I am happy to announce that I am a DONA International trained Birth Doula, currently working to be certified in New York City.
Growing up with wonderful women around me, advocating natural childbirth and my close friends becoming parents made me choose this path of helping others.
I am excited to starting my practical training in 2012.
DONA International says:
The word “doula” comes from the ancient Greek meaning “a woman who serves” and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period.
Studies have shown that when doulas attend birth, labors are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they breastfeed more easily.
A Birth Doula
- Recognizes birth as a key experience the mother will remember all her life
- Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor
- Assists the woman in preparing for and carrying out her plans for birth
- Stays with the woman throughout the labor
- Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint, as well as helping the woman get the information she needs to make informed decision
- Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and her clinical care providers
- Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the woman’s memory of the birth experience
- Allows the woman’s partner to participate at his/her comfort level
A birth doula certified by DONA International is designated by the initials CD(DONA).
Kyra is half Austrian and half Mexican, an unusual cultural mix that lets her move easily in different worlds and participate in the new global community where innovative ideas and ideologies thrive.
She grew up in Vienna with constant exposure to the arts and gravitated toward the fashion industry at an early age. Her first job as a fashion stylist required her to identify trends and work with professional photographers and models to expose them. In her six years at the fashion agency Making Of she developed a keen eye for the absolute latest.
Music, too, played a primary role in Kyra’s formative years. She organized her first music and art event at when she was 17 and went on to establish her own music booking agency that became an integral part of the Austrian live music landscape during the early to mid 2000s.
Determined to further her career in music, art and fashion, Kyra studied International Business Management in Vienna and later completed a degree in Advertising and Marketing Communications at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York.
She entered corporate America as the International Marketing & Promotions Coordinator at Universal Motown Republic Group, working with a host of important artists such as Erykah Badu, Nelly, and Jack Johnson. The experience allowed her to exploit her understanding of cultural difference and her knowledge of languages. It also gave her tremendous insight into the workings of the American corporation.
Her energy, focus and strong desire to learn and grow in the arts and entertainment industry have kept her organizing, hosting and deejaying parties throughout New York City, promoting dozens of artists under the name of her own company, Blend Media Group, LLC.
In late 2011 her life shifted back to her early childhood upbringings of valuing the honorable roles women hold in their communities and simply helping others.
Observing her friends having to figure out their birth plans and realizing how transforming a birth experience can be if supported properly made her want to do just that – supporting women during the significant landmark of birth. Kyra completed her DONA International doula training and is currently working on her certification. She sees it as utmost importance to creating a comfortable welcoming environment whether the birth takes place in a hospital, birthing center or at home.
Kyra continues her volunteer work for Free Arts NYC and she hasn’t stopped deejaying and has further completed culinary arts classes at the French Culinary Institute and the Natural Gourmet Institute.
My fees are based on my current experience (Tier One: 1 to 10 births). An initial consultation is free with no obligation. Total cost of my birth doula services currently is $300. In certain cases I also provide volunteer services (subject to be discussed).
Once my services have been confirmed, I will provide:
- Two prenatal appointments at your home as time allows, and/or other agreed upon arrangement,
- Be there for your birth, from as early as you call me until about two hours after the delivery,
- Thorough clean-up for homebirths,
- Support for breastfeeding if requested,
- One follow-up postpartum visit within two weeks, and
- 24/7 Phone and email support from contract signing to two weeks postpartum.
For additional postpartum care can be discussed and is optional. Postpartum support can be arranged whether or not I supported you as your birth doula. I charge $30/hour with a 3/hour per day minimum. Postpartum support can be arranged whether or not I was your birth doula.
FRUIT MIX
Noun: The sweet and fleshy product of a tree or other plant that contains seed and can be eaten as food.
Verb: (of a tree or other plant) Produce fruit, typically at a specified time: “the trees fruit very early”.
