Natural Beginnings
Birth and Postpartum Services and Support
Every birth is special. Whether it takes place at home, birth center, or hospital, each is beautiful and deserving of celebration. No matter how you envision your birth, everyone can benefit from having a doula present to support you throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum periods. Contact me to learn more about my services, and how I can assist while you bring your child into this beautiful world.
My Story
How I Got Here
When I became pregnant with my son, I felt overwhelmed and fearful. I didn't know what to expect or how to prepare myself for the changes to come. The more we learned about pregnancy, labor, birth, and newborn care, the more I became amazed by the strength, intuition, and mystery of the woman's body.
At the end of my pregnancy, I decided to hire a doula to support us through my labor and birth. With all of the evidence-based information we learned, we didn't fully trust the hospital staff to support the birth I envisioned. Knowing that our doula would be there for me and my husband to provide us with continuous care, respect my choices and body, and provide unbiased evidence-based information if interventions were discussed, I felt a lot less anxious.
Hiring my doula was the best thing I did for my birth and postpartum period. She encouraged me to find my own power! She validated my experiences and made me feel heard. Thanks to her support I have some wonderful memories of my birth. I doubt the birth of my son would have gone the same way without her there.
Throughout my education and career I have been most passionate about supporting women. I have worked to support women in multiple capacities over the past 8 years as a Social Worker. Becoming a doula was a natural progression for me. I was trained through Traditional Doula and Midwifery Arts
I see pregnancy, birth, and the growth of a family as one of the most beautiful human experiences. As a Birth Doula, I am feel honored to help women make birth experiences as positive and healthy as possible. I am proud to offer care to women and families on Long Island.
Emotional Support
Doulas provide emotional support to assist the mother's emotional health and enhance her ability to have positive memories associated with her birth. Birth Doulas may provide the follows to support the birthing person:
Meeting the client where they are at
Empathic and Active listening
Encouragement
Helping the birth partner have an active role and connect with the birthing person.
Help birthing person and partners work through self-doubt and anxiety
Provide a safe and respectful space for mothers to reflect on their birth
Jacki is a gift to the birthing world. I chose her out of a pool of many wonderful doulas as I felt an instant connection to her peaceful personality. I wanted her calm demeanor during my pregnancy and birth when those aren’t my own natural tendencies. Jacki listens and hears the needs of her clients and their families 100%! She took the time to get to know my husband and children. She prepared prenatal and postpartum herbal support. We prepared mediation before I labored which helped me tremendously with my contractions. Jacki and my husband worked seamlessly to give me the physical and emotional support I needed in labor. She made me feel celebrated and loved from start to finish. I am so thankful to have connected with her!
Michelle Malafronte
The best thing we could have done was hire Jacquelyn as our doula. She made our labor experience an amazing one. There aren’t enough words to describe how much her care meant to us. Not only is she personable but she is supportive, informative, provided the best care (whether it be affirmations or massages,etc.) and very knowledgeable. She met with us twice beforehand and we spoke on the phone and through text as well. You can tell that she really cares about her clients and I felt so comfortable with her. She provided a mix of herbal tea that is good for labor and provided herbal sitz bath and mothers milk tea and a gift for our newborn baby. She also made us a home cooked meal and met with us postpartum. She went above and beyond every aspect of her job and I am forever grateful. Thank you so much! ❤️❤️
Melanie Rienzi
Jacki was my Doula for my sons birth! I’m still in shock and awe at the miracle I was a part of but also in amazement by Jackie’s spirit and support though it all! She was always available to chat and came ready to see me through for my labor when I needed her. She had so many tools and knowledge to help me through each contraction. I was having a Home birth and had to transfer to the hospital, and Jacki stayed to hold my hand with my husband at my other side when I was so afraid and needed that comfort and confidence more than ever. I can’t thank her enough for being everything she was during my birth. I’m so blessed to have found her as a Doula !!! I was pretty on the fence about the need for a doula in general approaching my pregnancy, but as a first time mom I was required to have one for my Home birth .now I would recommend a Doula to all because of just how wonderful and helpful Jackie was. She really knows her stuff!! And was prepared for all the things my husband and I were unprepared for. It is clear her objective was always to honor and support my choices and encourage me through the tough work that women do!! Thank you jackie! Words can only say so much about how special your presence was during this experience !!!
Ria Braken
"A mother's arms are made of tenderness and children sleep soundly in them"
Victor Hugo
