providing compassionate, experienced doula care for families across east central Minnesota since 2019
Hello and welcome!
I'm Elisabeth, a birth doula and student midwife serving east central Minnesota.
Did you know that doula support
is associated with a shorter labor,
reduced need for pain medication,
fewer interventions, fewer c-sections,
better outcomes for mom and baby,
and increased satisfaction with the birth experience for both parents?
I'm Elisabeth, a birth doula and student midwife serving east central Minnesota.
Did you know that doula support
is associated with a shorter labor,
reduced need for pain medication,
fewer interventions, fewer c-sections,
better outcomes for mom and baby,
and increased satisfaction with the birth experience for both parents?
Pregnancy, birth, and postpartum is a beautiful and challenging time filled with many different emotions, decisions you never knew you'd need to make, anticipation, and sometimes, a lot of overwhelm.
But you don't have go through it alone!
As an experienced professional doula, I provide physical, emotional, and informational support tailored to your unique needs. I'm here to answer your questions, help you honor your intuition, and guide you in feeling confident and prepared to bring your baby into the world.
We'll work together toward your goals to help you have the best possible transition with your new baby.
My practice is founded on the belief that childbirth is a deeply meaningful process designed by God and that it can be a really beautiful, transformational, and wonderful experience.
I support your autonomy and your ability to make the best decisions for yourself and your baby. I'm also passionate about graciously supporting dads in being as involved with the birth process as they would like to be.
But you don't have go through it alone!
As an experienced professional doula, I provide physical, emotional, and informational support tailored to your unique needs. I'm here to answer your questions, help you honor your intuition, and guide you in feeling confident and prepared to bring your baby into the world.
We'll work together toward your goals to help you have the best possible transition with your new baby.
My practice is founded on the belief that childbirth is a deeply meaningful process designed by God and that it can be a really beautiful, transformational, and wonderful experience.
I support your autonomy and your ability to make the best decisions for yourself and your baby. I'm also passionate about graciously supporting dads in being as involved with the birth process as they would like to be.
Elisabeth Salzwedel, SBD, MCPCD
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As I transition into student midwifery, I am only offering doula support across east central Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin, including:
Welia Health - Mora Fairview Northland - Princeton Essentia Health - Moose Lake A New Story Birth Center - Milaca I attend homebirths within about 60 miles of Mora, including Kanabec, Pine, Isanti, Chisago, and Mille Lacs counties, and the greater Grantsburg and Danbury, WI, areas. ** I am not affiliated with any of these hospitals or birth centers. You do not need to know for sure where you are delivering in order for us to work together! Repeat clients, please reach out even if your birth location is not listed! |
Why hire Elisabeth to be your birth doula?
Clients tell me that they especially appreciate my calm and confident presence, intuition, encouragement, extensive knowledge, and ability to advocate for their choices. I view my support for mothers and families as more of a calling than a job.
Clients tell me that they especially appreciate my calm and confident presence, intuition, encouragement, extensive knowledge, and ability to advocate for their choices. I view my support for mothers and families as more of a calling than a job.
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I have experience supporting: -- unmedicated hospital births -- homebirths -- birth center births -- inductions -- epidurals & other pain medications -- planned, unplanned, & emergency c-sections -- challenging fetal positions -- breech babies - vaginal & cesarean -- VBAC, VBA2C, & VBA3C -- various maternal health conditions -- advanced maternal age -- and more! |
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My trainings and certifications include:
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About Elisabeth
Since childhood, I've been fascinated with pregnancy and childbirth. I became a doula in 2019 because I benefitted so much from compassionate and respectful support in my own birth journeys and I wanted to be able to pass on the same care to other families.
As a bereaved mother myself, I have a special interest in working with mothers who find themselves in unexpectedly difficult situations. When I'm not with my family, you'll find me in my garden or at the piano.
Since childhood, I've been fascinated with pregnancy and childbirth. I became a doula in 2019 because I benefitted so much from compassionate and respectful support in my own birth journeys and I wanted to be able to pass on the same care to other families.
As a bereaved mother myself, I have a special interest in working with mothers who find themselves in unexpectedly difficult situations. When I'm not with my family, you'll find me in my garden or at the piano.
Whether you choose to deliver naturally,
with medications, or by c-section,
in the hospital, at home, or at a birth center...
I'm here for you!
If you'd like to learn more about doula care
or want to see if we might be a good fit,
contact me to schedule your free consultation!
with medications, or by c-section,
in the hospital, at home, or at a birth center...
I'm here for you!
If you'd like to learn more about doula care
or want to see if we might be a good fit,
contact me to schedule your free consultation!
I offer multiple services at different price points -- click the pictures below for details.
Comprehensive Doula Support
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Birth Focused Support
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Placenta Encapsulation
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For You formed my inmost parts; You wove me together in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made...my frame was not hidden from You when You formed me in secret; and in Your book were written all the days You ordained for me. Psalm 139
what is a doula?
