Jean Sheehy

My certification training was done through the International Childbirth Education Association. The ICEA is a professional organization that supports educators and healthcare professionals who believe in the freedom of choice based on knowledge of alternatives in family-centered maternity and newborn care. Through this certification process I have observed births at both Beverly Hospital and the North Shore Medical Center. While I do not teach a specific method of childbirth (for example, Lamaze), I do focus on relaxation techniques, freedom of movement, using positions to facilitate stages of labor, and the use of comfort measures.

Giving birth is a sacred moment in your life! There are many ways to give birth, and there will be many choices you will have to make as you progress through labor. By allowing birth to happen naturally, and at it's own pace, you reduce the risk of medical interventions (inductions, cesarean birth, etc.) That's not to say you can't choose to have pain medication, or that a medical intervention may be absolutely necessary for the health and well being of you or your baby. My objective is to provide you with information so that you can make choices with confidence. Knowledge is power, and in the labor and delivery world you may feel powerless. In class we will discuss all aspects of labor and give you the knowledge to make choices that benefit you and your baby.

 I've recently completed my certification program so that I may now offer Lactation Counselor services as well.

Keela Bourgoin

Keela is a birth and postpartum doula, an infant massage instructor, a childbirth/new parent educator and sometimes a nanny. She is passionate about empowering and nurturing her clients through education and support and she is drawn towards the specific work of a doula because she is continually fascinated by the innate ability that each woman possesses to give birth and care for their babies. She hopes that her role as doula and educator provides the partnership and guidance that her clients need to discover their individual inner strength and unique capacity to give birth and become amazing parents.

Keela left a career in financial services in early 2009 to join the birth community and has not looked back. Although she has been working with babies in some capacity most of her life, she now assists in prepping for their arrivals as well. She lives in Salem (with her dog Kona) and together she and Brett Mentuck make up Happy Doula - a private practice that supports expecting parents on the North Shore and in the Greater Boston area.

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Connecticut and she is professional trained through: The Cortiva Institute School of Massage Therapy, Birthing Gently Doula Services & Professional Education, DONA International, the Boston Association of Childbirth Education and Infant Massage USA.