Bethany (She/Her)
I am an Advocate Birth Doula who believes that every person is worthy to be trusted and respected to make the choices right for themselves and their baby(ies). I know that fighting for liberation and autonomy benefits everyone. I am passionate about every person now and for future generations having the care they deserve. I serve all people including the LGBTQI+ community, families using surrogates, teen parents, immigrants and English as a Second Language speakers, disabled people, and Black, Indigenous, and people of the global majority.
Advocacy
Advocacy happens by building a relationship with my clients so that I know their values, beliefs, decision making process, and how they want me to advocate.
Advocacy happens during pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum. I work with clients to create conversations to help them get their questions answered and needs met.
Advocacy is about getting everyone in the room to focus on what the birthing person wants and needs.
Beliefs
No one should feel shame with how they choose to birth. Everyone should feel supported and safe when making their decisions. There is no hierarchy with medicated or unmedicated births, vaginal or cesarean births, and home or birth center or hospital births.
Every person should have as many tools in their "labor and birth toolbox" as possible. Tools include pain management supports and plans, interventions, and support. Then in your specific situations, you can choose which tools to use.
I have to examine my biases and preferences so that I set them aside. My support for you is not about what I would do for myself. It is my role to help center you, so your preferences and needs are heard and supported.
Information and Resources
I am a resource for you. I provide handouts and references to you about the many topics related to pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum.
Through continuing education, I have learned a lot about ways to help support you and offer guidance with comfort measures and labor positions.
Support
I provide emotional and educational support through pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum.
I can provide hands-on support, including techniques I learned through trainings like Spinning Babies.
I provide emotional support for you and your support people.
The Origins of Bearing Beside Doula Services
My entire life I have had an energy running through me that desired equity and kindness for all people. I was passionate and wanted to help when someone was in need. Through the years, I’ve learned how to be more constructive with this fiery energy. One of the most impactful things is the importance of continuing to learn and maintain an attitude of learning, especially from people who’ve had different experiences than me. I have also learned the important lesson that change first happens within me, and then that growth can radiate to others.
Shortly after turning 29, I read "Mothers, Daughters, and Body Image" by Dr. Hillary McBride. It was heartbreaking to learn that over 90% of women have negative feelings about their own bodies, but it also confirmed that I wasn't alone in my struggle to love my body. At 30, I became pregnant and gave birth for the first time to my daughter. Because I had already begun a practice of curiosity and listening to my body, my pregnancy, birth and postpartum experience helped me have a deep appreciation for my body and what she was capable of doing.
My baby was a pandemic baby born in 2020. The global health crisis was not only challenging with staying free of sickness, it made it challenging to get information through pregnancy and birth classes, having support during my labor and birth, and having support with me during the early postpartum weeks. I was thankful that my labor and birth went smoothly, but I dreamed of an even better experience with me being educated, informed, supported, and not alone.
My daughters are Liberian American, and their older sister is Liberian African American. The hard truth is that systemic racism results in higher deaths, lifelong health and emotional effects, and higher use of medical interventions with Black, Indigenous, and people of the global majority.
My own birth experiences, wanting my daughters to have access to the best care, and my lifelong passion for equity and justice has motivated me to pursue doula birth work and create Bearing Beside Doula Services LLC.
Bethany's Education
American Red Cross Instructor Feb. 2021 - Pres.
MaternityWise International Certified Labor Doula Feb. 22 - Pres.
Continuing Education
Doula Instincts Mentoring Membership Feb '22 - Feb. '23
Peanut Balls: Beginner and Advanced Skills for L&D Professionals May 21, 2022
The Use of TENS in Labor a Workshop for Birth Professionals Sept. 22, 2022
Raja Yoga Teacher Training (not a certified Yoga teacher) Aug. '22 - Oct '23
1-Day Spinning Babies Workshop April 4, 2024
VBAC Facts Professional Membership Aug. 2024 - Pres.
Dancy Perinatal, After a bad birth, on the path to healing a traumatic Feb. 2025 birth
Pelvic Biomechanics and Laboring Positions Mar. 26, 2025
Bearing Beside Doula Services' Purpose
All birthing people, parents, families, and caregivers need and deserve support from the time of planning a baby, to getting pregnant or preparing for adoption or surrogacy to establishing the new precious relationship with their baby(ies). Bearing Beside Doula Services LLC believes there are benefits in both traditional and modern information, practices, and care. Bearing Beside Doula Services LLC will work with you by providing knowledge, training, and support.
Bearing Beside Doula Services' Commitment
Bearing Beside Doula Services LLC is committed to equity and access for all people. It stands strongly by its core belief that we all need compassionate care and support to thrive, and is committed to supporting all people with respect and dignity. Bearing Beside Doula Services LLC maintains transparency, open communication, and accountability measures and partnerships.
Reproductive Justice
Bethany believes in the principles of Reproductive Justice created by Women of African Descent for Reproductive Justice (1994):
Every person is able to maintain bodily autonomy.
Every person has a right to have children.
Every person has a right to not have children.
Every person has a right to raise the children they have in safe and sustainable communities.
Further, and in response to oppressive laws being passed, Bethany believes:
Every person has the right to health care.
Every person should have equal access to care.
Every person has the right to make medical decisions for themselves.
Individuals' views and opinions shall not infringe on another person's rights and access to care.
Access to safe abortion is health care.
Bethany was such a huge support for me during my second pregnancy and labor! My first labor was an induction and lasted 32 hours so I knew I needed more support the second time around. My second was also an induction but this time only lasted 11 hours and was seriously a dream! I could not have asked for a better labor experience and I truly think Bethany was the reason things went so well. She is very knowledgeable and had great suggestions on positions to help labor progress. She helped me process and navigate my interactions with medical staff and I felt way more secure and in control of my labor experience this time around. Seriously if you're on the fence about getting a doula, Bethany is 100% worth it!
Marie DiFranco
★★★★★