A doula is a trained, non-medical professional who supports families throughout pregnancy, labor & birth, and the early postpartum period. I help bridge gaps with personalized education and support so that both parents feel confident and ready to bring their baby into the world. This support will vary based on each family's individual needs, but generally includes four specific areas:
Physical Support: comforting touch, counterpressure, massage, positioning suggestions
Emotional Support: continuous presence throughout labor, calming reassurance and verbal encouragement, active listening, empathy, building a relationship with you starting whenever we agree to work together
Informational Support: helping you find the information you need to make the right decisions for yourself and your baby, sharing my knowledge of the birth process, childbirth education that is focused on your needs and goals
Advocacy: facilitating communication with your healthcare providers, asking questions, creating space for decision making, and supporting your decisions
Physical Support: comforting touch, counterpressure, massage, positioning suggestions
Emotional Support: continuous presence throughout labor, calming reassurance and verbal encouragement, active listening, empathy, building a relationship with you starting whenever we agree to work together
Informational Support: helping you find the information you need to make the right decisions for yourself and your baby, sharing my knowledge of the birth process, childbirth education that is focused on your needs and goals
Advocacy: facilitating communication with your healthcare providers, asking questions, creating space for decision making, and supporting your decisions
What does a doula not do?
Some of the things a doula does *not* do:
-Does not perform clinical tasks such as vaginal exams or blood pressure checks
-Does not diagnose or offer medical advice
-Does not make decisions for the family
-Does not replace the father or other support people
-Does not deliver or "catch" the baby
-Does not perform clinical tasks such as vaginal exams or blood pressure checks
-Does not diagnose or offer medical advice
-Does not make decisions for the family
-Does not replace the father or other support people
-Does not deliver or "catch" the baby
What are the benefits of doula care?
Studies have shown a number of benefits correlated with St. Cloud doula support:
-25% decrease in the risk of Cesarean
-8% increase in the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth
-10% decrease in the use of any medications for pain relief
-25% decrease in the overall length of labor
-38% decrease in the baby’s risk of a low five minute Apgar score
-31% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience
There are no negatives associated with continuous labor support from a doula near Pine City, MN!
Families tell me that my calm personality, tools, and constant support helped them feel confident and safe throughout their birth and that my presence was a key part of helping them achieve their goals and feel positively about their birth.
-25% decrease in the risk of Cesarean
-8% increase in the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth
-10% decrease in the use of any medications for pain relief
-25% decrease in the overall length of labor
-38% decrease in the baby’s risk of a low five minute Apgar score
-31% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience
There are no negatives associated with continuous labor support from a doula near Pine City, MN!
Families tell me that my calm personality, tools, and constant support helped them feel confident and safe throughout their birth and that my presence was a key part of helping them achieve their goals and feel positively about their birth.
are doulas only for moms who want a natural birth?
There is a common misconception that doulas are only for families who are choosing to birth their babies without medications or at home. However, as a professional birth doula near Milaca, I support families regardless of where or how they choose to give birth. I have experience supporting families at hospitals, home, and birth centers; unmedicated hospital births; births with epidurals and other pain medications; c-sections; VBACs; inductions, and much more.
Physical, emotional, and informational support and advocacy are useful even – perhaps especially – when women need or want an epidural, an induction, surgical birth, or other medical interventions. During c-sections, I bring a calming, comforting presence that supports both parents through the process.
Physical, emotional, and informational support and advocacy are useful even – perhaps especially – when women need or want an epidural, an induction, surgical birth, or other medical interventions. During c-sections, I bring a calming, comforting presence that supports both parents through the process.
Do doulas replace dads?
In short, no! A very important part of my job is to complement and enhance a father's valuable role to whatever extent he wants to be involved. My presence and support enables dads to remain present in the moment as much as they desire, while I reduce stress, answer questions, offer tools and options, teach techniques, and relieve intensity.
My presence at your birth takes the pressure off of your husband to remember everything from your childbirth classes or to constantly guess the "right" thing to do next. I work respectfully with dads during labor to provide counterpressure or physical support while gently teaching various techniques and offering suggestions when it's appropriate. As your doula, I can be your primary support person or guide your husband/partner in supporting you. We will discuss this in depth at your prenatal visits so that both parents are satisfied with my role.
Dads who were initially skeptical about doula support find that they appreciated my support more than they anticipated, that I did more throughout the process than they expected, and that I made the entire birth process more positive for them.
"Research has shown that the most positive birth experiences for fathers were ones where they had continuous support by a doula or a midwife. In the McGrath and Kennell study, the women and their partners who had a doula overwhelmingly rated the support of their doula as positive—with 93% rating their experience with the doula as very positive, and 7% as positive. In other studies, fathers have said that when they had labor support from a midwife or doula, things were explained to them, their questions were answered, their labor support efforts were guided and effective, and they could take breaks from the emotional intensity of the labor without abandoning their laboring partner (Johansson, 2015)."
