our lifetime, especially during childhood, have the possibility of shaping our perspectives in all areas of life. When trauma is introduced, the effects of that trauma remain in the psyche of the individual until it has been thoroughly processed. The same is true with childbirth; even breastfeeding can be seen as reminiscent of a traumatic experience. At Birthing with Purpose, it is important that both Culturally Responsive and Trauma Informed Care are provided for that very reason. By having an advocate who is capable of assisting in the processing of those traumas, the likelihood of a positive birth experience is drastically increased.
Culturally Responsive Care
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Often times women of color enter birthing spaces where there is no one else there who looks like them. Also, statistics show that women of color do not receive the same level of bedside care as their white counterparts. This all plays into the unfortunate disparity of black women being almost 4x as likely to die as a result of childbirth-related illness. Having a birth worker of color assists in decreasing these disparities by ensuring that all birthing people are aware of their options and have their concerns listened to.
Trauma-Informed Care
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Trauma-informed care acknowledges the need to understand a patient’s life experiences in order to deliver effective care and has the potential to improve patient engagement, treatment adherence, health outcomes, and provider and staff wellness. Trauma-informed approaches to care to shift the focus from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?” by:
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Realizing the widespread impact of trauma and understanding potential paths for recovery.
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Recognizing the signs and symptoms of trauma in individual clients, families, and staff;
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Integrating knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, and practices; and
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Seeking to actively resist re-traumatization (i.e., avoid creating an environment that inadvertently reminds patients of their traumatic experiences and causes them to experience emotional and biological stress)
SIMONE'S PHILOSOPHY
MY TOP FIVE
Doula Points
01
TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR PREGNANCY AND BIRTH
02
REDUCE OR ELIMINATE PRE-EXISTING HEALTH CONDITIONS
03
TAKE A CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION COURSE
04
HIRE A PROVIDER WHO WILL LISTEN AND HAVE YOUR BEST INTEREST AT HEART
05
HIRE A DOULA!
This is your baby and your body. You should have control over where and HOW you give birth. Know that from the time of conception, you have the right to make decisions regarding your birthing location as well as the factors that go into bringing your baby earth-side. Research the Black Birthing Bill of Rights!
Another way to reduce your negative outcomes is by knowing your options. By completing a childbirth education course, you become extensively aware of your options. You also become aware of the risks of different options and procedures. When you are aware of the options as well as the possible risks involved with each, you have the ability to make educated decisions regarding your labor and delivery.
Having pre-existing health conditions contributes to the negative birth outcomes that exist here in the United States. The leading cause of death for women during their perinatal stages, especially black women, are high blood pressure and heart conditions. By reducing your pre-existing health conditions, you also reduce your chances of having your birth plagued by medical interventions and negative outcomes.
It is very important to know how your medical provider feels about the birthing experience. Do they see it as a medical condition which needs to be “managed” or do they see it as a natural event that rarely requires medical intervention? Knowing a provider’s cesarean rates and seeing how they react to you having an opinion regarding your birth preferences can be a good way to decide if your provider will be supportive of the birth you envision.
Doulas provide physical, education and emotional support to families as they prepare for their birthing experiences. They also remain by your side while in your birthing facility whether it be a hospital, birth center or your home. Doulas can inform you of your options as well as the risks and they allow YOU the opportunity to make informed decisions regarding your birthing experience. By having a doula by your side, your statistically reduce your risks of unnecessary medical interventions, decreases instances of cesarean sections, decrease the use of medical analgesia, improve breastfeeding rates and increase your chances of reviewing your birth in a positive manner. “If a doula were a drug, it would be unethical not to use it.” -Dr. Kennel