An independent childbirth education center offering Lamaze childbirth classes, Breastfeeding classes and support, Infant Care classes, and Infant Safety classes
Veronica Jacobsen
Veronica Jacobsen, BA, CD(DONA), LCCE, CLC, CPST
veronica@babylovemn.com
I live in Richfield with my husband, and I am a mother of a two great children. With two busy children who keep me and husband quite busy, spare time is minimal. What extra time I do have is spent on the boards of two non-profits, working on home improvement projects with my husband, gardening and cooking.
I have a B.A. in English and a Certificate in Asian Studies from Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH. After the birth of my daughter, I attended the training to become a doula in November 2006, and I became a certified doula through DONA in August of 2007. I was so in love with helping families with birth that I became a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator in December of 2007. In April of 2008, I trained to become a Certified Lactation Counselor, and have earned the designation of a CLC by the Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice. I taught childbirth, breastfeeding, and sibling classes at a small hospital in Rochester, MN until my pregnancy and husband's job change caused us to relocate to the Twin Cities in the fall of 2008, where I was able to find another job as an in-hospital educator. In December of 2009, I became a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician. I have also worked as a volunteer birth doula and still provide support to mothers who are experiencing a suspected miscarriage through a local hospital program.
As an educator, I hope to provide mothers and dads/partners with the understanding and trust that they need to navigate through this wonderful transition into parenthood. As a doula, my goal is to provide care that informs and empowers women from all walks of life. I believe that birth should be viewed as a normal, natural process, and not as a medical emergency. All too often, birth is approached with fear, not confidence. I believe that women's bodies were designed to give birth, and can do so with very little help. While medical interventions can save lives, I do also believe that they can be used unnecessarily, and may result in an outcome the mother does not find satisfying. When the mother is treated with respect, given a voice in her birth preferences, and educated on the natural birth process and the benefits, risks, and options to every choice she makes, she will feel empowered. This is a feeling that she can take with her throughout her life.
I have experience with families who have taken Bradley Birth Classes, Hypnobirthing, home births, hospital births, as well as mothers attempting VBACs. This wide variety of goals and experiences has allowed me to create a rich, wonderful patchwork of information from which I am able to draw upon as a professional. I especially take great joy in helping mothers with traumatic or disappointing birth experiences that require extra support and understanding, and I love to help every family through this wonderful journey!
Brittany Kubricky
Brittany Kubricky, CD(DONA), LCCE
brittany@babylovemn.com
Being one of six children and having a large extended family I've always been surrounded by pregnancy and children. To me pregnancy and childbirth are a natural and beautiful part of life, and I've always known I'd like to do something with new families. After the birth of my daughter, I couldn't get enough information about pregnancy, birth and babies. I attended doula training with DONA International in November of 2010, as well as their Gold Standard Breastfeeding workshop. I have been attending births since March of 2011, and I have so enjoyed being a part of such a special and intimate time for families. I've had the chance to experience home and hospital births, and have learned so much from each family. Through my doula work, I've maintained a strong passion to help moms and their families. I attended the Lamaze Seminar in July 2011, in conjunction with with the DONA International Conference. I will be taking the certification exam in October. I have completed all of the requirements to become a DONA Certified birth doula, and hope to hear from the committee soon that I am certified.
I believe that women were designed to give birth, and that birth should be treated as an awe-inspiring and unique event. Every woman is different, so it only makes sense that every birthing experience is also different. I believe that birth is a normal and natural process, and that every woman deserves the best education so she can make informed decisions about her pregnancy and birth. Through learning about healthy pregnancy and normal birth, women and their support people can feel more comfortable and confident in their birth, and the confidence continues throughout their journey with their new baby. I believe that a positive birthing experience, confident help, and support throughout this amazing and sometimes challenging experience helps mothers and their partners to more gracefully step into the next chapter of their life: parenthood.
I live in Saint Paul with my fiancé, daughter, and our dog Béla. When I'm not soaking up birth or breastfeeding related things--which is pretty much always--I enjoy biking and hiking, spending time with my family, cooking and eating good food, kayaking, reading, gardening, and movie nights with my fiancé.