My presence at your birth takes the pressure off of your husband to remember everything from your childbirth classes or to constantly guess the "right" thing to do next. I work respectfully with dads during labor to provide counterpressure or physical support while gently teaching various techniques and offering suggestions when it's appropriate. As your doula, I can be your primary support person or guide your husband/partner in supporting you. We will discuss this in depth at your prenatal visits so that both parents are satisfied with my role.
Dads who were initially skeptical about doula support find that they appreciated my support more than they anticipated, that I did more throughout the process than they expected, and that I made the entire birth process more positive for them.
"Research has shown that the most positive birth experiences for fathers were ones where they had continuous support by a doula or a midwife. In the McGrath and Kennell study, the women and their partners who had a doula overwhelmingly rated the support of their doula as positive—with 93% rating their experience with the doula as very positive, and 7% as positive. In other studies, fathers have said that when they had labor support from a midwife or doula, things were explained to them, their questions were answered, their labor support efforts were guided and effective, and they could take breaks from the emotional intensity of the labor without abandoning their laboring partner (Johansson, 2015)."
How can i pay for doula services?
I accept cash, check, card, and health savings account (HSA) funds.
Many health share programs, such as Samaritan Ministries, reimburse a significant portion of the cost of doula support. In these cases, families typically pay upfront and then submit a claim for reimbursement. I am happy to provide documentation to help you with this process.
I regularly have the privilege of providing pro bono or deeply discounted doula services to women in need. Please reach out!
Some families ask for funds for doula support in lieu of traditional baby shower gifts. I'm also happy to discuss barter or trade options.
Many health share programs, such as Samaritan Ministries, reimburse a significant portion of the cost of doula support. In these cases, families typically pay upfront and then submit a claim for reimbursement. I am happy to provide documentation to help you with this process.
I regularly have the privilege of providing pro bono or deeply discounted doula services to women in need. Please reach out!
Some families ask for funds for doula support in lieu of traditional baby shower gifts. I'm also happy to discuss barter or trade options.
why do i need a doula when I have a labor & delivery nurse?
As your doula, I provide continuous care throughout your labor and birth, and work only for you while bringing the comfort, confidence, and trust that comes with our pre-established relationship. Although nurses provide critical support and care during birth and I respect the many skilled RNs I have worked with, they are not able to be constantly present throughout your labor because they will need to spend time charting, performing clinical duties, and assisting with other patients.
When you hire me for Cambridge birth doula services, you will have my full attention and continuous support from someone you know and trust.
When you hire me for Cambridge birth doula services, you will have my full attention and continuous support from someone you know and trust.
what do you bring to a birth?
As a birth doula near Mora, I bring our relationship of trust to each birth along with my knowledge of the birth process, experience, specialized training, understanding of the mechanics of labor, my voice, my intuition, confidence, skills in advocacy, patience, a calm demeanor, companionship, and gentle touch. We can utilize massage, counterpressure, position changes, aromatherapy, hot and cold therapy, rebozo techniques, music, affirmations, a TENS unit, and so much more at your birth. As much as you both desire, I will guide your husband in supporting you. Each situation is unique and I will be by your side every step of the way, supporting and serving you.
Do you take insurance?
Due to the restrictions imposed by insurance companies and concerns about how insurance coverage is changing the way doulas are currently free to practice, I am no longer in network with any insurance.
I regularly have the privilege of providing pro bono or deeply discounted doula services to women in need. Please reach out!
I can provide a superbill and other requested information if you are a member of a health sharing organization, such as Samaritan Ministries, that provides reimbursement for doula care.
I regularly have the privilege of providing pro bono or deeply discounted doula services to women in need. Please reach out!
I can provide a superbill and other requested information if you are a member of a health sharing organization, such as Samaritan Ministries, that provides reimbursement for doula care.
Are you ready to feel confident, empowered,
and prepared for your birth?
Or maybe you have more questions
about how doula care works?
Reach out schedule your free consultation with me,
either in person or over the phone.
I can't wait to talk with you!
and prepared for your birth?
Or maybe you have more questions
about how doula care works?
Reach out schedule your free consultation with me,
either in person or over the phone.
I can't wait to talk with you!
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Holistic Christian birth doula and placenta encapsulation professional serving Mora, Pine City, Cambridge MN, Isanti, Rush City, North Branch, Zimmerman, Princeton MN, Milaca, Isle, McGregor, Moose Lake, Sandstone, Hinckley, Finlayson, Danbury, Grantsburg, and the surrounding areas in east central Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin.
Call or text me: 612-437-8588 Visit my blog! Photo Credits: Melissa Rose Photography MN & Elisabeth Salzwedel Thank you to the families who have graciously allowed me to share their photos! |