About
Welcome to Enlightened Birthing, I am Jennifer Matsumoto and I am a Certified Birth Doula trained by DONA as well as a Certified Childbirth and Lactation Educator. As an educator I teach at many local hospitals as well as privately.I am a member of DONA international and International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA).
As a doula I have attended many different births and am comfortable with Hospital, Birth Center or homebirth settings. I am honored to be able to teach parents birthing essentials and attend their amazing births. My own births of my 3 children ages 9, 8 and 5 were the most incredible experiences of my life. My goal is to help new parents and babies have the best experience possible in birth. My wonderfully supportive husband assists me in being able to do this job by managing our kids when I need to rush off and he also doesn’t mind the phone ringing in the middle of the night.
What is a Doula?
The word “Doula” comes from the ancient Greek meaning “a woman who serves” and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period.
Studies have shown that when Doulas attend birth, labors are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they breastfeed more easily.
A Birth Doula
• Recognizes birth as a key experience the mother will remember all her life
• Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor
• Assists the woman in preparing for and carrying out her plans for birth
• Stays with the woman throughout the labor
• Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint
• Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and her clinical care providers
• Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the woman’s memory of the birth experience
• Allows the woman’s partner to participate at his/her comfort level
According to Mothering the Mother, How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter, Easier and Healthier Birth, by Kennell, Klaus, and Kennell (1993), having a doula can give you a:
• 50% reduction in cesarean rates
• 25% shorter labor
• 60% reduction in epidural requests
• 40% reduction in oxytocin (pitocin) use
• 30% reduction in analgesia use
• 40% reduction in forceps delivery
Call or email me for your free consultation and I will be happy to answer all your questions and help you with your birthing plan. 619-855-3327 / jenmats@hotmail.com