B*E*S*T Doula Service
tracy hartley, CD(DONA)
1. How long have you been a doula?Since May 1996
2. Why did you decide to become a doula?
It was a calling! As I was getting ready to go to work one morning, there was a segment about doulas on The Today Show and before it was over, I knew that I was going to be a doula. It's been an amazing journey and I feel as passionate about the work now as I did that first day I heard about doulas.
3. What are your hobbies, passions, diversions, etc.
My family and extended family, listening to music or audible books, reading, being entertained by my dog and cats, working in my garden and, of course, talking about, reading about and attending births.
4. What is your philosophy about birth?
My job is to help a woman and her partner achieve the birth they want and to support the couple's wishes and goals. I don't make decisions for my clients and expect them to give birth in any particular way -- I give my clients the information they need to make good birth choices and support their decisions. I make 3 promises to each client: I will not let you suffer, I will always tell the truth, and nothing you can say or do in labor will disappoint me or hurt my feelings.
The partner is the most important support person at a woman's birth, and my job is to help the partner be comfortably involved in the support process.
5. A little something about your personal lifeI have two children and a step-daughter. My son, Derek, is the co-host of the Derek & Romaine Show on Sirius OutQ Channel 106. My daughter, Tiffany, is married and the mother of my three beautiful grandchildren; Alia, Carissa and Kyler. Veronica is married with two beautiful children -- Nicholas and Natalie.
I am a Motherless Daughter, adopted at birth and again when my adopted mother died when I was five. I have been happily reunited with my birth mother and my wonderful birth family. I was my daughter Tiffany's doula at the births of Alia, Carissa and Kyler -- my 2nd, 196th and 240th births as a doula and the highlights of my doula career. If you'd like to see the cutest 11 second clip of Kyler, please go to his You Tube video.
Since early childhood, I have been an inventor and have created a few products for doulas. I also believe in sharing information, which accounts for the many handouts on my Articles, Handouts & Information page. These handouts are available for all doulas to use with their clients.
Helping new doulas is very important to me. I have mentored several doulas through the years and offer a discount to clients who will allow a new doula to attend a birth with me.
For 15 years, before becoming a doula, I trained dogs to work for people with disabilities other than blindness. I have a special interest in working with women who are deaf or hard of hearing.
I am a SAG member and do extra work between births -- I'm always open to small roles and can be available at a moment's notice (if I'm not at a birth or expecting to go to one soon). Perhaps you saw me in "Knocked Up" playing the role of the Lamaze Instructor or in a coffee shop scene on "Samantha Who".
I am the webmistress and current president of the Board of Directors of DASC (Doulas Association of Southern California).
6. What are your specialties, unique qualities, whatever... what might make someone want to hire you specifically?
I specialize in hypnosis for childbirth and have been trained by Marie "Mickey" Mongan of The HypnoBirthing Institute, Michelle Leclair O'Neill of the Leclair Method, and Timothy Trujillo, a wonderful local hypnotherapist.
I have attended more than 300 births since becoming a doula in 1996. I founded Birth Empowerment Support Team (B*E*S*T) to help pregnant women and their partners find the support they need to give them the best possible chance of achieving their birth goals.
7. Why do you spell your name in lower case letters?
It's an ambigram -- it looks the same rightside up as it does upside down!
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