what i do/why i do it

Whole Birth Prenatal Yoga

childbirth education

doula services

baby moon childbirth education weekend retreat

in kitsap co and bainbridge island


Because I believe birth is a sacred and powerful family event,
Because I believe women are strong and intelligent and can make their own choices about how they choose to birth,

Because I believe that becoming a family is a life transformation that requires our whole intellectual, spiritual and physical selves: I have created full moon birthing.

I offer several childbirth related services including:

• Childbirth education classes


• Prenatal Yoga


• Doula Services


• Babymoon Childbirth Education Weekend Retreats

All are offered in Kitsap Co and Bainbridge Island

My passion is in helping families rediscover the power and sacredness of birth and beyond. I have spent many years creating a wholistic childbirth education program and growing my skills as a Doula and prenatal yoga instructor. I have also created the Baby Moon Childbirth Education retreat weekend for busy families .

I have created pages of my favorite readings and community support. Walking the path of birth it is nice to know you have company. My hope is you enjoy browsing my blog and go away with a stronger sense of your own power in this life changing process of birth.

It is my wish that every family has access to a Doula and to independent childbirth education classes to help them navagate the road of pregnancy, birth and beyond.



Enjoy
Much peace
Kerry Allen
360 536 5126

doulakerry@earthlink.net

Whole Birth Prenatal Yoga

Whole Birth Yoga Classes provide a rich and nurturing forum for pregnant women to:


Learn self help measures to relieve many physical discomforts associated with pregnancy and the postpartum period.
Learn healthy ways to reduce stress and anxiety before and during labor.
Practice effective pain coping skills.
Develop confidence and trust in their bodies for birth.
Acknowledge and integrate their pregnancy and birth as a rite of passage into motherhood.
Bond with their pre-born babies.
Make supportive connections with other pregnant women.
Address the emotional concerns of pregnancy, birth and motherhood.
Honor the difficulties and celebrate the joys of pregnancy

Classes: Classes are every Sunday from 1-3 at
Well Being Yoga
19347 Jensen Way NE
Poulsbo, WA 98370

contact Kerry to sign up
360 536 5126
360 881 0197
doulakerry@earthlink.net

Cost: Classes are $90.00 for a 6 week series and $20.00 for drop in


What is Prenatal Yoga?

Prenatal yoga is a beautiful and wonderful way to embrace and experience pregnancy, prepare for the journey of labor and birth, as well as prepare for the new role of motherhood.

Through the practice of mindfulness, breath awareness, gentle asana practice and guided relaxation, women can learn what works for them to aid them in surrendering to their experience of pregnancy labor and motherhood.

Prenatal yoga helps to strengthen and tone the physical body, eases aches and physical discomforts that come from added weight and shifting center of gravity, relaxes and calms the mind and nourishes the spirit of both mom and babe. Yoga also helps to train the mind and body to work together to soften and open which is essential for labor, birth and motherhood.

The benefits of participating in prenatal yoga and support classes taught in the style of Whole Birth Yoga TM are profound. The community and support that blooms within each session, the trust in oneself and each other, and simply taking the time for oneself amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life help to enable and empower women to look deep inside themselves. The journey of conception, labor, birth and motherhood is an amazing time that transforms the mind, body and spirit,


Much peace and chocolate,
Kerry Allen
(360)697-5040
doulakerry@earthlink.net

childbirth education classes

Holistic Childbirth Education


Drawing on my 15 years of teaching experience, my yoga practice, mindfulness practice, the birth of my own children and the births I have attended as a Doula, I have created a holistic childbirth education series. I am certified through ALACE.
Classes are modeled after the Waldorf philosophy of informing the whole person: The Head or intellect, the Heart or emotional/spiritual and the Hands or the physical. Combined with mindfulness practice couples are gently guided to discover their strengths and spaces for learning. Pregnancy, childbirth and parenting like no other time in our life clearly demands the attention of our whole selves.


