About Bethany Gurrola
Bethany Gurrola Certified Doula
Youth Empowerment Coach, Birth & Postpartum Doula and professional Henna Artist & Life Coach
“As your Doula, I will support you in every choice you make for your family. I am here to provide evidence based information and comfort measures that will help ease the discomfort of labor and help welcome the serenity of birth in which ever form that may be. I will help you and your partner come together to make a birth preference sheet of all of the things important to you for whatever avenue your birth may go. I like to focus a lot on connection and the mind set needed for birth, as well as bringing up the tough questions that really make you think, so you feel confident in times of change or stress.
I hear you. I see you. I support you.”
Bethany has worked with or been surrounded by children and mothers throughout her whole life. She is a nurturer by nature and is known as Mama B by those who are closest to her.
She found this path after watching "The Business of Being Born", a documentary by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein where she discovered what a doula was and having a vivid dream, she couldn't shake, of supporting a woman in labor. Immediately she knew she had to start researching and reading books that would help her understand this amazing role a doula plays and about the process of birth in general. It was about six months after she started the journey to researching and looking further into this type of work, that she discovered Doula Trainings International. There was a training coming up in a couple months and Bethany chose to take the plunge and sign up.
To this day, she believes that choice was one of the best decisions that she has ever made. The training that ignited the 9 month certification course was full of so much knowledge, compassion, love and gratitude that she couldn't help but be pulled fully into the world of birth and everything it involved.
Bethany is life-time certified through DTI as a birth and postpartum doula serving the greater Sonoma County.
Bethany loves bringing informed unconditional support and evidence based information to the families she works with because she truly believes that if a person feels fully supported, heard, educated and empowered...they can do anything; no matter what the outcome. She is very passionate about helping to create an even stronger bond between couples she works with through guided meditation, writing exercises and helping to hold space for more open conversations.
Bethany is certified in the art of using the Rebozo for labor and birth, as well as aromatherapy and accupressure. Bethany plans to continue to educate herself through workshops and personal study and the amazing the birth workers she has met and yet to meet along the way. She is humbled by every birth she is able to witness and has dedicated her life to making sure people feel seen, heard and loved in their most vulnerable moments.
East Bay Parenting Support
Henna Belly Blessings
Bethany is also a self taught henna artist and owner of Henna by B. She has been doing henna for six years and continues to grow more in love with this ancient art form with every design she creates. Her Full Moon Package comes with a complimentary henna blessing and can be added to any package or can be booked separately as well. Bethany absolutely adores blessing pregnant bellies...she believes they are one of life's most sacred forms.
Recently, Bethany created a beautiful circle series for girls 9 to 12 years old where they can learn about the importance of self care and consent as well as learning great ways to deal with over abundance emotions through these sensitive years. Throughout this 6 week series Bethany will be weaving knowledge, crafts and exercises that will help these girls get educated about their body's cycles, find their voices and truest intentions and have fun doing it!
Bethany could not be happier with what she gets to fill her days with and only hopes to inspire others to live their dreams and believe in themselves through the journey to loving ones self.
*To learn more about her Sister Moon Series, click here.
Bethany loves bringing informed unconditional support and evidence based information to the families she works with because she truly believes that if a person feels fully supported, heard, educated and empowered...they can do anything; no matter what the outcome. She is very passionate about helping to create an even stronger bond between couples she works with through guided meditation, writing exercises and helping to hold space for more open conversations..
Support before, during and after birth is vital to the family's overall wellbeing.
Our child psychologists, couples counselors, parenting coaches, midwives and doulas can support you in this important transition.
Postpartum Doula Service
As a postpartum doula, it is my goal to help you adjust to the many changes and new challenges you may encounter with a new baby.It is my hope that when you have support, those challenges can feel less overwhelming, your confidence may be higher and your new family can bond and flourish. Some of the new changes and challenges could be:
• Recovery from childbirth
• Total responsibility for a tiny dependent newborn
• Sleeplessness
• Emotional adjustment
• Mastery of infant feeding and care
• Understanding of and adjustment to the unique personality of your baby
• Household and nursery organization
The ways in which the woman, baby, partner and siblings make the transition to a new family unit have a long-term impact on their physical and emotional health. The postpartum doula fills a large gap in maternity care, and is able to facilitate a smooth and rewarding transition.
Each family has different needs that may even change from day to day. It is important that communication remain open, as clients’ needs or priorities may change with time or experience. I as your postpartum doula, anticipate these changes and will be prepared to remain flexible in my role. Services that are often provided include:
• Breastfeeding support (referral to a lactation consultant if needed)
• Education on infant care including soothing and comfort skills
• Support for emotional and physical recovery after childbirth
• Spend time with baby so family will have time to peacefully rest
• Run errands and light household care and organization
• Organize nursery for optimal infant care
• Shop for groceries and nutritious food preparation
• Offer a listening, non-judgmental ear
• Phone contact as needed
