www.kathyobrien.org
Home of 4 Hearts Services
About 4 Hearts
About 4 Hearts
Kathy O'Brien CD (DONA)-604 families served in BIRTH
includes-birth place choices/options support, caregiver choice support, for birthing (in home and birth site) birth (till 2 hours after your birth) and nursing support (including in home support), Birthdaycard story about Birth for Baby
OR
Hypnobabies Class-6 weeks, Pregnancy photos, Hypnodoula support
OR
Baby nurse, night or day-singletons and multiples
I moved from San Diego, California and met my husband, Danny O'Brien while working at the Fort Worth State School for the Mentally Retarded .There, we began a collaboration working with families and a very exciting relationship. We share a basic Humanitarian Philosophy. We believe in partial barter for our services when needed.
Our son, Ian Matthew, was born prematurely, suffering extensive brain damage and Hylines Membrane Disease. He stayed 6 weeks in Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) at John Peter Smith Hospital, Dr. Nelms was his Neonatologist along with Dr. Schwartz. Our daughter Kamala Arielle (Kami) was born10 and 1/2 months later and was well, but premature, in the Birthing Room pilot program at Harris Methodist Hospital by invitation of Dr. John Jeffers. Kami stayed 11 days in Harris NICU, I left 2 hours later and returned around the clock for breastfeeding.
Both were breastfed and as part of a Preemie study and werefollowed by the Child Study Center for 2 years.
While sharing parenting at home, Danny continued his service to the social services community in the areas of Mental Retardation, Autism, Runaways, Emotional Disturbance, Juvenile Parolees, Drug Addiction, Mental Health Clinics, In-Home Parenting Training, Sexual Abuse, and Alternative Education. And today participates with me in our Hypnobabies Classes.
Danny is an artist whose chosen medium is digital/graphic arts, we love picturing people together. He has focused on the therapeutic value of..."Picturing People Well".
Danny and I share photographic artistic endeavors. The value of "Picturing People Well" is something I consider to be the ultimate in beauty and bonding. Together we use the term "Bonding Photography" to describe the profound, visible and possible connections between parent and child.
My skill and commitment to strong family health has allowed me to focus on our family including 5th-8th grade Calvert home schooling with Ian and Kami. I am committed to providing support and services to other families in my vocation as a Doula, trained by Linda Worzer. Many of the first births I attended were as a volunteer in the Labor Companion Program at Peter Smith Hospital from 1995-1997. I was trained by Marlys Spikes while she was at JPSH. I believe in a Doula for every Laboring family who wishes one. I was Certified in 1998.
I serve in labor with families of singletons, twins and triplets, am experienced with preemies & special needs- Down Syndrome, Autism, Hydro & Micro Cephally, CAH, failure to thrive & Postpartum Depression as well as many other issues, I provide one on one early parenting, breastfeeding support & education as a Postpartum Doula. As a Labor and Postpartum Doula, I provide Breastfeeding and Proactive Parenting Support in your home or community. I have been In-Home Parenting Coaching for 10 years.
By raising your confidence and skill level, I hope to happily and with good faith, work myself out of a job.
Service to families, Community Education, empowerment of Families and a Doula for every laboring woman who wants one, are my priorities.
I have served The State School for the Menally Retarded, MHMR, Littlest Angels, Autistic Treatment Center, YMCA, The Bridge Emergency Youth Shelter, Westwood Emotionally Disturbed Juvinile Unit, and the United States Census.
I am a member of Doulas of North America (DONA), Founder and member of Doulas of Tarrant County (DOTC), CAPPA and an Advisor toThe Fort Worth/Dallas Birthing Project.
I am recently published in the International Doula and have provided photographs for several nonprofit publications. I am a New Lives and Fort Worth/Dallas Birthing Project Supporter.
I teach in the community, have spoken at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Conference, to Nursing Students at Arlington Memorial Hospital, to Senior Nursing Students at UT in Arlington as well as at the State Capital representing Doulas . I educate, and support fully Informed Consent, the Patient Bill of Rights, lecture, speak, teach and inservice by appointment as well as make referrals to Doulas, Midwives, Doctors, Hospitals and Services in our community. I am very fortunate to be a Doula:) and equally fortunate to know so many wonderful Mother Centered, Mother/Child Friendly care providers, educators, volunteers and supporters in the Metroplex!
I am so grateful to all of the families that have allowed me to serve them, you fill my heart with the most remarkable memories and beauty.
"Unless you know what your options are they do not exist"
817.924.1773
for options
