Amy Farr

I gave birth to my daughter Maura in late 2005, an experience that led me to become a doula. When my son Ryan was born in April 2008, the process did not work out as well as I had planned, but this only served to reinforce my desire to help as many women have the birth they've always wanted.

My goal is to empower women in labor to have the birth experience they desire. Women need to believe in their bodies and the natural process of childbirth, and nothing makes me happier than to be a part of their blessed arrival.

I have completed a breastfeeding counselor course through the BSC Center for Lactation Education. This allows me to provide pre-natal breastfeeding education or assist with breastfeeding issues after your birth.

I look forward to speaking with you and answering any questions you may have. I would be honored to attend the birth of your child.

In 2008 my certification with Doulas of North America (DONA) became official.

Brenda Cirrincione

I am the wife of Brant and mother of three children. I became a certified Birth Doula through DONA after taking training five years ago. I served as my sister Amy's doula, and her birth experience inspired her to become one herself. We then teamed up as Blessed Arrivals.

I have also worked at Magee Women's Hospital as a doula for pregnant teens under a grant from the Heinz Endowment, and in a Centering Pregnancy group under a grant from the March of Dimes. Both of these programs provide free doula support.

In addition to working with Amy and Blessed Arrivals, I am also assisting the Birth Circle based in Pittsburgh, which provides doula service to the underserved women in the Pittsburgh area.

I have worked with a diverse group of women, ranging in age from 14 to 40. This rich blessing has allowed me to grow as a woman, mother and doula.

As part of my continuing education, I am working to complete my training as a Lamaze instructor, and I received advanced doula training in Canada in 2007.

My passion is serving women and their families on their journey through pregnancy, birth and beyond. I look forward to meeting you and would feel blessed to serve you through your journey.

Becca Smith

In 2003 I became pregnant for the first time. Unfortunately my first pregnancy was ectopic (a tubal pregnancy) followed by a second ectopic in 2004 that ended in surgery. I lost my 3rd and 4th pregnancies due to miscarriage and finally welcomed my daughter, Adeline, in June of 2010. Adeline’s birth was extremely traumatic and one of the few things that went right was the WONDERFUL care I received by Brenda, who was my doula.

These life experiences led me to start helping pregnant mommies in 2003. I began by becoming a moderator for an online support group for women that had experienced pregnancy loss due to ectopic pregnancies. I still moderate that group because I have a compassionate heart and I feel called to help those mothers cope with their loss.

Losing so many babies really cemented my beliefs about how precious life is and in 2005 I felt called to help protect the lives of the unborn. I spent three years volunteering as a pregnancy advocate for teens and women who were having crisis pregnancies. I was blessed to be asked to be present at some of those births. I absolutely loved holding a mother’s hand and supporting her while she welcomed her child into the world.

After my daughter’s birth, I was inspired to learn more about supporting women in labor and decided to receive the formal training to become a doula. I’m so happy to have learned more about comfort measures, to have read so many amazing books about birth, and especially to have the privilege of helping mothers and fathers have the best childbirth experience possible.

When I’m not doing doula work, I enjoy being a mom, camping with my family, singing karaoke, crocheting, couponing, cooking, spending time with my VERY LARGE extended family and creating very nerdy spreadsheets. I have my BS in Industrial Engineering and a Master Certificate in Project Management.

Jenica Burello

In early 2000 my husband and I were married. A few years later, our children came along in 2005 and 2007. We love spending time outdoors as a family working on our vegetable and flower gardens or going to a park. During the summer, we are always swimming at the pool. I am a stay at home mom and enjoy homeschooling our kids. I am certified as a CAPPA birth doula and a Lamaze trained childbirth educator. During my first pregnancy, I wanted to give birth naturally and took childbirth classes with my husband. Our teacher was also our doula. I believe the instruction we received from the classes greatly helped my husband do such a good job as my primary coach. Our doula was also such an asset to the birth. She knew just what to do to help me stay focused and comfortable during the entire labor. As a teacher, my goal is to help the mother know her body is doing what it is supposed to do during labor. I help her to learn to work with her body. Women are made to have babies and need the encouragement that they can do it. Education is the key to the birth you want!

Emily Murphy

My husband, Joe, and I were married in 2008 and our first daughter, Lilly Grace, was born ten months later with Amy by our side! Two years after that, Brenda helped us welcome our second daughter, Penelope Jude, into the world! My journey through pregnancy and into motherhood (which continues to this day) has ignited a passion in me to learn all I can about pregnancy, birth, breastfeeeding, and everything in between. While preparing my mind and body for the natural childbirth of my two daughters, I devoured dozens of books and countless more article on all subjects related to birth and all that goes into it. Such research led me to the benefits of placenta encapsulation and realizing that it truly was nothing more than taking a daily vitamin, I decided to have Penelope's placenta encapsulated. I began taking the placenta capsules just three days after her birth and my post partum recovery was simply amazing-which is much more than I can say about my recovery after Lilly's which was rather slow and draining. After Penelope's birth and while taking the placenta capsules, I had more energy than I had through my entire pregnancy and so much milk that not only was Penelope thriving, but I was about to donate to another baby in need. Post Partum bleeding was reduced, and thank goodness for that because it was a scorcher of a summer and I was able to jump in the pool a week after her birth! Simply put, I felt incredible and am now sold on the benefits of placenta encapsulation-which is why I want to offer this service to women in the Pittsburgh and surrounding areas. Currently, I am taking an extended leave of absence from my full time teaching position to raise my girls. I hope to one day, in the near future, become a childbirth educator and a doula as well.

So, what’s a doula?

The Greek word doula refers to a woman who personally serves
another woman. In modern times, the word has evolved to mean a woman who
is experienced in childbirth and provides continuous physical, emotional and
informational support to the mother before, during and after childbirth.

Labor support doulas are trained and experienced labor support persons who attend
to the emotional and physical comfort needs of laboring women to smooth the labor
process. They do not do clinical tasks such as heart rate checks, or vaginal exams
but rather use massage, aromatherapy, positioning suggestions, etc., to help labor
progress as well as possible. A labor support doula joins a laboring woman either
at her home or in hospital or birth center and remains with her until a few hours
after the birth. In addition to emotional support, doulas work as advocates of
their client’s wishes and may assist in communicating with medical staff to obtain
information for the client to make informed decisions regarding medical procedures.

A doula provides kindness and comfort to a woman who is in labor. This is an especially
important job, because this friendly care-taker encourages and provides support to a
woman when she is giving birth, one of the most vulnerable times in a woman’s life.
Although doulas provide services first time parents will appreciate, many women who have
already given birth one or more times find the addition of a doula to their birth team
an invaluable support.

The doula never forgets the important role of the father during childbirth. Our
job is not to diminish his contribution but rather enhance it by freeing him from
the “coaching” role, which allows him to be at his partner’s side to soothe and
comfort her during labor.

This video about doulas was an entry in a contest sponsored by Birth Matters in Virgina. The statistics listed at the end are old but you can find the new statistics here.