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200 mile radius of Lincoln Nebraska
 
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Home      Kristen Treat
 
Kristen Treat
 
 
Status - Active
Level - Experienced
(10 births or more)
 
 

"It is nothing short of amazing what a difference in birth experiences I see from couples who are thoroughly informed and supported than those who figured they would just ‘wing it’."

 
 
The following information was provided by Kristen to help her couples learn more about what types of support she can provide.  Please be sure to email or call with any additional questions you may have.

General Information

Name:

 

Kristen Treat

Primary & Secondary Languages: 

English

Email address:

omahababylady@gmail.com 

Website: 

www.babysbestbeginning.com 

Where are you located? 

  Omaha 

How many miles are you willing to travel for a birth? 

60 miles, however I would go further for the right couple.

Phone number for initial contact? 

(402) 657-0599

Best hours to reach you for the client's initial contact:

Doesn’t matter 

How many years have you been providing labor support services? 

1 year 

How many births have you attended as of June 2010? 

I just went to my 10th birth!

Will you attend home labors/births as well as hospital labors/births?  Please explain your comfort level...

Will attend a birth wherever a mother needs support 

What is the max number of births you feel comfortable handling each month?

2-3

Training & Credentials 

What are your current credentials & individual experiences with doula care & labor support?

My credentials include a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Bachelor of Science in Education, and Master of Science in Counseling. I am an  American Academy of Husband Coached Childbirth Trained Bradley Method® Childbirth Educator/Doula. In addition, I am a La Leche Leader, which has trained me to work as a lactation specialist. This summer I will be adding an additional doula certification from ToLabor (formerly ALACE).

I recently attended my tenth birth! I cannot believe how much I have learned since I began down this journey not much more than a year ago. Every couple I work with teaches me something new about love, parenting and bringing your child into this world and I feel so very blessed to be a part of these amazing experiences.

Of the ten births I have attended births I have worked with couples whose births have been spontaneous, induced, cesarean, medicated, natural, twins, and VBAC. I have worked with couples of the same sex and one where the husband was in the military and was deployed. I feel so blessed to have already been a part of such diverse birth experiences and cannot wait for my next mom to go into labor.

When not doing Baby's Best Beginning work, or playing with my children I also work as a certified school counselor at an Omaha area elementary school and a graduate professor for a local university.

 

Do you have any current plans for additional training? 

Will add an additional Doula certification in Summer 2010 with TOLABOR

Do you provide breastfeeding support & what is your basic theory of breastfeeding? 

Yes, I am a la leache league leader and trained lactation support specialist. My basic theory of breastfeeding that given proper support and education most woman can have a successful breastfeeding relationship for as long as is mutually comfortable for mom and baby. 

Do you typically provide postpartum support to your clients? 

Yes 

If yes to the previous question; for how long & what do you feel are your strong points in this area? 

I provide a minimum of one postpartum visit complete with a meal and time to remember your birth through laughter and tears as well as answer any questions related to the birth. I can provide more as necessary. I also offer continued phone/text/email support through your child’s first year of life. I provide assistance with babywearing, swaddling, cloth diapers or any other parenting techniques I have experience in. Lastly I written account of your birth story from my viewpoint remembering any details that may have been forgotten by you and your coach.

My strengths include my credentials in lactation support, experience in babywearing and high needs baby support.

 

Fees & Payment Plans 

What is your typical fee schedule for attending births? 

I offer two pricing options either a flat rate ($400) or a per hour fee ($35-$50). I do offer a substantial discount to clients who take my childbirth classes. Please contact me to determine which pricing plan best suits your needs.

Do you require a down payment? 

Yes 

Are you willing to be on a call list for "free" services when low income families contact our website?

Not at this time 

How much do you charge for postpartum doula care? 

 

$30/hour for daytime and

$50/hr from 8pm-8 am

Do you send a detailed bill to your couples & when is their payment due?

If desired 

Do you charge additional mileage when you have to travel outside of your hometown?

Not at this time 

Do you charge "cost" for labor supplies used during a birth? 

 

Any supplies needed are included in the cost of my services. You will never have any additional fees. 

Will you provide a sliding fee for lower income couples?  

Yes 

Are you open to trading or bartering for services  

Yes 

Miscellaneous Information 

How many times do you typically meet with couples prior to attending their birth?

As many times as is necessary. Most of my couples also attend my childbirth classes allowing us to meet 12 times as a group in addition to our one on one sessions. I will meet with a couple as many times we feel is necessary to build that comfortable level of trust.

Do you provide a "whole house labor rehearsal" for your couples? 

This is a huge component of my Bradley Method® classes so many of my couples will receive this benefit during class time. For my non-Bradley couple I do prefer to have a through labor rehearsal with them on more than one occasion. 

