Changes at Precious Arrows Doula Services
As doulas, we hope to provide the space and support for women’s growth during pregnancy, labor, birth, and their fourth trimester. With growth comes change. It is with this mixture of heart that we announce changes at Precious Arrows Doula Services.
The Journey Katie Started
At 12-14 years of age, she decided she wanted to raise Golden Retrievers and teach piano. Through supporting her dreams, we were introduced to the world of birth work. Not knowing what a doula was, she became a dog midwife, and I became a dog doula (and dog midwife assistant). I knew I wanted to provide this support to women! I, Marcie, am so grateful to Katie for this amazing journey!
I organized a doula training. This time Katie wanted to come along with me to learn and to assist me! We drove 1.5 hours each way to the training. Excited anticipation filled the morning drive. Excited conversation filled the drive home. We were over the moon about our new doula journey!
Since starting Precious Arrows Doula Services, our model has been to support each other as built in back-ups. We have since added postpartum doula services and have filled in for each other as needed.
Joys of the Journey
We have had a lot of fun working together. We have shared so many special memories and experiences with clients. When I ran out of steam after a very long birth, Katie came in and didn’t miss a beat supporting them physically as I continued emotional support.
There was that time we were cleaning up a bed after a birth…an accidental home birth. The baby was coming so fast there was no time to get out of bed much less transfer to the hospital 5 minutes away. It was night so Katie drove with me. Thank goodness she was there! While I offered support, Katie held a phone flashlight as the father caught his baby. After talking with the doctor and having some skin to skin time, Mom took a shower as we cleaned the bed. Katie, with the unmistakable glow of a birth high whispered across the bed to me, “That was so fun!”. Thank goodness my midwife friend, Toni Hill, had advised me to keep an emergency birth kit!
The Changes at Precious Arrows Doula Services
We have enjoyed these times and shared these experiences with our amazing families for 10 years. But, this good thing is giving way to the next good thing for Katie. The success of her piano studio means she cannot be on call for births. It has been a gradual change with Katie taking her last back-up position at the end of 2020.
Her work has also transitioned into being a care giver with fixed hours around her students. Katie will continue to offer postpartum doula support around her studio hours as well. You may find out more about her postpartum services at: https://preciousarrowsdoula.com/katie-hadley-doula/
We share wonderful memories of our doula journey. We also share mixed feelings realizing it is time for this change. I am so proud of Katie’s accomplishments. I know she will continue to be an incredible piano teacher to her growing number of students and a calm presence for those she cares for.
Please join me as I congratulate Katie on her transition. You can learn more about Katie’s piano studio here: http://katiehadleysuzukipiano.com/
And I’ll leave you with this to enjoy – the time she played Mozart with Keith Urban in the audience.
Marcie Hadley
Marcie Hadley, CD(DONA), PCD(DONA), CLC, and LCCE(LAMAZE), has been serving families since 2010. She especially enjoys getting to know her families, meeting their unique needs, and sharing evidence-based care information. Marcie has worked with unmedicated, medicated, C-section, family friendly C-Section, and VBAC labors, Her postpartum experience includes working with families of first children to families of 10. She has worked with mothers who have experienced postpartum depression and illness following birth. Her goal is to empower mothers in their own mothering wisdom.
