What would you like to know?
Odessa Bates and her son
As a Certified Birth Doula, Certified Postpartum Doula, Certified Placenta Encapsulation Specialist, Spinning Babies® Aware Practitioner, Evidence Based Birth Professional and a former counselor with a Master’s Degree in Women’s Studies, I am trained and educated in a wide range of topics surrounding prenatal, birth, and postpartum experiences. I also have an established professional birth community and contacts in the medical field to enrich the knowledge I already have.
I am also knowledgeable about how different personal backgrounds and situations can affect those experiences. My goal as your doula is to support you to have an experience in this magical year that is uplifting, empowering, and joyful.
Below is a list of many topics I have experience with that may be of concern to you. For more information about my education and training, see the About page.
Prenatal Support
Before getting pregnant
AED/CPR/First AID Certified
Addiction Education and Recovery Support
Adoption and Intended Parenting
Birth Trauma Survivor
Celiac Disease
Culturally Sensitive and Informed, Including Immigration
Domestic Violence (DV)
Diabetes Type I & II
Fertility Treatment
Food & Environmental Allergies
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)
Gluten Free (GF) and Paleo Lifestyles
Grief Informed
HIV/AIDS
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
Infertility
Interstitial Cystitis (IC)
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
Invisible Illnesses
LGBTQ+
Lichen Sclerosus (LS)
Maternity/Paternity Leave (FMLA)
Mental Health Disorders (MH)
Methadone Maintenance Programs (MMP)
Neurodiversity
Obstetric Violence
Ovulation
Partner Support
Past Life Trauma
Perinatal Loss
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), “Seeking Safety” Trained
Reproductive Health and Reproductive Rights
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STI)
Single Parenting
Subutex/Suboxone Maintenance Program
Surrogacy
During pregnancy
Appointment Support and Attendance
Bed Rest
Braxton Hicks
Ectopic Pregnancy
Edema
Empty Arms Bereavement Professional Support
Genetic Testing
“Geriatric Pregnancy” 35+ years old
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)
High Blood Pressure (HBP)
High Risk Pregnancy
Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG)
Medical Marijuana (MMJ)
Miscarriage and Infant Loss
”Morning Sickness”
Moxibustion
Multiples
Nitrous Oxide
Partner Support
Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs)
Placenta Previa
Preeclampsia
Pregnancy Over 35
Referrals
Singletons
Spinning Babies®
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDs)
Substance Use Disorder Clinician
Teen Pregnancy
Termination of Pregnancy
Trauma Survivors and Life Trauma Survivors
Triplets
Twins
Preparing for birth
Baby Registry Assistance
Belly Binding
”Belly Birth”
Birth Class Support
Birth Plan Assistance
Birthing Ball
Breech Birth
Breast-Sleeping
Cesarean Birth After Cesarean (CBAC)
Feeding Preferences
Comfort Measures
Cord Blood Banking
Delayed Cord Clamping
Epidural
Lotus Birth
Optimal Birthing Positioning
Peanut Ball
Planned Cesarean Birth
Planned Stillborn Support
Rebozo
Relaxation Techniques
Skin To Skin
Special Spiritual/Religious Needs
Spinning Babies®
Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC)
Childbirth Support
Birthing Away From Home
Breast-Sleeping
Dr. Sears’ Vaccination Plan
Colostrum
Feeding Preferences
”The Happiest Baby on the Block” Dr. Harvey Karp
Informed Consent
Land Birth
March of Dimes
Meconium
Natural Birth
Prematurity/Premature
Preterm Labor
Rebozo
Spinning Babies® Aware Practitioner
Swaddling
Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC)
Water Birth
Postpartum Support and Education
For the parent and baby
Allergies (Food & Environmental)
Babywearing
Belly Binding
Belly Casting
Birth Trauma
Blood Transfusion
Breastfeeding, Bottle Feeding, Chest-feeding, and Co-Breastfeeding
Breast-Sleeping
Developmental Delays
Disabilities
Donor Breast Milk, Human Milk Bank, and Milk Bank
Down Syndrome
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
Grief
”Happiest Baby On The Block” & “The 5 S’s” (Dr. Harvey Karp)
Home Care
Infant Massage
Kangaroo Care
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS)
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
Pelvic Floor Health
Placenta Encapsulation Specialty Services (PES)
Placenta Prints
Placenta Tincture
Postpartum Mood Disorders (PPMD)
Special Needs Baby
Supplemental Nursing System (SNS)
Teething/Oral Health Care
Vaccination Freedom and Education
For the family
Bereavement/Grief
Parenting Education and Consulting
Rainbow and Angel Babies
Spectrum Disorders
Star, Indigo, Crystal, Sunshine, and Rainbow Children
Stillborn/Stillbirth
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