Do you guarantee backup services in case you are unable to attend due to illness or sudden conflicts?

 

If not, would you encourage your couple to find a 2nd choice doula for backup?

I ask the couple what they prefer. Many of my couples have sought out my services specifically and would not be comfortable with someone else. Others would rather have someone they were less familiar with over going it alone. This is a conversation that we discuss together and I let my couples decide.

If it felt "right" to you & your client, would you ever consider working as a team with another beginning doula to help her gain experience?

In the right situation of course.

Is it ok for other doulas to contact you to help secure their own reliable backup?

Of course

How do you honestly feel about attending a birth for a couple you have never met either as a last minute doula or backup doula?   

My personality is such that I am quickly able to feel at ease in most situations. While of course it is preferable to have a more steady ongoing relationship with a couple, if a couple is in need and I am able to help I will. 

How do you describe yourself religiously? 

Christian

How does your religion effect how you work with clients?

It doesn’t, I can comfortable work with people of any religious, spiritual or other backgrounds. My beliefs are not a part of their birth. 

Do you provide a doula contract for detailed expectations of your care to be signed by all parties?

Yes

Have you ever worked with same sex couples? 

Yes 

 

 
 
 
Final Words From Kristen
I have found working in the field of childbirth to be the most exciting, interesting and fulfilling work I have ever had the pleasure of doing. I am so glad that you are looking into the possibility of utilizing a doula with your birth. I always say I am such an advocate of informed childbirth education and labor/postpartum support not because this is my career. Instead this is my career because I believe in my heart of the good that both of these areas will serve for pregnant woman and the people who love them! It is nothing short of amazing what a difference in birth experiences I see from couples who are thoroughly informed and supported than those who figured they would just ‘wing it’.

In order to understand my passion I think it is helpful to understand my journey. You can read the whole story on my webpage, but the short version is after a struggle with infertility in 2007 I was blessed with the gift of motherhood via a scheduled cesarean section of my twin boys. A little over a year later I learned we were again expecting a child. I planned a repeat cesarean and didn’t think much more about it until I was about 4 months pregnant. I have three friends all have repeat cesareans for no reason other than a cesarean the first time around. Something about this struck a chord with me. Why was it that no one in my circle of friends actually birthed a baby?  I did some research and was quickly convinced that a Vaginal Birth after Cesarean was the right choice for our family. We planned a natural birth as we learned that gave us our best chance of success. We thoroughly prepared. Took Bradley Method® classes, changed healthcare providers and hired a doula. When my due date came and left I declined the option of induction. At one day shy of 42 week our baby girl was born. What an amazing and empowering experience this was. Soon after I began my childbirth educator training and my doula work quickly followed.  It is amazing to me that in a little over a year how much of my life has changed. I am so blessed to get to do what I do and I thank the parents of every birth I attend for allowing me the privilege of being a part of it!

I am so fortunate to have such a great combination of training and skills that I am able to provide a level of support that other doula in the area can’t match. Prior to labor you can rest assured that any question you have about your pregnancy and birth will be answered with the most up to date research, as a childbirth educator I have access to databases other doulas do not. In addition to this, because I teach my classes weekly, my knowledge of childbirth is constantly being refined and enhanced. I am also trained and certified as a counselor. Birth is a time of many emotions, especially in a situation of an unexpected circumstance. My master’s degree in counseling and certification give me a special ability to navigate these emotions with are and ease. Following the birth many women wish to breastfeed. My training as a la leche league leader gives me in-depth information on latch, positioning, tips and techniques to help you get started on your breastfeeding journey.  My contact with you doesn’t end after your child is born. I continue to offer guidance and emotional support throughout the entire first year of your baby’s life. It is reassuring to know that you have an educated, informed and supportive guide as you adjust to your new family.

 
Client Testimonials for ???

 “My wife and I were first time parents. We attended the hospital birth classes but did little else to prepare for the birth of our daughter. We knew for Tiffany to have an epidural but decided to ask Kristen to support us anyway. As first time parents we were a little overwhelmed and intimidated by the labor process. What a blessing she was there! When the epidural was administered it didn’t work! Tiffany and I were so ill-prepared for this possibility, but Kristen was calm and showed me exactly how to support my wife while giving her additional strength and perseverance as well. There is no way we would have made it emotionally without Kristen’s calm and caring support.” ~Aaron F.

 

 

Lincoln Doulas is owned and operated by independent doulas in the Lincoln area and not affiliated with any specific organization, facility, or medical practice.
>>Lincoln Doulas is in no way responsible for verifying the certification or experience of individual doulas listed on this site.  We do not take responsibility for the actions of a Lincoln Doula at a birth.  We reserve the right to remove doula listings at any time.  If you have an serious concerns about someone that is listed on our site, please contact
  

 
 
 
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