Great Expectations Perinatal Services of Northeast Ohio

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Great Expectations

Perinatal Services of Northeast Ohio

SERVICES PROVIDED

Childbirth Preparation Classes

Women and their partners may choose to attend a group series of Birth WorksŽ or HypnoBirthingŽ classes facilitated by Sunday Tortelli, CCE, CD(DONA), HBCE, LCCE, CLC and offered through a local hospital; or opt for private, individualized childbirth preparation. Special attention and counseling is offered for those women planning a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) or those who have experienced a previous traumatic birth. Classes are ongoing... contact Great Expectations to inquire about class schedules.

Comprehensive Birth Doula Services

A prenatal consultation is offered to women and their partners in the comfort of their own homes where they can become acquainted with Sunday Tortelli, their primary doula, and her backup doula; and to discuss plans for their birth experience. Continuous communication is maintained until the time of labor. Once labor commences, couples receive the ongoing support of a doula throughout the entire birth experience. Labor support is provided both at home and at the hospital, according to the needs of the birthing couple. Following the birth, the doula who attended the family will offer a postpartum visit to discuss the events of the birth and provide any further assistance during their transition to parenthood. Contact Great Expectations for details.

BIRTH DOULA WORKSHOPS

Great Expectations offers two levels of birth doula workshops.

The Basic Birth Doula Workshop is an intensive two-day workshop that is approved by DONAŽ International as one step toward certification as a birth doula and has also been awarded continuing education contact hours (CEUs) from the International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA). An optional Introduction to Childbirth for Doulas is offered in conjunction with this workshop to satisfy one component of the DONA International certification requirements.

The Birth Enrichment Workshop--An Advanced Doula Training (Part I and/or Part II) is for experienced birth doulas and other childbirth professionals. Continuing education contact hours (CEUs) have been awarded from the International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) and Lamaze International, which are also applicable toward DONA recertification.

DONA Approved Basic Birth Doula Workshops in 2008

Cleveland, OH -- January 19 and 20, with the optional intro on January 18

South Bend, IN -- March 13 and 14 (optional Introduction may not be offered)

Cleveland, OH -- March 29 and 30, with the optional intro on March 28

Toledo, OH -- April 5 and 6, with the optional intro on April 4

Cleveland, OH -- May 31 and June 1, with the optional intro on May 30

Youngstown, OH -- June 7 and 8, with the optional intro on June 6

Cleveland, OH -- September 27 and 28, with the optional intro on September 26

Sandusky, OH -- November 8 and 9, with the optional intro on November 7

Cleveland, OH -- November 22 and 23, with the optional intro on November 21

Birth Enrichment Workshop: Advanced Doula Training in 2008

Cleveland, OH -- Part I: January 26 and/or Part II: January 27

Cincinnati, OH -- Part I: June 21 and/or Part II: June 22

Cleveland, OH -- Part I: November 15 and/or Part II: November 16

Basic Birth Doula Workshop -- Scheduling info -- Registration Form

Birth Enrichment Workshop -- Information and Registration Form

Host or Sponsor a Workshop

Groups, organizations, hospitals or individuals who prefer not to travel

or who would like to schedule additional dates

should contact Sunday for information.

Sunday Tortelli, CCE, CD(DONA), HBCE, LCCE, CLC

is a certified childbirth educator with Birth Works International, the HypnoBirthing Institute and Lamaze International. She is certified as a birth doula with DONA International and is an approved doula trainer. Sunday is also a certified lactation counselor. She provides consumer-oriented, holistic childbirth preparation classes independently and as an educator with a local hospital. Sunday has extensive experience as a birth doula in both hospital and home settings, through hospital-based programs and private practice. As a DONA approved birth doula trainer, Sunday has been providing basic and advanced birth doula training workshops since 1997.

Sunday also volunteers on various committees. As a member of the DONA International Board of Directors, she serves as the Director of Publications and is on the Certification Committee. She is on the steering committee of the Greater Cleveland chapter of the International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN), a support and information group holding monthly meetings and community outreach for childbearing couples. As the coordinator of the Doula Network of Northeast Ohio, a non-profit member group of DONA International, she provides support to doulas and a referral service for expectant families. She is the Treasurer and Membership Coordinator of Ohio Friends of Midwives (OFOM), a consumer-based organization that supports and promotes midwifery in Ohio.

Sunday is the mother of four children, having first given birth by cesarean section followed by three vaginal births after cesarean (VBAC). She has a particular interest in assisting women with previous traumatic birth or life experiences, but feels privileged to work with every birthing woman.

Great Expectations Associate Birth Doulas

All birth doulas associated with Great Expectations, and who provide backup and co-doula services with Sunday, are experienced in the art of labor support. They have received training by DONAŽ International or another qualifying organization and are either certified or are currently working towards certification. Great Expectations birth doulas have a true respect for the process of birth and regard for the abilities of birthing women, as well as a desire to be supportive and caring.

In order to assure the best possible support for her birth, it is imperative that a woman and her partner feel comfortable in the process of selecting their doulas. Great Expectations encourages clients to meet their potential doulas and choose those who are best suited to their individual needs.

Contact Sunday at Great Expectations for more information on childbirth education, workshops or doula services!