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
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