About Dayton Birth Doula and Perinatal Hermana Services
Experienced and Trauma-Informed Support
Hello!
I'm Elizabeth Velasquez. I've been working as Dayton Birth Doula since 2014. I love supporting women and families as a doula. It is so rewarding to be in the company of families welcoming their babies into the world and playing a role in helping the mother have a safe and beautiful birth experience.
I was certified as a birth doula by DONA in 2015. I was T.R.I.B.E. - trained (Trauma and Resilience-Informed Birth Education) by ReStoryative Somatics in 2023.
A little more about me...
​Besides supporting women and families, I enjoy writing, filmmaking, community organizing, and spending time with family and friends. I am married and have three school-aged children. I became a doula after my own wonderful experience having a doula at my second birth.
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Why I developed Perinatal Hermana support
Women need support in their procreative path, however it unfolds. Doulas can help A LOT. But they also have a lot on their plate with hands-on intensive support. I wanted to create a position that would compliment the doula's role, filling in any gaps there may be with support.
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I envisioned women having someone to call for perinatal support practically at a moment's notice -- almost like calling a friend, a cousin, or a sister. Your Perinatal Hermana session is simple, low-pressure, validating, empowering, affordable, can be scheduled quickly, and be an easy, stress-free stepping stone to other support.
The need is there and I want to do my part to help fill it. Because my sessions are often virtual, I offer these services to women anywhere.​​
Courtesy of Whitney Brewer
Trauma-Informed Care... What does that really mean?
We can't just tack this "trauma-informed" label on just because it's popular. That's how it loses its meaning. Trauma-informed care is important, so it has to be grounded in actual practices and philosophy.
Training and Experience​
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​​Doula subcontractor - Five Rivers Health Centers - 2024 to present
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Holding Space For Abortion (CEUs -- Birth, Breath, and Death) - 2024
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Caring For Women Experiencing Pregnancy Loss (CEUs -- Miscarriage Association) - 2024
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Trauma and Resilience Informed Birth Education (T.R.I.B.E.) Trained - 2023
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Experience in supporting clients of difference races, ethnicities, faiths, birth settings and birth preferences
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10+ years experience attending births in solo practice or within a cooperative that focused on providing wraparound birth care to black and brown families
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50+ families served in home, hospital, or birth center settings
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Certified as a birth doula by DONA International - 2015 (https://www.dona.org/)
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