Classes are 12-15 hours long. classes are structured in a variety of ways to meet the needs of clients. (example: some classes are two long days some are 3 hrs a week for 5 weeks and others are a combination)


Cost: the class is $250.00 which includes a 200 pg binder of information including comfort measures, phsiology, pregnancy, heart exercises and more and a post partum care kit to help nourish new moms/dads and babies.


much peace

kerry Allen
doulakerry@earthlink.net
360 536 5126

doula services

Doula Services
Advantages of Labor Support
Recent controlled trials involving over 1000 women demonstrate that the presence of a Labor Assistant or Doula result in:
50 % decrease in cesarean sections
25% decrease in length of labor
30% decrease in the use of forceps
40 % decrease in the use of oxytocin
60% decrease in the use of epidurals
30% decrease in the use of pain medication
In addition, long term benefits include:
Improved breastfeeding
Decreased post partum depression
Greater maternal satisfaction
Better mother infant interaction

Fullmoon Birthing Doula Information

I offer a free consultation to prospective clients in which we discuss my services and fees and the client’s individual needs. During our consultation you are able to get to know me and see if I am a good fit for you.

As your Doula I:

· Will meet with you at least twice before labor begins to discuss your plans for your birth.(This is a minimum. I am available for more frequent contact depending on my clients needs/desires.)

· Will want to become familiar with your Birth Plan, (if you choose to have one), including your preferences regarding management options and the use, or not, of pain medications.

· Will want to know your best ways of coping with pain and fatigue and how you and your partner (if applicable) foresee working together.

· Will be on call 24 hours a day for a negotiated time period, usually beginning at 37 weeks gestation (We will discuss your individual needs, as well as my schedule, when we meet for your consultation.

· I am most often available for clients if they face preterm labor or other complications which require the preterm birth of their babies.

· Will answer questions, provide references and offer support over the phone any time before labor begins.

· Will provide early labor support as requested, including in your home.(This means I will be with you as soon as you want me to be once you are in labor.)

· Will remain with you once active labor has begun until one to two hours after your baby is born. ( I like to remain with families at least until mom and baby are fed and content, though this is not always possible.)

· Will utilize non-medical support techniques for labor and birth. (I have a whole lot of tricks up my sleeve and am learning new things all the time, but what I go by are your individual needs and your unique labor situation.)

· Will assist in providing information and supply emotional support by telephone on postpartum care, feeding, and newborn care after the birth, as requested.

· Will meet with you at least once between 1 to 4 weeks postpartum to discus the birth and any other concerns you may have.

Fees

· I require a non-refundable $250 retainer fee, due upon signing the Doula Services Agreement. This holds your place on my calendar.
· I take a maximum of 2 clients per month.
· Half of my fee is due by 37 weeks gestation (based on Estimated due Date) and the remainder is due by 2 weeks postpartum. (Payment plans are available.)
· My fee is $750.
· I believe doula services should be available to all families who desire them and will work with families to accommodate many different financial situations.

baby moon getaway weekend

Baby Moon Last Chance Getaway Weekend
Whether this is your first baby or 5th, taking time to nourish yourself and each other is essential to the well being of the family.
What better way to prepare for your new journey into family hood then a quiet informative reflective weekend retreat.

Included in the retreat:
Overnight stay at the beautiful Suquamish resort
200+ page binder covering all the information in the weekend and then some
CD of guided mediation relaxation and visualization
Healthy snacks throughout the weekend
2 continental breakfasts
catered lunch of the 2nd day
postpartum care kit including several gifts to help you nourish your new bliss.

What you will learn at the retreat

Physiology of birth
Self help measures to relieve many of the physical discomforts associated with pregnancy and postpartum
Healthy ways to reduce stress and anxiety before and during labor
Proven pain coping skills
Develop the confidence and trust in your body for birth and parenting
How to work with the physical and emotional changes of pregnancy, birth and postpartum
How to choose food and exercise for a healthy pregnancy and postpartum
How to write a personal birth plan
How to use a range of relaxation and comfort techniques during labor and beyond
How to take care of yourself and your baby post partum
How to address the changing needs of becoming a family
To honor the difficulties and celebrate the joys of pregnancy labor and beyond

Weekend schedule
Saturday
9:00-9:30 Continental Breakfast and Check In
9:30-10:30- Introduction
10:30-12:00 Pregnancy
12:00-1:30 Lunch on your own
1:30-3:00 Physiology 101
3:00-5:00 Comfort Measures
Homework exercise and dinner on your own

