When to Take a Childbirth Education Class

When is a good time to take a childbirth class and why does it matter?   We often get asked about the appropriate time to take a childbirth class from students and Gold Coast clients. The answer varies depending on the goals of the individual. I often ask clients if they are first-time parents or new parents. It […]

Audra’s Birth Story: Podcast Episode #105

Audra Geyer Doula horizontal headshot for Gold Coast Doulas with hand on hip

  Audra Geyer, Gold Coast’s newest birth doula, tells us her birth story and how birth support from her doula was a game changer.  She also took HypnoBirthing classes and went from being afraid of labor to looking forward to it!  Her experience with Gold Coast let her to become a doula herself! You can […]

Meet Audra!

Audra Geyer family photo with husband and infant daughter standing outside on stairs in front of a river and wooded area

We are excited to introduce you to Audra Geyer, our newest birth doula! She was a recent HypnoBirthing student and birth client of ours who loved the experience so much she decided to become a doula herself! What did you do before you became a doula? I currently work as a Speech Language Pathologist at […]

Maddie’s Birth Story: Podcast Episode #83

HypnoBirthing Story

Our listeners love hearing a positive birth story.  Today Maddie, a previous HypnoBirthing and Birth client, tells us all about her labor and delivery as well as her experience in the hospital right after having her baby.  You can listen to this complete podcast episode on iTunes or SoundCloud. Kristin:  Welcome to Ask the Doulas […]

Maddie’s HypnoBirthing Story: Podcast Episode #81

HypnoBirthing Story

Today our former birth client and HypnoBirthing student, Maddie Kioski, tells us her personal pregnancy journey using HypnoBirthing and how it helped her feel excited about labor and delivery instead of scared.  You can listen to this completed podcast episode on iTunes or SoundCloud.   Kristin:  Welcome to Ask the Doulas with Gold Coast Doulas.  […]

HypnoBirthing Baby – Wesley

Woman wearing neutral colors lays on a white bed cradling her baby bump

We love getting birth stories from clients! This is a beautiful story from one of Ashley’s HypnoBirthing students. Through all of the unknowns of labor and delivery for a first time parent, this mom describes her birth experience and how relaxing and keeping calm throughout eliminated any room for fear. Wesley Thomas Sarazin was born […]

Podcast Episode #65: Annette’s HypnoBirthing Story

HypnoBirthing Story

Today we talk with a previous HypnoBirthing student, Annette Beitzel, about her personal experience with HypnoBirthing at Gold Coast Doulas.  Although she didn’t use it how she intended, it had an incredible impact on her pregnancy and birth experience.  You can listen to this complete podcast episode on iTunes or SoundCloud. Kristin:  Welcome to Ask […]

How ZENBands Became a Part of Pregnancy  

zenbands

Gold Coast Doulas is pleased to announce a guest blog by Dr. Erin Stair on her headbands that are perfect for listening to HypnoBirthing scripts or childbirth playlists. I use them for listening to podcasts like “Ask the Doulas” with Gold Coast Doulas on Soundcloud and Itunes. Erin is the creator of ZENBands, ZENTones, author […]

Podcast Episode #38: Amber’s HypnoBirthing Story

Amber Brandt Coziness Consultant

We love hearing birth stories, especially from our clients.  Listen as Amber tells us her birth story and how HypnoBirthing helped both her and her husband through 23 hours of labor.  You can listen to this complete podcast on iTunes or SoundCloud.  You can sign up for our HypnoBirthing classes here!    Alyssa:  Hello!  Welcome […]

HypnoBirthing – Brianna & Ben’s Story

HypnoBirthing Baby

A huge thank-you to our HypnoBirthing student for taking the time to share her beautiful birth story with us! We hope you love this as much as we do! My husband Ben and I decided to take a HypnoBirthing class because we had a goal to have a natural birth and because we didn’t think the hospital […]

Podcast Episode #23: Amber’s Cesarean Birth Story

Cesarean birth

On this episode of Ask the Doulas, Amber shares how her Gold Coast Doulas supported her through her C-section experience.  You can listen to this complete episode on iTunes and SoundCloud.   Alyssa:  Hi, welcome to another episode of Ask the Doulas.  I am Alyssa Veneklase, co-owner and postpartum doula, and we are talking to […]

Podcast Episode #22: How to get Dad on board with Hiring a Doula

Hiring a doula

On this episode of Ask the Doulas, Alyssa talks with Amber and Ashton about getting your husband or partner on board with hiring a doula.  You can listen to this complete podcast on iTunes or Soundcloud.   Alyssa:  Hi, welcome to another episode of Ask the Doulas.  I am Alyssa Veneklase, co-owner and postpartum doula, […]

Make Your Hospital Room Feel Like Home

Spectrum Health Natural Birthing Suite

Today’s blog comes from one of our past birth doulas, Courtney Garvelink. Her experience with birth clients, as well as being a licensed massage therapist and previous HypnoBirthing instructor, makes her an expert on comfort measures in the delivery room. See what she has to say about making your hospital birth feel more like home. […]

[un]common sense: Buy them what they asked for

Baby Shower Gifts

[un]common sense is a blog about navigating through everyday life, using some common sense tips to make it just a bit easier, and sometimes a little more fun. Alyssa is a wife, mother, and postpartum doula who has some tricks up her sleeve and wants to share them with the world. Well now, don’t you […]

It’s our birthday!

Gold Coast Doulas

Gold Coast Doulas is two years old today! There is so much to celebrate in this short time. Here are some highlights: Gold Coast was a finalist for the 2017 Local First Local Motion Awards. Gold Coast was a named a Top Women Owned Business by the Grand Rapids Business Journal in 2017. GR Kids named Kristin […]

Kerry – A HypnoBirthing Birth Story

HypnoBirthing

We love hearing birth stories from our HypnoBirthing students. Kerry had a rough ride but made it through three days of labor in the hospital, smiling in the end because of the tools and techniques she learned in Ashley’s HypnoBirthing Classes. “I just wanted to shoot you a note thanking you so very much for […]

What is the Hypno in HypnoBirthing?

HypnoBirthing

Gold Coast Doulas is pleased to present a blog from Karlye McNeely RN, BSN. Karlye is co-owner of Gold Coast Doulas LLC, she is a graduate of the Hope/Calvin nursing program, and former L&D nurse. Karlye is a certified HypnoBirthing practitioner and has been teaching HypnoBirthing classes in West Michigan for 11 years. She has […]