Sunday
9:00-9:30 Continental Breakfast and Check In
9:30-10:30- Comfort Measures
10:30-12:00 Choices and Birth Plans
12:00-1:30 Lunch on your own
1:30-3:30 Post Partum
3:00-4:00 Final Thoughts and Closing

Teaching Philosophy

Wholistic Childbirth Education
Drawing on my 15 years of teaching experience, my yoga practice, mindfulness practice, the birth of my own children and the births I have attended as a Doula, I have created a wholistic childbirth education series.
Classes are modled after the Waldorf method of education, designed to inform the whole person: The Head or intellect, the Heart or emotional/spiritual and the Hands or the physical. Combined with mindfulness practice couples are gently guided to discover the strengths they already posses and their spaces for learning. Pregnancy, childbirth and parenting like no other time in our life clearly demands the attention of our whole selves.
I use multi sensory learning techniques to appeal to all learning modalities, be they auditory visual kinesthetic etc. I center my class around the needs of the attendants. Classes are a safe nurturing place to explore the joys and difficulties of birthing a child and family.

much peace

kerry allen
doulakerry@earhlink.net

360 536 5126

about me

About Me
A little bit bout me...
Hi I am Kerry Allen. i am Mother to David, Jessie, Roberto, Evelyn and little michael
I have been very fortunate in my life to always know and be able to follow my passions.


The first passion i encountered was/is teaching. I decided to be a teacher when I was in the Peace Corps in West Africa. I was asked to teach an English class. I had NO prior teaching experience but I said “sure, why not”. It was a blast and I decided this was my calling. When I returned to the United States I obtained my masters degree in teaching at Claremont Graduate School. I have had the opportunity to teach adults, 1st-12th, fragile learners, gifted learners, home school, traditional, just to name a few. It has given me a deep understanding of how learners process information and greater flexibility in my teaching style.


The second passion that came to me was/is birth. It has become a guiding force in my life. When I became pregnant with my daughter Jessie, I realized I knew nothing about pregnancy, birth and beyond. So I set about educating myself through reading, videos and questioning any one who would answer my 101 questions. At the same time I was teaching at a continuation high school and most of my students were pregnant or fathers. I was horrified by the misinformation they were receiving. Several of my students asked me to teach them classes on child birth. So I informally launched into my current career. From there I continued to seek information for my self and my clients. I worked for a year and a half to become a certified childbirth educator.
During this time my midwife asked me to help her as a labor assistant in the hospital with one of her clients. This was the first birth (other then my own) I had attended. I decided I would also become a Doula or labor attendant. So I simultaneously completed my Doula training and began attending births.
I have practiced yoga for years and with all of my pregnancies and found it to be helpful. With this last pregnancy I had the opportunity to take a Whole Birth Prenatal Yoga class. It was amazing and powerful so I immediately took the training (I was 8 months pregnant) and added prenatal yoga to my professional birthing services. it has informed and changed the way i each and do doula work.
Recently the clients I have been encountering do not have the time and flexibility to take a traditional 6 week childbirth education series. So I have been modifying my curriculum to meet there needs and it has naturally turned into the Baby Moon Weekend Getaway.
So… this is how I came to be where I am. One of the beautiful aspects of living on the planet is we are continually growing and changing. I am passionate about the work I do. It is fulfilling and challenging and rewarding. I am excited to see where the next 15 years take me. I wish you strength and joy on your journey.


Much peace
Kerry Allen
360 536 5126
doulakerry@earhlink.net

testimonials and photos

Testimonials





I was so lucky to find Kerry's yoga class when I was half way pregnant and wanted to do anything helps to have natural birth. The class was informal and personal with fun. Talking with Kerry and other moms to be made me feel positive and took all fear off from me, wish she was my midwife. Learned the beauty of motherhood now I am so in love with my little girl! Thank Heaven for a beautiful baby. And glad to know Kerry such a loving lady, thank you.
Hiroe Puckett





Kerry is a great pre-natal yoga instructor. She has a wonderfully calming voice and really helped me focus on different aspects of pregnancy. When I was in labor I heard her voice reminding me to relax during contractions. It was really helpful.

Eleven





Kerry gave me the confidence i could do it. and i did!
Paris


Kerry's (childbirth education) class gave me the information and confidence i needed to make my birth an awsome birth. The comfort measures part of the class was invaluable. it helped me keep focused and relaxed.
Annette